I fitted two belt cutters/hammers to my car last weekend and can't help but think how stupid the rule is to have them. Firstly, if you hit a car hard enough that you need a cutters, it won't be where you left it as the supplied brackets are s.hite and anyway the buckle is tried and tested to open after been put under enormous strains.
Secondly, the window hammer ,which we're required to have next year, wouldn't work so well on polycarbonate me thinks! Also there is the fear of this becoming a missile in the unfortunate event of an accident.
Now i read that Emma Mckinstry was lucky to put a fire out in her car because of a stupid rule on halon extinguishers.
I know a few people who carry a halon extinguisher as an extra measure, which got me wondering, what added safety measures do people have in their cars that are not one of the stupid rules but something that actually works i.e bars welded in certain places, first aid kit, mobile phone mounted close to hand etc.:confused:

Agree totaly, the cutters/hammers are pointless. Why cut belts when when one twist motion will undo them. A bit like the split-pin in seat-belt buckle 'intermittent' rule. Def always carry a halon extinguisher, phone mounted at tunnel on navs side, so driver can reach if required, an connected through intercom. Everthing else is pretty much common sense, fit the best cage you can, make suure everything is well fastened to the car, if your making your own seat rails make sure they're up to the job etc..
Oh and, i my opinion, the most important safety aspect is carefully inspecting your car between each event for steering, suspension wear. Brake pipe condition especialy. I've seen cars where, at certain points of suspension travel, the brake pipes would be rubbing on different parts eg driveshaft!!!

Re. the Cutters/hammers we used them for the first time last Sunday. One narrowly avoided my head on Stage 1, the other bounced off my helmet on Stage 3. I've no idea where they are now, although some day someone might find one jammed under a pedal mid stage.

I msi are listening to their buddys in da motorsport supply bussiness too much, if they say they need them all the boys in dawson street, go along with it straight are these compulsory at wrc level?? then why here...

its nice to have

X door bars and as many other X's as possible!!
Bars out to strut tops
Seats down as far as possible!!!
Good extinguishers
Good seats
Good strong shell..

its nice to have

X door bars and as many other X's as possible!!
Bars out to strut tops
Seats down as far as possible!!!
Good extinguishers
Good seats
Good strong shell..

and a Navy that knows wat he doin.......:laugh:

S.hite, i,m in bother so:laugh::laugh:

X door bars and as many other X's as possible!!

That reminds me, Malcolm Montgomery told me that twin rear diagonals weren't FIA approved:o:

It seems a bit like everything to me. There was none of this stuff in rally cars ten years ago so why put it in now. Are cars going any faster? Are cars more fragile? As with all aspects of life we are being buried by the nanny knows best attitudes. Perhaps it should be made optional to carry all this stuff.

isn,t the first aid kit optional {but recomended} find that an odd one compared to some of the rules that,s compulsory