Clear Vision

Back in the day of no helmets and open car cockpits the only need for mirrors was to see if drivers had their Dippity Do hair gel smoothed perfectly on their ruggedly handsome heads. Luckily, I only know about that hair product because my Dad would take a handful and smear it on his once full head of hair – not me! Today, drivers are strapped in their cars with head restraint systems, wrap around head braces, full face helmets, Nomex hoods, window nets, and blind spots that would make Helen Keller a better than today’s “blinded” driver. She could be competitive and prevail over sighted drivers as she was comfortable utilizing the drive by brail system. Sighted drivers have to overcome being out of their element and overcome the mental discomfort created by the limited vision found in cars of today. Helen had no such limitation and subtle bumps of brail came naturally to her. A driver using brail finds much bigger bumps, zero subtly and hard crash resulting in the need for a cane the following day – a cane for injured people, not a white one.

Often I have heard drivers say they would rather not have mirrors as they get annoyed at those few drivers at every track that drive with the mirror to fill up the grove instead of simply driving as fast as they can. Some old school drivers think that mirrors should be removed as they feel as if they take away from their driving skills and they don’t need them. These drivers think if a competing car is up to their door then they will see them. If the car is not in their peripheral vision then it is ok to cut down into the turn. I think this old school thought may have been true at one time. Today it is so hard to see due to needed safety improvements and new thinking needs to be considered even by experienced racing veterans.

Safety advances are clearly the right choice but they do have an impact on vision making the need for mirrors a top priority. More vision means more safety and mirrors are an aid and not a crutch.

At Daytona and Talladega the Cup stars accept that blocking and mirror driving are simply part of the deal. At local short tracks blocking may happen but, to me, the safety aspects of proper vision outweigh the drivers that break the unwritten rule about using mirrors to intentionally drive in an erratic pattern in an attempt to keep pursuers at bay. The reality is that in today’s modern stock cars it is so hard to see that the need for mirrors is very real. Competition is so tight that mirror driving isn’t as easy as compared to the days when drivers had full head movement, open face helmets and seats that stopped at their shoulders.

Modern day drivers have so much going on in their cockpits that it takes full concentration to look forward to hit their marks. Sure, a few guys can block by mirror driving for a few laps but in return their lap times become so slow that they get passed eventually anyway. A few bad apples will always mirror drive but those types are rarely the guys that are in the front week in and week out. Besides, on a quarter mile short track it only takes a few blatant mirror driving moves and the trailing driver with a faster car has a chrome, well plastic, horn that trumps mirror driving. A quick rap on the bumper gives the mirror driver plenty to think about. Mirror drivers have plenty of time to think while being towed off the track when a veteran shows them how the bumper on a faster car functions.

Used properly, mirrors are a safety device that should be employed extensively. If you look close at the Cup cars on TV they nearly all have clamp on spot mirrors on the driver side window opening. Large wide angle rear view mirrors help drivers to know what is going on behind them. With the knowledge that a car right on the driver’s bumper competitors know that full concentration is required. The awareness of close action is a safety necessity. If the track is clear behind drivers can be mentally fresh when it counts as they can take a small mental breath if they know they are not being dogged from behind. With a clear rear view mirror drivers can experiment with different lines in the never ending quest to find more speed.

Many short track teams employ radios and spotters can be very helpful in keeping drivers informed. The spotter’s job is to look ahead and give advance warning of on track trouble. In addition, spotters can help with strategy, discussing chassis adjustments and of course they can be vital in helping drivers to know if a competing car is inside or outside. For drivers, it is quite comforting to hear that it is “clear” all around. While spotters can be an important tool it still comes down to the driving feeling what is going on around him and the decision to pull down at corner lies squarely with the driver. Many race series do not allow radios and the drivers are solely responsible to be aware of their surroundings. Mirrors play a vital role in helping drivers know when it is safe to go low or take the high groove.

A quick glance to the side view spot mirror provides instant information and a good wide angle spot mirror provides a clear view providing instant real time information for the driver to act upon. Increase vision improves speed and cuts down on accidents. Corner entry accidents always create controversy and in the end if a driver can prevent an accident then every tool available should be utilized.

A spot mirror on the drivers side will help you to feel cars around you. A fraction of a second gives you added confidence entering the turn when you know you are "clear". Cup stars may mirror drive but they have the luxory of just getting out another car out of their stable of 20. Saturday night racers usually have one car and when it is torn up the concern is about cost and time to repair. Cup drivers don't even think about cost, time and damage and they have an entire shop getting the next one ready. Mirrors prevent alot of damage on Saturday night if used properly.

Wide angle rear view mirrors are equally as important. Adjusting the mirror to cover blind spots helps drivers to know what is happening around them without the assistance of a radio spotter. While spotters are invaluable – instant information provided by a quick glance allows drivers to make better decisions. Whenever I hear a driver throw their spotter under the bus after a wreck I wonder if a glance to the mirror could have saved a wreck. There is little doubt that stock cars with all the safety gear have limited vision and drivers can only see clearly through the front window. Just about every other view is a blind spot. The side view and vision out the back are severely limited and good mirror installations expand the drivers viewing area immensely.

Wide view mirrors that clamp on can be positioned perfectly eliminating most blind spots. A variety of sizes are available. Glass mirrors offer the best view and multiple bracket options allow you to get the mirror just where it is needed.

I think there should be a rule on every stock car including big time NASCAR racing that requires the use of a Lexan spoiler blade. A spoiler blade made from aluminum prevents trailing drivers from looking ahead through the windshield of the car in front of them. A clear plastic spoiler blade greatly enhances vision allowing drivers to see further ahead. Clear spoilers are a low cost safety measure that should be applied at every track. Why clear spoiler blades are not used on NASCAR Cup cars, Nationwide cars and Trucks is beyond me as the added cost is zero and the vision improvement is dramatic.

Ken Schrader spends a lot of time short track racing. I recall a time when he was driving a late model up in the Northwest and in the drivers meeting he was very vocal explaining to the officials and other drivers the need for Lexan spoiler blades. Schrader was a credible voice and at the time most of the cars were using aluminum blades. After his drivers meeting talk clear spoiler blades became the norm helping to make the Northwest series safer.

Clear spoilers help the driver behind to see through your car helping to avoid your car being pile drived if there is a wreck in front of you. Clear spoilers are inexpensive and they have zero drawback. If you ask me all series should mandate a clear rear spoiler blade.

There are a variety of mirrors available on the market and the clamp on versions mount in seconds. Easy adjustment and mirrors that can deal with vibration are a must. Once adjusted, simple locking mechanisms hold mirrors in place ensuring that drivers can count on clear vision. Clamp on mirrors offer the added advantage that the clamp mount allows for easy movement to provide for perfect placement. Weld on brackets commits the mirror location resulting in a compromise in vision. Clamp on brackets can be loosened is seconds and the perfect mounting location can be found easily and without limitation. The lightweight aluminum construction components are and added benefit.

Using the right bracket will get your mirror placed exactly. Teams should spend the time to eliminate as much blind area as possilbe. With the driver strapped in, a crew member can move about the car while asking if the driver can see the crew member in the mirror at all locations. In just a few minutes vision can be drastically improved. 

Using spotters for guidance instead of as dependence will expand sight lines to safely see your way through an entire Saturday night. Lexan spoiler blades will assist all race series drivers in looking ahead allowing them to identify trouble fractions of a second sooner increasing the chances of avoiding crashes. Perfectly located clamp on mirrors, coupled with their proper use, will give your team a safety advantage and will save tearing up equipment. Amazing new safety gear requires new thinking and the ability to see and feel through your mirrors takes only a little vision.

Go Forward – Move Ahead
Jeff Butcher
10/1/10