"Beat the Bastard" Tech Inspection.

Hi everyone, just a reminder regarding Tech Inspection for the upcoming Townsville event.
Tech Inspection will be at Ado's shop, between 2:00pm and 7:30pm on Friday May 1st, after which a "Riders Meeting" will be held. For those arriving late on Friday night/Saturday morning, a secondary inspection will be held at the bottom carpark/staging area at Mt Stuart at 6:00am Saturday morning. For those arriving mid-morning, I'll make myself available to you when you get to Mt Stuart, just look for the Tech area and we'll get you underway.
The Tech Inspection will be following the IGSA Rulebook, and will be more stringent than Newton's. Helmets/straps, shoes, leathers and equipment will all be inspected. This is to give you all a practice run for the World Championships at Bathurst in Nevember, so you know what to expect.
Make sure you are up to date with lengths, weights, heights and ALL safety issues regarding the rules.
http://www.igsaworldcup.com/rulebooks/2009_igsa_rulebook_final.pdf

http://igsaworldcup.com/rulebooks/2006_igsa_slalom_rulebook_final.pdf
The SGS course is being set and tested Friday afternoon, so we ask all riders to please stay off the mountain at this time so as to give the officials plenty of time and room to set a great course.
Any riders who ride Mt Stuart prior to Saturday or Sunday will not be able to take part in the weekends riding.
If you have any questions, please contact me and I'll answer any queries you have.
Looking forward to a greay weekend.
Cheers.

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Replies to This Discussion

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Stephen Daddow on April 29, 2009 at 16:48

Bow, I have a spare set of leathers, but my bag is full. I will try and fit it in somewhere.
Andy, I know that each event organizer has the right to decide what safety gear to wear. I have been to a lot of races and seen people go downhill in a leather top, jeans and pads with all the people riding in leathers. These people have just come along for the freeride with the racers while training. These guys do not race. They have been let in for the freeride but not the race... Its up to you to decide. maybe he could put on some shin guards?

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Permalink Reply by Sakamoto on April 29, 2009 at 17:31

Due to the nature of Mt Stuart, when it was originally discussed, having an event or free ride there, it was decided to adopt the IGSA Rulebook, as it is the most definitve on specs as well a safety issues. I totally understand where you're coming from Steve, and I sincerely hope Bow can get some leathers, but Mt Stuart is a gnarly road, as you know, and I don't think that shinguards would cut-it in a decent crash.
One of the other reasons for using the IGSA Rulebook, and staging a stringent Tech Inspection on equipment and safety gear is to give the Australian riders who haven't had a chance to compete at World Class level an opportunity to experience a Tech Inspection similar to what will happen at the Worlds in Bathurst.
Safety first, and then experience.

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Permalink Reply by leighgriffiths on April 29, 2009 at 18:13

I think what you guys are doing in terms of ensuring adequate safety and protection is great for us and the sport. it is something I also take very seriously and I am often thinking of ways to make the activity safer. But what protection does a layer of leather have over a solid shin guard? i thought Steve's solution would be perfect for Bow's situation.

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Permalink Reply by Sakamoto on April 29, 2009 at 18:32

Guys, I don't want crew to get stuck on this issue, but the most simpliest way to address this situation is this: Full leathers or a full leather/kevlar suit is the accepted level of safety attire as stated in the IGSA Rulebook. As the IGSA Rulebook is the standard we are adopting, which was stated right from the very beginning, then thats what standard will be accepted.
If we, the Gravity Community, want more events in Oz, then we need sponsors, and sponsors will only come on board and support us is we stage safe, professional events/free rides. Safe events keeps insurance down as well, and ULTIMATELY riders are kept as safe as possible to go home to families and go hit their favorite hill the next weekend. Plus, in reality, it gives no "reckless behaviour/attitude" footage to the media. I know I've touched on things which are not directly "Tech Inspection" imformation, but just tried to give a much larger picture on this issue.
Bow, I've asked, but had no luck in trying to score you a set of leathers for the weekend, but I hope you can get some from someone.

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Permalink Reply by leighgriffiths on April 29, 2009 at 18:40

fair point

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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Jacko on April 29, 2009 at 20:20

so that means bow has wasted his money and wont be able to ride? i think thats a but fucken shit... but hey thats just my opinion.

In the IGSA rule book it does state:
III, G, 7. Passing technical inspection does not deem equipment to be safe or free from defects.

So by the IGSA rule book you CAN pass bow's leathers, but that means they dont have to be 'safe' to be passed

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Permalink Reply by Robbo on April 29, 2009 at 20:31

Jacko you gotta read the rest of the book mate. It means you declare that an item passes IGSA spec, for insurance purposes it is not a declaration of safety. A street luge might pass a technical inspection on the criteria but nobody on earth will declare it a safe thing as this item are provided by the rider, if the luge was provided by the organiser it would then be declared safe by the organiser. It is a section of the rules indicating that a rider is responsible for their equipment but you still gotta pass the criteria.