brucebe
Philosopher
I just read through the very extended "From The President" article in the latest memo, and had previously read an email about the subject of these new license tiers. While I'm sure we all have opinions about the new license tiers, the differentiation between ARR and IRR has practical safety implications worthy of a larger discussion.
Of course, what I'm referring to, is the lack of a required physical examination and approval from a doctor for ARR license holders. This is the "Silver" card. Is it for the silver-haired folks, who can't get signed-off by their doctor anymore? Are they going to drive with a skull-and-crossbones sticker on their car, so I'll know not to race too hard around them?
All kidding aside - we're all on the same race track at the same time. Lifting the requirement of a periodic medical examination is an *erosion* of safety standards for EVERYONE, plain and simple. A fundamental baseline for competition must be the simple fact that drivers are physically fit to drive a racecar at speed, with sufficient visual/aural acuity, sufficient cardiovascular performance, and at minimal risk for an unexpected health event that would seriously impair their ability to safely drive a racecar. That's *exactly* why all of the grown-up sanctioning bodies on the planet require a physical, by a doctor.
As it is, we have documented examples of drivers who were driving with known health issues/impairments, and creating dangerous situations for themselves and others on the racetrack. That was *with* the requirement of a doctor examination.
I don't know what factors are truly driving this change, but it is not in the best interest of the drivers, as it relates to their health and safety. Quite the opposite.
Let's get that medical exam back into the ARR credential requirements!!
-Bruce Beachman
Of course, what I'm referring to, is the lack of a required physical examination and approval from a doctor for ARR license holders. This is the "Silver" card. Is it for the silver-haired folks, who can't get signed-off by their doctor anymore? Are they going to drive with a skull-and-crossbones sticker on their car, so I'll know not to race too hard around them?
All kidding aside - we're all on the same race track at the same time. Lifting the requirement of a periodic medical examination is an *erosion* of safety standards for EVERYONE, plain and simple. A fundamental baseline for competition must be the simple fact that drivers are physically fit to drive a racecar at speed, with sufficient visual/aural acuity, sufficient cardiovascular performance, and at minimal risk for an unexpected health event that would seriously impair their ability to safely drive a racecar. That's *exactly* why all of the grown-up sanctioning bodies on the planet require a physical, by a doctor.
As it is, we have documented examples of drivers who were driving with known health issues/impairments, and creating dangerous situations for themselves and others on the racetrack. That was *with* the requirement of a doctor examination.
I don't know what factors are truly driving this change, but it is not in the best interest of the drivers, as it relates to their health and safety. Quite the opposite.
Let's get that medical exam back into the ARR credential requirements!!
-Bruce Beachman