Heymow - Lawnmower Racing Forum
General => Coffee Shop => Topic started by: mark @ EC on December 08, 2015, 05:56:24 pm
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We have heard a rumor that USLMRA and other organizations are outlawing the use of front bumpers.
We have a strong opinion on this issue. We fully understand and support not having a front bumper in most classes.
EXCEPT! The Supermod/FXS/FXT classes. These race machines are built to accelerate very hard and are very fast and are very heavy.
These classes need a front bumper from the perspective of safety. These machines lack the adaqute stopping power needed to keep from running over, under or through another competitor.
We understand and support the argument that front bumpers leads to bump racing but in the case of these classes front bumpers should be manditory. These machines are too fast and dangerous not to have front bumpers on every mower in these classes: Supermod Twin/Single and FXS/FXT. Race directors, flagmen and other officals doing their jobs should be able to run a proper race without taking away this safety precaution.
We say this with over 50 years in the racing business and years of experience organizing races and running a track
If you agree let your race promotor/director and the organizations know now before the rules change.
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Might be better to ban FXS and FXT classes. Too fast, very little safety equipment.
Bert
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Make it mandatory to have front and rear brakes on all fxt and fxs machines. I've seen and heard lots of people running just rear. I don't run this class so just ignore me. Faster you go , going to need really good brakes.
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Make it mandatory to have front and rear brakes on all fxt and fxs machines. I've seen and heard lots of people running just rear. I don't run this class so just ignore me. Faster you go , going to need really good brakes.
If you go into front brake you can buy a midget sprint or better race car for the price of a competetive fxt mower
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I personally think front brakes should be MANDATORY in the Super Mod and FXS/T classes. Your gonna tell me you can afford to build a bullet but cannot afford to stop it. Track workers doing their job will stop a lot of the rough driving. They cannot see ea and every contact on the track. BUT when they do if they do something about it right then, decisively it would stop a lot of it.
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ARMA'S SUPER MOD CLASSES ARE THE ONLY CLASS THAT CAN RUN A FRONT BUMPER. I BELIEVE MOST DO.
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Make everyone run an expensive plastic grille.
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SOMA will stay with the bumpers on Super Mod twin & singles.
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I personally think front brakes should be MANDATORY in the Super Mod and FXS/T classes. Your gonna tell me you can afford to build a bullet but cannot afford to stop it. Track workers doing their job will stop a lot of the rough driving. They cannot see ea and every contact on the track. BUT when they do if they do something about it right then, decisively it would stop a lot of it.
agreed.
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I dont see how a front bumper is a safety feature. its only there to save the hood and for some ''driver'' to move other out of the ways.
i agree front brake should be mandatory on those class. its not for setup its only so you can stop when others spin out in front of you
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Make everyone run an expensive plastic grille.
AGREED! and front brakes on FXT, FXS!
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Some people can't win without a front bumper, how is it fair to handicap them by taking it away?
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Some people can't win without a front bumper, how is it fair to handicap them by taking it away?
let them keep the bumper, and tell the flagman to do his/her job, and black flag them for those actions....simple.
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if you want to make it mandatory front brakes then every class needs to need front brakes considering they ALL slide when you hit the brakes we have guys down in southwest that run front brakes they stop just like the rest of use with rear brakes. Yes front bumper are good for drivers who can only win with smashing & pushing there way to the front it is the flaggers job & track staff to call apon this on track issues & address them w/ the driver as needed. just because there are a few drivers consistently driving with the front bumper doesnt need to ruin it for the rest of the racers. You also have the issue with rear ending someone & the hood smashes & hit the driver in the face causing a safety issue. This topic is Like oils theres not one idea better then the other they all have there pros & cons.
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FXS and FXT front brakes should be mandatory. If you can afford the engine you can afford the brakes. If you don't think you need front brakes your the problem.
As for bumpers I've been racing for 13 years. I've only scratched the front of my mower twice. Once at a poorly lit kart track at night. Plowed my sp into a GP while racing my way to the front in a class of cp mowers. The other was at the all american this year. Started at the back of the pack and was a victim of a pile up on the first lap. Mower who caused the wreck had no front brakes.
My front bumper saved my very expensive hood and paint job. Wasn't my fault. Was more worried about the guy I hit. I bent his bumper and possibly broke his brakes. Got off my rig alerted him to the damage I did and helped him check his brakes. He was good and raced. I made a new friend out of the deal. Think I earned some respect out of it was well.
Front brakes and experience should be manditory.
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What we do in pukwana is a little different, but I agree, full front bumpers aren't needed. Should be some sort of frame width or hood width guard though. Someone gets sideways in front of you, would you rather a bumper catch their Nerf bar, or your front tires hit and hop upon the driver.
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Front brakes are only good if your track allows for the stopping power our track is loose so front brakes tend to lock up very easily causing you to loose your front end grip, now your mower is pushing like crazy. Our club only allows front hood guards that are 17" wide 3" tall and contoured to the hood. I have personally been hit three times in the nerf bars once was my fault and the other two times someone else's fault but I'm glad they all had front hood guards.
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Why not get rid of these go kart mowers...
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The problem isn't the front bumpers, and never has been. The problem is the drivers who use them to make a pass and/or track officials who don't use the black flag like they should. It doesn't matter if it's a buddy, a family member, or even a staff member. If someone drives out of line put them out of the race. No excuses or warnings. That being said, the super mod mowers are fast, and there is always going to be some contact. That's just part of racing. Accidents are going to happen. The front bumpers help protect the hood and critical front end components, as well as keep down tire contact from the rear bumpers that could send a machine airborne.
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Well said Tyler, Bumping is a by product of racing it happens in every form of racing from runners to cyclist it doesn't matter it happens. But dirty or over aggressive driving is on the racer and if he or she don't seem to care about putting someone else in harms way, then we have to rely on the flagman and the corner workers to keep it clean. I agree, take them off the track once or twice and they would learn hopefully.
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Not having front bumpers is not going to stop "that guy" from driving that way. Run the front bumpers, and stop complaining when you get touched. Contact is going to happen in ANY form of racing. Deal with it.
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I went to my first national race this year at Bowles Farm in MD. The first night, in the FXT class, had a lot of bumping during the race (more than there should be). The next day, the track officials made it VERY clear that NONE of that would be tolerated during the next night of racing. The race that night turned out to be some of the best side by side racing with little to no contact. That showed me that it is really up to the track officials to keep the racing clean. In my opinion, it wont matter if there is a front bumper or not.
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it is official ARMA is the only organization that will allow front bumpers in fxs-fxt.
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it is official ARMA is the only organization that will allow front bumpers in fxs-fxt.
Nope the BTMRA and AAMC allow them. BUT use them intentionally and see what happens.
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Nope the BTMRA and AAMC allow them. BUT use them intentionally and see what happens.
i would hope theres no one attempting that for everyones sake
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I can honestly say we have cleaned the AAMC up alot. Ya cannot see every single incident. But If I do see it the offender will know it.
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Make everyone run an expensive plastic grille.
I'm sorry but thats funny, and I blieve it would work