A startling safey issue at most tracks

[Boneman]

There is something that exists at almost every track that I remember visiting. It is dangerous enough to kill someone, and it did so at USA a few years ago.

I am referring to tire mounting equipment, and the procedure for seating the tire on the wheel. Currently, it means blasting enough air into the tire until it finally gives a loud pop and mounts fully. As you can imagine, the odd tire will blow up like a bomb before it seats, and it may take out anyone in the vacinity. Remember when this happened at USA? It blew that guy to pieces.

I saw this high pressure seating happen first hand last week. I know the guy who was working on my tires: he is a good guy and he does a good job, but it is clear that he doesn't take enough responsibility for his safety. Most tire service techs are the same way.

The problem can be eliminated by using a cage around the tire machine. Why isn't there more concern about this? why isn't it a requirement?

You can quote me statistics all day long: the rate of explosions is very, very low, some tires seat very easily and are not dangerous. I really don't want to hear it. If a problem can be eliminated, why not do it? How many accidents are allowable?

I mount my own tires, and I guarantee you that any tires which put up a fight are inflated with a long line, a remote valve and while it is hidden under my trailer. It is just safer!

[Racefan99]

Very good post! Thanks for posting.

[AJ14]

Thanks for pointing that out Rex . Anybody whose ever seen a tire come off the rim while trying to inflate it realises how much damage can be done .
Curiously , i don't recall ever seeing a race tire supplier ( fatory guys or their dealers ) use a cage . But i sure can't see why they wouldn't .
Add this to the other : " racer beware " items at the track . Are the retaining walls actually safe , is there adequately trained emergency personel on scene at all times , is there an on site rescue vehicle , is it roadworthy , is it stocked with any medical emergency supplies , are there working fire extinguishers near the fuel tanks , and the list goes on .

[flvideo]

Yes Rex good post. I have never see one blow but I have heard of it. I have had so much air in tires before the bead seated that I took shelter but they all had seated. The cage is a good idea. Jeff the tire man at CCMP doesn't use one I don't think. I haven't really payed a lot of attention but I will tomorrow. My son Is a service manager at a tire dealer. I'll talk to him and see if they use a cage. Some tires will seat with 20 25 Lbs. others seem to be stubborn. I remenber a 100years ago when I worked at a repair shop they required us to use a band around the tire. That seemed to help it, but 1/2 of the people I worked with never used it. Good job my man. You made us all think a little about saftey. Bob...

[flvideo]

After I hit submit I remembered a insidence about 20 years ago in Sarasota. I was working in Sarasota at the time, yes I did work once upon a time, and a guy along my route home was restoring a antique car. I went by one afternoon and there was police cars and ambulances all around his house. That night I was watching the news on the boob tube and saw where this fellow was doing just that, inflating a tire, when the tire blew an de-capitated him. The next day I rode by and there was a 3 or 4Ft. hole in his carport roof. This guy was probably 35 36. He had a lot of life to live yet at any rate. I am glad you pointed this out agin Rex. I don't have occasion to inflate tires from nothing very often any more but others do it all the time.
I'm too lazy to mount my own tires any more. I took my lawn Tractor tires down and had a guy mount them for $10 each. Now thats lazy... Bob...

[Rick Anges]

At the Thompson Memorial a few weeks back during the drivers meeting there was what sounded like an explosion in the pits, I was sitting in the tower at the time and could see people running to the tire shed and the first thing that went through my head was Lakeland. Fortunately the tireman only suffered some bruises. I spoke with him after the race and he told me he had mounted his last tire. As always most people in dangerous posistions always think it wont be me. A tire cage is a very cheap way to prevent another tragedy. As always another great post by the Boneman!

[1wildfastgirl24]

At the Thompson Memorial a few weeks back during the drivers meeting there was what sounded like an explosion in the pits, I was sitting in the tower at the time and could see people running to the tire shed and the first thing that went through my head was Lakeland. Fortunately the tireman only suffered some bruises. I spoke with him after the race and he told me he had mounted his last tire. As always most people in dangerous posistions always think it wont be me. A tire cage is a very cheap way to prevent another tragedy. As always another great post by the Boneman!

I seen Chris the tire man at VSP that happened to in the pits with a cast on his right arm this past saturday,Thank God nothing worse than a broke arm happened to him ....those tire machines can be very deadly.We have another friend of ours who lost his arm because of that happening.

[Edm]

One thing that I have noticed this year at Nss is the fire extinguishers on top of the pit wall. I thought that was a great improvement. The other thing that I noticed is that Osw tech official, not sure of name but he used to run to the back road and duck down inside of a truck. Who knows what was going on there, saw it several times but he's not there any more.

[Old Sunshine Fan]

Who Is Responsible For Safety?

ANSWER: Everyone - PERIOD

The tire man, the racer, the corner personnel, the race officials and especially the track owners. NO ONE should be allowed to work as a tire man at any track without using the cage... if the tire man doesn't think about SAFETY FIRST, then the owner should inform him its either use a cage or use the exit road.
The racer should insist on safety equipment on/at the track.. the racer and team should ask questions and look around for themselves...not satisfied with what they see, they use the exit road.
As a Retired National Safety Director (Transportation Industry) I can safely say, SAFETY FIRST every time. It bothers me to see guys hanging off the back of wreckers (NSS), sweep crews running out onto the track BEFORE its safe to do so. The list goes on and on...its hard to enjoy a good race sometimes because of all those things that are noticable...every one of them could be a very serious injury or death.
TRACK OWNERS: I'd hate to see you lose your livelyhood over a serious incident that YOU could have prevented.... TIGHTEN UP and perhaps save an injury and/or death.

DAMN, this is the most serious I have been in several years... need to get back to my silly crap - live is too short to be so serious, BUT DAMN IT, I MEAN EVERY WORD..

OSF:

[flvideo]

Durn OSF

I didn't know you had a serious bone in your body. Get back to patches. Shes safe.......

[Rick Anges]

Old Sunshine Fan
Gold Member Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: West Coast of Florida
Posts: 298

Who Is Responsible For Safety?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANSWER: Everyone - PERIOD

The tire man, the racer, the corner personnel, the race officials and especially the track owners. NO ONE should be allowed to work as a tire man at any track without using the cage... if the tire man doesn't think about SAFETY FIRST, then the owner should inform him its either use a cage or use the exit road.
The racer should insist on safety equipment on/at the track.. the racer and team should ask questions and look around for themselves...not satisfied with what they see, they use the exit road.
As a Retired National Safety Director (Transportation Industry) I can safely say, SAFETY FIRST every time. It bothers me to see guys hanging off the back of wreckers (NSS), sweep crews running out onto the track BEFORE its safe to do so. The list goes on and on...its hard to enjoy a good race sometimes because of all those things that are noticable...every one of them could be a very serious injury or death.
TRACK OWNERS: I'd hate to see you lose your livelyhood over a serious incident that YOU could have prevented.... TIGHTEN UP and perhaps save an injury and/or death.

DAMN, this is the most serious I have been in several years... need to get back to my silly crap - live is too short to be so serious, BUT DAMN IT, I MEAN EVERY WORD..

OSF:

Everyone - PERIOD Amen!!!

[Edm]

I didn't know you had a serious bone in your body. Get back to patches. Shes safe.......

She ain't safe around that prick!

Jk "Son"

[Old Sunshine Fan]

Well..................

That was very mean and nasty....

Now go to your room and don't come out till your 50.

HA HA HA.... didn't bother me a bit. keep up the crude stuff..... cause we know you can! (but just don't get windex'd)

OSF:

[Edm]

I am glad to see that you took it as intended and not as an insult.

All serious, the tracks need to take a step back and look at the safety of all track personal. Rex made some pretty good points and if tracks are struggling now they certainly don't need anything bad to happen that can be avoided.

[BigMac99]

At the Thompson Memorial a few weeks back during the drivers meeting there was what sounded like an explosion in the pits, I was sitting in the tower at the time and could see people running to the tire shed and the first thing that went through my head was Lakeland. Fortunately the tireman only suffered some bruises. I spoke with him after the race and he told me he had mounted his last tire. As always most people in dangerous posistions always think it wont be me. A tire cage is a very cheap way to prevent another tragedy. As always another great post by the Boneman!

I wasn't in the tire building at the time, and so I can't speak to the precautions or lack thereof pertaining to the tire mounting. But in this occasion i would like to give kudos to VSP's management and safety crew. When the tire blew we were all congregating for the driver's meeting around the scales, and before we could even clear our ears from the pop, the ambulance with the EMT's was on scene and inspecting the injured man. I think they knew the tire man was injured before any of us drivers/crew members or himself did.