Track days with your friends are a lot of fun. But with the ‘good times’ feeling comes a hidden danger… The idea of meeting up with your mates and doing a few laps often goes along with skipping few safety preparations. The organisation itself, may also involve fewer marshals, medical teams, etc.
A day at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit is quite unique in every sense of the word. The Eifel surroundings are stunning. You get the chance to drive on a real formula-1 circuit. And on days like Ferrari Owners Days the collection of cars is often breathtaking. These days allow owners of the brand with the prancing horse to finally take their cars for a drive without speed limits, and experience the superb handling of these cars.
These days are normally divided into sessions, of cars with similar expected lap times. Extra options are at hand, such as local instructors, rides with Ferrari-affiliated drivers in the latest models, or testing a new model yourself in the hilly surroundings. The Eau Rouge lounge is filled with merchandise, F1 simulators, possibly even a Formula 1 car or a latest Ferrari model, and plenty of food.
As any F1 fan will know, the Eifel area is known for its ever changing weather though. It is common to have rain in the morning, and boiling heat in the afternoon, or have rainy conditions on one part of the track, and sun on the other part. These conditions frequently lead to crashes during F1 races, and unfortunately occasionally during track days as well. Driving at Spa requires you to wear a helmet of course, as well as fire extinguisher inside the car on most track days. The track days, though, do not require you to wear fireproof gear. And this I find quite strange.
I must admit, when you go to such a day with a group of friends, you are a bit inclined not to wear a fireproof racing suit, when everybody else goes there in a t-shirt and shorts or jeans. Nürburgring drivers not only wear no racing suits typically, they often refrain from wearing a helmet, as there is no obligation there (and a HANS system is even forbidden) during tourist drives. And yes, I was one of them…
But one incident made me realise the stupidity of not wearing fireproof clothes. While standing in the pit lane watching cars pass by, I noticed a fuel refilling of an F430 Challenge car was going on. Something went wrong… when removing the jerrycan from the filling opening, fuel leaked out of it and dripped on to the boiling brakes. Within a split second, the entire car was lit with a 4-meter flame. The driver, fully geared up with fireproof suit, gloves, etc, opened the door, jumped through the fire and made it out safely. The person who was filling up the car in his jeans and t-shirt, also made it out however with severe burn injuries.
Ever since that day I wear my racing suit on the Ferrari track days. I sometimes get comments about being one of the very few wearing a racing suit. ‘Why do you wear this when chances of fire are so small?’. And indeed, chances are small. But when the odds are against you, you will regret. In this video I am wearing the full outfit, including fireproof underwear, but made the mistake of bringing the wrong helmet (no incidents though!):
The days at Spa-Francorchamps are special, and they can be wonderful. I feel privileged being able to participate to these with a group of wonderful friends, surrounded by the cars we love and circuit we love. Track days are fun, but with a small effort they can be more safe as well. Wear proper racing outfits.
Ciao!
Robin
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