Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- cars:bumpers [2025/02/10 20:03] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ cars:bumpers [2025/02/13 07:41] (current) – Nedra
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Bumpers ======
-Your car needs bumpers!
+Of all the safety aspects the Technical Inspector onsite will likely give you grief about at a race weekend, Bumpers will be at the top of the list. Save yourself the headache and design them well the first time.
-Paraphrased, from the [[http://www.powerracingseries.org/rules|Rules]]: "All teams are required to have front and rear bumper-like structures that are between 4 and 6 inches from the ground. The bumpers should be firmly attached to your frame. Teams should construct their front and rear bumpers out of a 2x4 or something of the like."
+As governed by 1.13.1, Bumpers absolutely have to be made out of reasonably soft material like a 2x4 or UHMW or something that actually gives a little if you accidentally ram into somebody, or if somebody accidentally rams into you. Please actually spend a little time and energy on making your bumpers rounded off on all the corners so they are less likely to snag or catch anything.
-When you are attaching a wooden bumper to your car, **DO NOT USE SCREWS**. When your bumper breaks or falls off, it may have screws sticking out of it. This is bad for tires and people! Use bolts instead. They are less stabby. As a general rule of thumb, your bumpers are supposed to be not stabby, but especially not stabby for the barricades that line the race track.
-Cartastrophe has pretty much treated their front wooden bumper as a consumable item, and replaces it all the time. This seems to be a good approach. Cartastrophe says: "We have 4 bolts to hold on the 2x4. A new bumper is always just a matter of 1 cut, and 4 holes drilled."
-Basically you want rounded and/or breakable bumpers that will not harm things (most importantly the barricades) and/or people.
-What else you got? Add more bumper info here!
+Of further particular note: the line item in 1.13.1 "Each bumper must cover at least 2” of height within the vertical space 4-6” from the ground." is not a suggestion. If your kart's bumper doesn't exist at the same height off the ground as everybody elses', when you invariable get into a little scuttle, you could drive up on top of somebody else's kart or they could drive up over you. This is far more dangerous than briefly bumping bumpers, which is why this height is standardized.
+It's advisable to connect your bumper to your metal chassis with soft, rounded fasteners like countersunk carriage bolts instead of with wood screws. Plan on all of the parts of your bumper assembly accidentally becoming shrapnel on the course, and aim to design them to be as inherently safe as possible from there.