Are pit crews just barbie for men?

[OFC Ranger]

I was watching a Baja 1000 documentary and while it is probably nothing new, but even the guy whos job it is to "wipe down the lights" is wearing a full blown crew/race suit including fire retardant gloves...

lol - talk about a bunch of LARPing.

Also had a very construction site / ditch digger crew vibe. How many guys doing work and how many to supervisor? haha

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[Dgc333]

Fire suits are required by the sanctioning body as a safety measure for the driver and pit crew. This is true of any racing body where there are pit stops. The matching attire is a requirement of the sponsors to get maximum exposure for their brand.

If this is new to you I would guess you don't watch motor sports at all.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Fire suits are required by the sanctioning body as a safety measure for the driver and pit crew. This is true of any racing body where there are pit stops. The matching attire is a requirement of the sponsors to get maximum exposure for their brand.

If this is new to you I would guess you don't watch motor sports at all.

Then why isn't everyone in the photo wearing a fireproof suit? Or is it only required of those who step foot in the yellow box?

Why are some wearing a fire retardant head scarf and some are not? The guy wiping off lights it in full on fire fighter mode, while guy changing tire just has a pit suit, a pair of regular gloves, and a headband.

To answer your question: No I don't. I don't watch any version of "spotsball" either.

 

[Blmpkn]

Calvinball ftw.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Calvinball ftw.

 

[Dgc333]

Then why isn't everyone in the photo wearing a fireproof suit? Or is it only required of those who step foot in the yellow box?

Why are some wearing a fire retardant head scarf and some are not? The guy wiping off lights it in full on fire fighter mode, while guy changing tire just has a pit suit, a pair of regular gloves, and a headband.

To answer your question: No I don't. I don't watch any version of "spotsball" either.

I would venture a guess that the yellow box represents the pit box and all the safety measures apply to those individuals working inside the box. I don't follow off-road racing much so I don't know all the details regarding safety.

Here are some photos of the world's largest racing series; F1, NASCAR and Indy Car. You will see that the folks behind the wall aren't wearing as much safety gear as those over the wall working on the car. Especially in NASCAR pit stops are chaotic and it is not unusual for a crew member to be hit by their own team car or another team car. Not shown in the pictures but there is one or two officials watching every competitor to make sure they are doing the work per the rules.

 

[Burnt Money]

I can’t speak for other sanctioning bodies but in NASCAR unless during a red flag, all crew members who go over the wall have to wear fire suits and have Nomex underwear, head socks and fire resistant SFI rated gloves. I spent 12yrs pitting the top 3 series. The underwear rule was a PITA. Got twisted and bunched up lol. It started after the fire the 62 car had at the Richmond Xfinity race.

 

[ppfd]

1st pic, is that guy under the bumper wearing an air pack?

Never got into racing, seems like hell on earth to sit for hours and watch cars drive in a circle.
And can we agree driving a car in a circle is not a "sport" its an event. Yeah I get it, it takes skill to drive that car in a circle. Its no more a sport than ping pong or those guys in the Olympics using push brooms on ice while another guy rolls that bowling ball behind them.

 

[OFC Ranger]

1st pic, is that guy under the bumper wearing an air pack?

Never got into racing, seems like hell on earth to sit for hours and watch cars drive in a circle.
And can we agree driving a car in a circle is not a "sport" its an event. Yeah I get it, it takes skill to drive that car in a circle. Its no more a sport than ping pong or those guys in the Olympics using push brooms on ice while another guy rolls that bowling ball behind them.

I think the very concept that we live in a world where someone can make 100 million dollars playing with a ball or driving a car, while public servants out there basically qualify for food stamps because pay is so low is absolutely disgusting. Just shows the human mindset & priority as a general populous is so unpredictable and out of wack.

But it is a tale as old as time and I don't suspect it will change even after I am dust in the wind and long gone.

 

[Blmpkn]

No kidding lol.. don't know what made it pop into my head but damn.. those were the days weren't they? Pre-social media.. everyone was way happier.. healthier..

Excuse me while I go dig out my stack of Calvin and hobbes books and reminisce.. until it makes me depressed.. and then need to listen to GWAR chronicle their quest to eliminate all human life at a volume loud enough to literally send me back in time.. hopefully to said good ol' days.

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