Broken bone, can I still race?
Discussion
I have gone and done something stupid... played another sport to motor racing... result has ended up with my thumb broken. Now I have got a soft cast on my hand and a hard cast around the thumb.
I did point out to the ortho specialist that I am racing at Silverstone in two weeks and thus I need something that will work for that, and he kindly got the plaster on so I can still grip the wheel and said it would be fine to race.
Question is, do I need to inform MSA and get them to approve me to race, or what the procedure is?
Has anyone done anything like this before?
I did point out to the ortho specialist that I am racing at Silverstone in two weeks and thus I need something that will work for that, and he kindly got the plaster on so I can still grip the wheel and said it would be fine to race.
Question is, do I need to inform MSA and get them to approve me to race, or what the procedure is?
Has anyone done anything like this before?
For sure, lots of drivers have raced with a variety of injuries. Whether this is wise depends on the nature of the injury. The fundamental question is does it affect your control of the car and would it constrain your ability to get out of the car and /or off the circuit in the event of an incident. If the answer is yes then you shouldn't race as you would be a potential liability to yourself, other drivers and marshals. If the answer is genuinely no then I don't see a problem.
I got hit by another car earlier this year which broke my steering rack and the resulting jar through the steering wheel damaged a finger that swelled up and went a bit black & blue. I thought that was my weekend over as, although the crew fixed the car, I wasn't confident that I could drive it properly the next day. The following morning I got in the car and jerked the steering wheel around a bit and didn't get any problems so I was happy to drive. The injury wasn't serious enough to impair my driving - which was just as slow as usual by that wasn't anything to do with my finger!
I got hit by another car earlier this year which broke my steering rack and the resulting jar through the steering wheel damaged a finger that swelled up and went a bit black & blue. I thought that was my weekend over as, although the crew fixed the car, I wasn't confident that I could drive it properly the next day. The following morning I got in the car and jerked the steering wheel around a bit and didn't get any problems so I was happy to drive. The injury wasn't serious enough to impair my driving - which was just as slow as usual by that wasn't anything to do with my finger!
I was thinking about the gloves thing, and seeing as they are not a checked item in scruiteneering the glove could be anything, so I have an old race glove that I might get girlfriend/mum to modify on the sewing machine to make it slightly bigger. The plaster is just round my thumb and the bottom half of my hand so probably will work.
On your finger problem was it obvious to the medical staff it was bust? Because I am worried a big blue cast might be slightly harder to hide, even though my driving and getting in and out of the car is not impaired.
On your finger problem was it obvious to the medical staff it was bust? Because I am worried a big blue cast might be slightly harder to hide, even though my driving and getting in and out of the car is not impaired.
RacingPete said:
I have gone and done something stupid... played another sport to motor racing...
Theres a lesson there somewhere
fcat makes very valid points about your ability to control the car and get out quickly.
But if the doc said you are clear to race then surly the decision is your's.
How are you getting on driving a road car?
Don't forget all the other things you'll have to do - drive there, unload the car, look after the car, put your kit on, re load the car, drive home etc. etc.
Road car is fine, and I can do pull ups and undo seatbelts so think getting out will be fine. Hopefully I can persuade someone to do all the manual work.
I am still intrigued if you have to tell the MSA that you intend to race with an injury/broken bone. As it might affect their public liability insurance!
I am still intrigued if you have to tell the MSA that you intend to race with an injury/broken bone. As it might affect their public liability insurance!
RacingPete said:
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I am still intrigued if you have to tell the MSA that you intend to race with an injury/broken bone. As it might affect their public liability insurance!
I doubt if a quick call to the MSA to find out will be a quick call!I am still intrigued if you have to tell the MSA that you intend to race with an injury/broken bone. As it might affect their public liability insurance!
But if your Doctor has cleared you fit to race/drive I doubt you'll have any problem with the MSA.
Having said that I do understand your concerns about the insurance issue. Maybe worth trying to contact a scrut or similar via tentenths?
I wouldn't suggest this to everyone but in my case I flipped my kart and when it landed upside down I was still holding the wheel. This resulted in a broken thumb. The major thumb bone had split vertically up the middle not horizontaly accross. The resulting plaster became a real nuisance in general life and work so after two weeks off I sawed it off and took pain killers instead. It was still very painful if knocked or if I grabbed or lifted something without thinking and I regreted my actions a few times to be fair but it did still heal fine.
In those circumstances I was still able to carry on with both my work and karting just being careful not to aggravate it.
In those circumstances I was still able to carry on with both my work and karting just being careful not to aggravate it.
The MSA are responsible for the technical and sporting rules so I doubt you'd have to inform them. The people you may have to inform, however, are the club that runs the championship and/or Ginetta and/or the circuit. The circuit are responsible for the safety of the public who attend and so, if you went ahead and raced and had an accident that caused injury, may be in trouble. Did you have to complete a medical questionnaire before the season started? It may have indicated an obligation to advise the club if you have any injuries that could effect your ability to race safely. HTH.
i would be really careful, i appreciate that you have sunk some significant costs into the race, car prep and entry fees but an accident in the race or even the force through the steering wheel whilst racing could reall aggravate the injury and make it a lot worse. as i said, i can only guess how much you have spent on this race alone but if you aggravate the injury, you could be looking at long term damage and a longer wait before racing.
My first ever win came a couple of days after having all my wisdom teeth out. I think the pain spurred me on!
As long as you can demonstrate full control over the vehicle, including getting out in an emergency I can't see anyone having a problem. Just look what injuries the motorcycle boys race with.
Go for it.
As long as you can demonstrate full control over the vehicle, including getting out in an emergency I can't see anyone having a problem. Just look what injuries the motorcycle boys race with.
Go for it.
Racylady said:
The MSA are responsible for the technical and sporting rules so I doubt you'd have to inform them. The people you may have to inform, however, are the club that runs the championship and/or Ginetta and/or the circuit. The circuit are responsible for the safety of the public who attend and so, if you went ahead and raced and had an accident that caused injury, may be in trouble. Did you have to complete a medical questionnaire before the season started? It may have indicated an obligation to advise the club if you have any injuries that could effect your ability to race safely. HTH.
Raceday insurance is through the MSA and they have responsibility for all aspects of circuit racing. If the OP is worried I'd suggest turning up early on the day and talking to the Chief Medical Officer. In the event of any query about whether you are fit to race it will be his call.
RacingPete said:
Well I raced and not one official battered an eyelid at the cast on my hand. Race sign-on just chatted about her son doing the same injury, and scruitineer just chatted about his dislocated finger.
The racing wasn't that painful either!
...and at sign on you are signing to say that you are fit to race...it's your responsibility not everyone else's. OK in this case you were probably always safe to drive, but don't rely on others to "stop" you every time. The racing wasn't that painful either!
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