Foam Blocks??

[Larryk]

Ah i don't agree that its not cost effective for PD to use them, You wouldn't need 20 of them, 4 or 5 of them would do the job, and not all tracks need them either.

For the non-pro's and guys on a budget, its not about growing a pair of balls - its about not being able to drift for the rest of the year if you hit the wall too hard because you've no money left. Balls are all well and good when you have sponsors to fix the car when you break it.

I don't think PD are thinking of the amateurs and beginners. Back in the day the beginners used only be allowed to compete on the inside track in Rosegreen, and the Pro's on the outside track due to the chances of an amateur putting it in the wall being a lot more likely than the Pro. What has changed?? There are guys like Stonie and Bart running affordable drifting days and giving amatuers a chance to get some track time. When lads get comfortable drifting they take the plunge and go PD. The question has to be asked here;

What are PD doing for the grass roots of the sport? The young up and coming talent? Nothing - they just inherit them when they've learnt the basics with Bart and Stonie and other guys with yards around the country.

[Stevo]

Although I can sympathise with the drivers on this, I'd be of the opinion that if your not comfortable running a track with no run off, reinforced with something solid then don't run.

Nobody is putting a gun to your head to compete and those that have wrote cars off surely knew the risks involved.

It's not tiddlywinks, it's motorsport and when shit goes wrong, it usually happens quite spectacularly.

To quote a certain driver 'Grow some balls and rub the wall.'

I get both sides of it, but take yourself from behind the camera and into a drift car you've poured money countless hours help from everyone around you and stack it first event of the year then say grow some balls

[jeff nelson sileighty]

ya i agree its a great idea for the amateurs and non seeded i had a thread about this before but it seemed people wanted to see the crashes... but we are only talking 4 or 5 blocks around the track so it wont take up alot of space and sure black plastic bags over them would keep them dry
dont get me wrong the walls are exciting but its just until we get our skill levels up enough to be rubbing the walls

[Aidan Hogan]

I've only been a spectator at PD but in my opinion foam barriers or similar ARE needed , even just for amateur and non seeded.
Fair enough saying they're not being put up cause of the spectators and the smell but at the end of the day , where would prodrift be without the drivers ?? The drivers pay to enter prodrift in the 1st place so why not give them this at least ??
I could keep going but I'll leave it at that.

[s13-ste]

these foam blocks are just as bad(if not worse) as the concrete walls are.

look from 2.50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBWw6te044E

like a tyre wall they pull the car into them and cause it to do more than straighten out, rolls, jumps and uncontroled spins will happen alot more often

[tbk]

I think this sign sums it up







If you dont want to run the risk of smashing your car up then don't compete! Stick to private days etc.

But even then its still fairly risky... I have even seen grip cars hit the pit wall in mondello. Just part of it that theres a chance it may happen

[carpo]

these foam blocks are just as bad(if not worse) as the concrete walls are.

look from 2.50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBWw6te044E

like a tyre wall they pull the car into them and cause it to do more than straighten out, rolls, jumps and uncontroled spins will happen alot more often

ha ha plenty of old clips of denis healy's old bride ae86 getting smacked..

[Prodrifter86]

the thing about it though is. even i wouldnt like to hit my car. and the foam is a good idea at first.. but then i thought again and i asked why did i take to drifting>>? because it was the wall in rosegreen as a spectator......and also a reason to get a car to do it.. to try tag someting.. without killing myself . if your going to be in top flight motorsport maybe you have to be commited doesnt matter what class your in. i think the wall should say for safety reasons.. but theres going to be lots of different opinions in this thread and i dont think there will any outcome. i think PD will just keep the wall. but i hope they comment there opinions too...

[paddymcgrath]

I get both sides of it, but take yourself from behind the camera and into a drift car you've poured money countless hours help from everyone around you and stack it first event of the year then say grow some balls

Nobody is forcing you to spend loads of money or to compete against your will. I've helped out enough lads over the years to know how much blood, sweat and tears goes into building a car and yeah, it sucks when things goes wrong but if there was no danger involved in motorsport, nobody would have any interest in it. Everyone from spectators to drivers is there for the andrenaline rush.

I'm not begrudging the 'little guy' but it's the cold reality of it.

Really you don't need bales, just run inside clipping points and you remove most of the risk of hitting a wall.

[Aidan Hogan]

the thing about it though is. even i wouldnt like to hit my car. and the foam is a good idea at first.. but then i thought again and i asked why did i take to drifting>>? because it was the wall in rosegreen as a spectator......and also a reason to get a car to do it.. to try tag someting.. without killing myself . if your going to be in top flight motorsport maybe you have to be commited doesnt matter what class your in. i think the wall should say for safety reasons.. but theres going to be lots of different opinions in this thread and i dont think there will any outcome. i think PD will just keep the wall. but i hope they comment there opinions too...

Think everyone means keep the wall just put the foam barriers on the track side of the barrier