Teams, you need to be sure that your drivers practice before they arrive in Texas for inspections the egress test.  It is noticeable which teams practice and which do not.  If a driver cannot pass this test then they will not be allowed to drive.  If your team does not have at least two drivers then your team can not race more more than 6 hours a day with one driver and not at all with no drivers (not without saying).

• Drivers should practice wearing the same items they will have when driving normally. That would include their helmet, closed toe shoes, radio if it is attached to the driver in normal driving conditions, and similar clothing.
• Drivers should practice with the proper roll cage padding in place (SFI-45.1 or better).
• Drivers should be sure the car is latched the same way it will be when normally driving (think about your rain protection method and the rule not allowing tape).  Canopies should be latched, radios hooked up.
• The car should not be chocked, and you should start with your emergency brake off.
• The driver may start with his/her foot on the brake.
• Driver must have his/her seatbelt fully latched (all 5 points).
• The test can be completed on flat ground or on a slope (not all accidents requiring egress happen on flat ground!).

To complete the test have one member with a stopwatch and one with a flag.  Place the driver in the car fully strapped in.  The person with the stop watch should watch the flag. When the flag is dropped (without any warning) then start the  stopwatch. Stop the stopwatch when the driver is on the ground completely clear of the vertical plane of the car.

This time needs to be under 10 seconds!

NOTE:

We allow each driver to have 3 tries at the inspection station to pass the test.  Each driver only needs to pass once.  If a driver is unable to pass the test in three tries then they must return after some time where they should practice.

Drivers will be then given three more tries where now they will have to pass the test twice (2 out 3 successful attempts).  If the driver fails they are sent to practice further.

Drivers will be given three more tries where now they will have to pass all three attempts to be qualified as a driver.

We do this recognizing that in an emergency you need to be able to clear the car quickly and without hesitation.  

I hope to see all drivers ready and practiced in June making this step simple, earning green on their inspection sheets!