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Trackcare Barriers.
I have a mate and no he's not the only one I have. He build's houses out of straw bales, not just the thatched roof but the walls as well and claims the first little piggy was right and eco friendly. The houses also apparently pass fire regulations although apparently not a big bad wolf blowing them down.
With tests proving that a straw bale stops absorbing energy after 27 mph. they should certainly not be used for adorning lamppost's and fast corners on race or road race circuits and in my opinion that goes for tyre walls as well.
What's the alternative, well Gregan Boyd of Trackcare International Safety in Northern Ireland have come up with an alternative "bale" which they have developed over the last few years. In 1998 his newly designed safety barrier pasted the strenuous F.I.M. test procedures, are you ready here comes the scientific bit, it gives the lowest rebound  velocity which relates to the potential for the rider to rebounded back onto the circuit following an impact of 0.9m/s compared to straw bales 2.8 and tyre walls 4.9. The new bales absorb 98.6% energy (this being absorbed uniformly) compared to straw bales 86% and tyre walls 59.3%. imagine like running into the side wall of a custard bouncy castle while naked, well maybe not?
The bales are waterproof and fire retardant (to spec. French M2 fire tested) unlike a straw house I'm sure, they are flexible and highly tear resistant (uv light protected) and by being able to advertise on the outer cover it allows companies to advertise and save lives.
Mallory Park are installing a section on their circuit this year sponsored by a major motorcycle clothing company and negotiations are ongoing with the new circuit at Rockingham. The Monaghan Club in Southern Ireland were one of the first road circuits to use the system in 1998 with other circuits following suit, the Dundrod circuit in Northern Ireland one of the Ulster section road races and the Isle of Man TT in 1999.
With a new air barrier being tested at TRL (MAG members remember Dr Chin) in March and the development of kerb and telegraph pole protectors, MAG Sport congratulates Gregan and Trackcare for striving to advance the safety at racetracks for riders, Marshall's and spectators alike.
Trevor Baird magnireland@talk21.com
(Picture copyright Mikami Photography)
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