And now for the "How Dumb Can You Get? " category:
Discussion
It seems that no matter what examples of moronism one has witnessed, there is always something worse.
Reflecting this evening on the past year's Nordschleife experiences, I recalled the single most ludicrous thing that I have seen done in a motorcar.
During a public lapping session this summer a car pulled out of a paddock parking slot and went on the circuit to do a lap. The driver, a middle-aged man, was wearing a helmet. His passenger, a lad who appeared to be about ten, was wearing none.
How much of a numbnuts do you have to be to drive fast enough that you need a helmet yourself, but not bother to get one for your child passenger?
Another reason to bring back capital punishment.
Reflecting this evening on the past year's Nordschleife experiences, I recalled the single most ludicrous thing that I have seen done in a motorcar.
During a public lapping session this summer a car pulled out of a paddock parking slot and went on the circuit to do a lap. The driver, a middle-aged man, was wearing a helmet. His passenger, a lad who appeared to be about ten, was wearing none.
How much of a numbnuts do you have to be to drive fast enough that you need a helmet yourself, but not bother to get one for your child passenger?
Another reason to bring back capital punishment.
Some people just like wearing helmets regardless of the speed they drive. Many times I've overtaken helmet wearing drivers whilst accompanied by the bird and kids. The kids wave, but the driver with the helmet invariably looks straight ahead. Probably doesn't have enough peripheral vision or something...
I was in the pasenger seat once for a bit of a shunt, helmetless, with a helmeted driver. As we approached the armco at a fair speed, with my side of the car naturally enough, I was having a bit of a debate as to which would hurt more: banging heads with the driver, or taking my chances with the armco. Luckily the final blow was a glancing one and the old noggin avoided contact with anything.
I was in the pasenger seat once for a bit of a shunt, helmetless, with a helmeted driver. As we approached the armco at a fair speed, with my side of the car naturally enough, I was having a bit of a debate as to which would hurt more: banging heads with the driver, or taking my chances with the armco. Luckily the final blow was a glancing one and the old noggin avoided contact with anything.
Some people just like wearing helmets regardless of the speed they drive. Many times I've overtaken helmet wearing drivers whilst accompanied by the bird and kids. The kids wave, but the driver with the helmet invariably looks straight ahead
Amazing, it seems pretty evident at the point you alone pull on a hard hat, that something is missing from your passengers heads
brilliant, any photo's love to see that one
Amazing, it seems pretty evident at the point you alone pull on a hard hat, that something is missing from your passengers heads
brilliant, any photo's love to see that one
Flemke, as you know, I nearly always wear a helmet, and I've been trying to talk you into it (for TF).
I usually allow a helmetless passenger the courtesy of NOT wearing a helmet myself as I imagine it would make them feel very uncomfortable seeing me in one. For a passenger who's never been around before - to be driven at a pace by someone who knows the Ring quite well must be pretty 'exciting'. Not wishing to brag, but this year I've had someone who applauded several apexes (I guess only the ones I hit), and another who 'whooped' several times - but they were American (no offence intended).
Sometimes I've had someone jump in the car for a passenger ride after I'm helmet on, strapped in, gloves on, engine running - and in those cases - just for convenience - I keep the helmet on.
Taking kids round is an interesting dilemma - on the one hand, if they want to go round (and some don't like the idea of it) then to see the smiles is fantastic (as we saw earlier in the year) - however, let's hope that the drivers respect the lives they have in their hands.
In fact I have been quite surprised how many men are happy to ask a complete stranger to take their child around (or indeed their wife/GF)!
I took my wife and children around this year at a modest pace and NOT on a Sunday (in the family car) and they seemed resonably comfortable - the children were a little bored - one fell asleep!
I usually allow a helmetless passenger the courtesy of NOT wearing a helmet myself as I imagine it would make them feel very uncomfortable seeing me in one. For a passenger who's never been around before - to be driven at a pace by someone who knows the Ring quite well must be pretty 'exciting'. Not wishing to brag, but this year I've had someone who applauded several apexes (I guess only the ones I hit), and another who 'whooped' several times - but they were American (no offence intended).
Sometimes I've had someone jump in the car for a passenger ride after I'm helmet on, strapped in, gloves on, engine running - and in those cases - just for convenience - I keep the helmet on.
Taking kids round is an interesting dilemma - on the one hand, if they want to go round (and some don't like the idea of it) then to see the smiles is fantastic (as we saw earlier in the year) - however, let's hope that the drivers respect the lives they have in their hands.
In fact I have been quite surprised how many men are happy to ask a complete stranger to take their child around (or indeed their wife/GF)!
I took my wife and children around this year at a modest pace and NOT on a Sunday (in the family car) and they seemed resonably comfortable - the children were a little bored - one fell asleep!
hw:
Are you saying that from time to time you see a car driver on the public roads wearing a helmet?
Good god. Do such people take the helmet off when they're out of the car? Would they wear a helmet to bed? In the shower?
If we're talking about people wearing a helmet on the Nordschleife, drivers yes but their passengers not, it depends on whether the passenger is capable of deciding for themselves whether he/she ought to be wearing a helmet. If the passenger is a child who is not mature enough to make that judgment, then the obligation falls on the driver to ensure that he drives carefully enough that there is no chance that the child would need that helmet, which would mean that one would be equally superfluous for the driver.
Are you saying that from time to time you see a car driver on the public roads wearing a helmet?
Good god. Do such people take the helmet off when they're out of the car? Would they wear a helmet to bed? In the shower?
If we're talking about people wearing a helmet on the Nordschleife, drivers yes but their passengers not, it depends on whether the passenger is capable of deciding for themselves whether he/she ought to be wearing a helmet. If the passenger is a child who is not mature enough to make that judgment, then the obligation falls on the driver to ensure that he drives carefully enough that there is no chance that the child would need that helmet, which would mean that one would be equally superfluous for the driver.
I guess not many think of the potential liability issues here but you can imagine the lawyers would have a field day if there was "an off" & the passenger (non helmet wearing) was injured.
"Ah so you thought that driving on the track was dangerous enough to warrant wearing a hemet yourself but you didn't insist on similar safety for my client then, or warn him (in writing !!) of the dangers in not doing so ?!!"
"That'll be your house & all your other assets then please!"
"Ah so you thought that driving on the track was dangerous enough to warrant wearing a hemet yourself but you didn't insist on similar safety for my client then, or warn him (in writing !!) of the dangers in not doing so ?!!"
"That'll be your house & all your other assets then please!"
Having gone into the Armco at 80mph at Bergwerk in a 911, and not wearing a noggin protector. Unfortunately the car was LHD and my head made a nice imprint on the window......concust for awhile so I now wont go out without one.
Regarding the little kiddy, the number of times I see parents in the front with seatbelts on, and the kids roaming free in the back.....If I had a badge, I would book each and everyone of them! Its not the kids fault they can only be lead by example.
On a bike I think it is actually illegal to be better protected than the pillion. So going out in full leathers and have some bint on the back in a mini skirt is bad form! Looks good in pop videos but thats about it!
Maybe they couldnt get a lid small enough for the little kid? Still no excuse, but ....
Regarding the little kiddy, the number of times I see parents in the front with seatbelts on, and the kids roaming free in the back.....If I had a badge, I would book each and everyone of them! Its not the kids fault they can only be lead by example.
On a bike I think it is actually illegal to be better protected than the pillion. So going out in full leathers and have some bint on the back in a mini skirt is bad form! Looks good in pop videos but thats about it!
Maybe they couldnt get a lid small enough for the little kid? Still no excuse, but ....
on one of the other forums i visit,a lady posted in a thread a couple of weeks back and started a pretty odd debate. whether it should be optional to wear a helmet on a normal track day. she was insistent on it being her choice and should not have to wear one if she did not want to.
she then went on to say about her and her BMW driving friends tend to agree and are happy to go to places like bruntingthorpe and attempt some drifting at speeds of 100mph or so(helmets not included).
bmw drivers huh...(no offence inteneded to any decent BMW drivers)
she then went on to say about her and her BMW driving friends tend to agree and are happy to go to places like bruntingthorpe and attempt some drifting at speeds of 100mph or so(helmets not included).
bmw drivers huh...(no offence inteneded to any decent BMW drivers)
As this is my first post here, Im a 30y old petrol addict living in Belgium but fleeing to and through the Eifel woods during the weekend.
As a consequence of that I am friends with more than one person in this post (they are free to identify themselves
) and have a pretty focused website.
This year I had a relatively harmless (not considering material damage) crash on the Nordschleife and while I could anticipate the parallel impact I still banged my head pretty hard. Both of us were luckily wearing helmets as usual.
Also I witnessed what I believe to be the worst crash on the ring this year, miracolously both got out, but that scene is the best motivation one can have to wear a helmet.
And I insist my passenger to do the same, my car, my rules
As for the positive side of kids in cars, its great to see the little buggers with a grin like this
http://jvc.pingus.be/fotos/TF_2004_11_07/Selection/photos/photo_29.html
No doubt this was fun too, bit fast so a bit of a helmet ...
http://jvc.pingus.be/fotos/TF_2004_10_24/Selection/photos/photo_8.html
The biggest idiot I encountered this year ... the marshall that decided to call back a GT3 that was parked past the gates, waiting for me.
Beating the guy I avoided on the Nordschleife travelling (NOT facing, but driving) the wrong direction, by a noselength.
Cheers,
EY
>> Edited by Eifel_Yeti on Tuesday 7th December 19:23
As a consequence of that I am friends with more than one person in this post (they are free to identify themselves
) and have a pretty focused website. This year I had a relatively harmless (not considering material damage) crash on the Nordschleife and while I could anticipate the parallel impact I still banged my head pretty hard. Both of us were luckily wearing helmets as usual.
Also I witnessed what I believe to be the worst crash on the ring this year, miracolously both got out, but that scene is the best motivation one can have to wear a helmet.
And I insist my passenger to do the same, my car, my rules
As for the positive side of kids in cars, its great to see the little buggers with a grin like this
http://jvc.pingus.be/fotos/TF_2004_11_07/Selection/photos/photo_29.html
No doubt this was fun too, bit fast so a bit of a helmet ...
http://jvc.pingus.be/fotos/TF_2004_10_24/Selection/photos/photo_8.html
The biggest idiot I encountered this year ... the marshall that decided to call back a GT3 that was parked past the gates, waiting for me.
Beating the guy I avoided on the Nordschleife travelling (NOT facing, but driving) the wrong direction, by a noselength.
Cheers,
EY
>> Edited by Eifel_Yeti on Tuesday 7th December 19:23
If there is no helmet for a child passenger, the driver must make certain that his/her actions on the circuit cannot possibly create extraordinary risk for the child. And the surest way of achieving that is for the driver not to wear a helmet - especially if he or she normally would do so.
I was about to say the same thing
However, I feel silly wearing a lid when my passenger doesn't (it doesn't happen often as usually, I don't let them passenger if they haven't got one) but I've also done a few laps and felt silly wearing my lid when the driver (and sometimes other passengers) doesn't.
I always drive with the firm intention of not crashing or taking any risks, with or without a helmet, so should I take extra care with a child on board? Just a poser because I suspect, that in reality, I do...
Matt
P.S. Hi EY and Mr Thrower
However, I feel silly wearing a lid when my passenger doesn't (it doesn't happen often as usually, I don't let them passenger if they haven't got one) but I've also done a few laps and felt silly wearing my lid when the driver (and sometimes other passengers) doesn't.
I always drive with the firm intention of not crashing or taking any risks, with or without a helmet, so should I take extra care with a child on board? Just a poser because I suspect, that in reality, I do...
Matt
P.S. Hi EY and Mr Thrower
Matt,
Of course you should take extra care with children. If you do, that's not because you're a poser, but because you've accepted responsibility for someone who according to both the law and common sense is incapable of being entirely responsible for themselves.
Anybody who wouldn't make an allowance for a child is a child...no, wait, even some children are smarter than that.
If your passenger is an adult, he (she) can make his own decision about whether he fancies riding with you.
By the way, I think that most of us drive with the firm intention of not crashing.
Of course you should take extra care with children. If you do, that's not because you're a poser, but because you've accepted responsibility for someone who according to both the law and common sense is incapable of being entirely responsible for themselves.
Anybody who wouldn't make an allowance for a child is a child...no, wait, even some children are smarter than that.
If your passenger is an adult, he (she) can make his own decision about whether he fancies riding with you.
By the way, I think that most of us drive with the firm intention of not crashing.
Matt,
Sorry that I was ignorant of the only correct use of "poser". Having now looked in the OED, I see that you are quite right.
As it happens, in the new issue of "evo" Mark Hales writes, "The racers liked the Ferrari's raciness, the posers liked the Aston's posiness and the tecchies liked the Lamborghini's all-drive composure."
Mark's a literate chap, so he presumably means that the Aston was popular with the questions.
Sorry that I was ignorant of the only correct use of "poser". Having now looked in the OED, I see that you are quite right.
As it happens, in the new issue of "evo" Mark Hales writes, "The racers liked the Ferrari's raciness, the posers liked the Aston's posiness and the tecchies liked the Lamborghini's all-drive composure."
Mark's a literate chap, so he presumably means that the Aston was popular with the questions.
LOL
No probs, I just wanted to make it clear my meaning as if you take the correct spelling into account, the statement reads quite differently.
I guess the "incorrect" spelling has made it's way into common langauge now, just to confuse us... (though you would have hoped Evo would have got it right, unless of course Mark *did* mean the Aston likes questions.... )
DJ, you know you are 
Matt
No probs, I just wanted to make it clear my meaning as if you take the correct spelling into account, the statement reads quite differently.
I guess the "incorrect" spelling has made it's way into common langauge now, just to confuse us...
(though you would have hoped Evo would have got it right, unless of course Mark *did* mean the Aston likes questions.... ) DJ, you know you are
Matt
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