[eyelookok2blindgurls]

The saftey regulations of the governing bodies of motorsport here in New Zealand suck .
Motorsport New Zealand & Speedway New Zealand , won't allow me to hold a competion licence anymore , the reason is that I won't be able to get out of the car in seven seconds if there is a fire , isn't that what they have safety and fire marshalls for ?? and for that matter fire resitant race suits ?
Besides , I'm already a one eyed long haired quad , what more damage can I do to myself , Ok I could get killed but so could any AB competitor .
I guess all the other drivers are just too scared of getting beaten by a kripple , surely they don't feel so inadequate that it would bother them , but then again maybe they do .

[LadyPilot]

eyelookok2blindgurls, on Jun 24 2008, 04:52 AM, said:

I guess all the other drivers are just too scared of getting beaten by a kripple , surely they don't feel so inadequate that it would bother them , but then again maybe they do .

Hey, I absolutely sympathise with you! I had a similar experience with so called 'Safety Regulations'.

Long story short.......Broke neck in horse riding accident, couldn't ride as I used to. Took up carriage driving, decided to compete. As the only 'crip' competitor, I competed in AB classes. I was a novelty to begin with and no-one took me seriously as I listened and learned. Then when I began to win at County level and not just local shows, the whisperings began.
It's not safe that she's strapped in without a quick release harness, she ought to have a safety driver with her and a second set of reins to control the horse, She should have a disabled sticker on her vehicle, etc etc.
So, eventually I was denied the right to compete on equal terms. Shame on them! But I'd proved I was as good and sometimes better than ABs.

Good luck with the driving, is there another discipline you can compete in without restrictions?

[RYAN68]

They did that to a guy here in Southern Iowa. He was racing modified dirt cars. Eventually said he couldn't race anymore because he couldn't get out quick enough in case of an emergency. I was gonna do a demo car last year, and the one promoter said I had to be able to show him that I could get out of the car on my own, then I was cleared to race.

Hopefully in the next couple weeks I'll be out racing on our local dirt track in a cruiser car

[eyelookok2blindgurls]

LadyPilot, on Jun 24 2008, 09:59 PM, said:

eyelookok2blindgurls, on Jun 24 2008, 04:52 AM, said:

I guess all the other drivers are just too scared of getting beaten by a kripple , surely they don't feel so inadequate that it would bother them , but then again maybe they do .

Hey, I absolutely sympathise with you! I had a similar experience with so called 'Safety Regulations'.

Long story short.......Broke neck in horse riding accident, couldn't ride as I used to. Took up carriage driving, decided to compete. As the only 'crip' competitor, I competed in AB classes. I was a novelty to begin with and no-one took me seriously as I listened and learned. Then when I began to win at County level and not just local shows, the whisperings began.
It's not safe that she's strapped in without a quick release harness, she ought to have a safety driver with her and a second set of reins to control the horse, She should have a disabled sticker on her vehicle, etc etc.
So, eventually I was denied the right to compete on equal terms. Shame on them! But I'd proved I was as good and sometimes better than ABs.

Good luck with the driving, is there another discipline you can compete in without restrictions?

I still occaionally compete unofficially in club events in my shopping car , but it gets a little difficult being unofficial when you keep accidentally winning the class your unofficially racing in , I guess I'll just have to organise some private track days .
I have condidered doing a wheelchair land speed record in a rocket powered wheelchair as a friend makes minature rocket engines but as yet have not worked out how I would stop it as it would be so light that if I used a parachute I would probably end up parasailing half way to australia .
most other things people have suggested haven't been exciting enough for me so I never really bothered with them , I guess I'm just to much of a speed frek for my own good .

[Yong]

Maybe this is your chance to get the Safety Regulations amended in your country.

In 2001, PGA golfer Casey Martin took his case up the US Supreme Court because the USGA rules prohibited him from using a cart to drive between holes in a tournament. He wound up winning the case and was able to use a cart.

Bear in mind, however, the Safety Regulations are FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. Not allowing a disabled athlete to use adaptive equipment is one thing but forgoing safety rules so that he/she can compete is totally different.

Best of luck to you.

[Slowlegs]

Yong, on Jun 24 2008, 06:40 PM, said:

Maybe this is your chance to get the Safety Regulations amended in your country.

In 2001, PGA golfer Casey Martin took his case up the US Supreme Court because the USGA rules prohibited him from using a cart to drive between holes in a tournament. He wound up winning the case and was able to use a cart.

Bear in mind, however, the Safety Regulations are FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. Not allowing a disabled athlete to use adaptive equipment is one thing but forgoing safety rules so that he/she can compete is totally different.

Best of luck to you.

The safety regulations are for you, the marshalls and the crowd. If you can't get out in 7 seconds marshalls may have to come in to pull you out, perhaps risking their own lives more than necessary if there is an explosion or fire which seem to go hand in hand with crashes in motorsport. Wheelchairbarbie (on this site) is pretty good to look at but most of the spectators at the speedway don't want to see a wheelchair barbecue involving you. Apparently the methanol burns too hot and ruins the aroma of the meat and kids kind of get traumatised by watching people burn to death. The food vendors would also get annoyed because they wouldn't sell any more hot dogs or nachos that night. I do agree though, rules in New Zealand are getting very strict and can sometimes seem overbearing. Perhaps try to have the rules changed by making a submission or look at flame suppressors or other safety items for your car. That may be a way around things. If you do get team barbecue back on track and live in Auckland I would be keen to come along and perhaps clean your car and tighten your nuts if you were looking for some crip crew.

Good luck.

This post has been edited by Slowlegs: 14 September 2008 - 11:21 PM