I really like Dirt Late Model racing! The cars, the competition, the tracks they run on...the whole package results in some of the best racing out there...IMO.
I have real concerns though with the DLM cars. The geometry of the greenhouse-area of the roll cage is not conductive to real strength in a roll-over/flip/impact situation...I have personally seen several occasions where cages collapsed, making the drivers VERY vulnerable...full containment seats are NOT intended to be "personal rollcages"...if you are being protected by your seat because your cage failed, you need to re-think the situation. Your mortality is about to be tested!
The other related concern I have is the difficulty of a driver getting out of an overturned DLM car. Unless the driver is extremely small and thin, it is darned-neared impossible to get out of the car! If that car is on fire, you better hope like heck the safety crew is excellent at firefighting...otherwise, this might be a problem! Sanctioning bodies need to come up with effective rules that require a consistent, easily enforced regulation concerning room for cockpit egress/window opening. The greenhouse of the DLM car needs to be larger and stronger. Give me a large sheet of cardboard and a level...got it done! While I am not aware of big numbers of injuries or fatalities in this class of car, it is not because they haven't tried! Why should we wait until it happens to fix it...why wait until we have one more racing widow or another paralyzed driver before we seriously look at this design.
If you disagree with my thoughts...TELL ME! I am interested in other opinions, as long as they are expressed in good taste.
Remember, at the end of the day, everyone goes home standing up!
Keith
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