Kill switch location
 

When incidents happen it starts me to thinking.

If your throttle was to hang wide open and your right hand is on the transbrake button, how are you going to reach the kill switch without letting go of the button? Maybe the kill switch should be located within reach of either hand. At least give it some thought.


Travis

Re: Kill switch location
 

Travis, You are correct and it's easy to do. I had my Super/Gas cars set up with a Morse cable 15 years ago. It ran from the master cut-off lever at the rear of the car, to a swing handle (like a chute handle) located inside the driver area. I did that so I could kill the power right now for what ever reason while straped in. I could not stand the thought of having an accident with damaged wires arcing and gas flowing. Think about it, how much fuel can your big pump flow in the time it takes rescue to reach you and shut you off. And thats at a national event where you have the maximum of safety personel at the ready! I am happy to say, I never had to use the in car switch in an emergency! I did however use the in car switch several times, (when straped in and ready....but had forgotten to turn the master on!)...LOL It's not a costly upgrade.....and could save your race car....or your life! (sorry, but sometimes the retired firefighter comes out of me!) WADE
http://i29.tinypic.com/2ywvhqr.jpg

Re: Kill switch location
 

I prefer the transbrake button on the steering wheel controlled by the left hand. We need our right hands free to roam.

Re: Kill switch location
 

I really like having a master power switch inside the car. Our old Don Davis Roadster had a rod all the way up in the cockpit for it. You could only turn the power on from inside.

It was nice knowing I had that option from the cockpit if I ever needed it.

Re: Kill switch location
 

Hey Wade, where was the lever located to shut off the electrical power in the corvette? I do not see a spot unless it was the chute lever. nice pics by the way
Henry

Re: Kill switch location
 

Lokar makes a kit to locate a Master Cutoff Switch shutoff lever inside the car:
http://www.lokar.com/product-descrip...ttery-disc.htm

Re: Kill switch location
 

in my case.......dragster.....(i know...wrong side.. .90 / s ss lol) I'm right handed with button on right side of s/wheel, my rod for the master switch is also on the right.....so I would be in a jam, sorta. I hope I would have the present of mind to kill the car with the ing.switch which is on the left side of dash (without removing rt. finger off t/b button.

At the old St. Louis track, I had my accellerator stick wide open@ the big end. First pass on car after my two year retirement. Yeap ! scared the **** out of me, hit the brakes......no good, finally reached up and killed the ing. switch. that worked...................got hung up on the hood.


Now , i always use stands to check the drop. And after blowing up a convertor, on the stands, checking the stall..........I don't do that anymore either.

My stuff dosen't go WOT unless I'm at the starting line.

Re: Kill switch location
 

When I went to Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School the KILL switch was RED & LIT in the middle of the steering wheel.........I LIKED THAT !!

Re: Kill switch location
 

It appears to be a standard in S/G and S/C as we are too mindless to turn it on....after we are buckled in...after we had our SS car built we added it....an accident is a lot more likely in the super classes because you're always checking your stop speed.....But the rear wheels need to be off the ground...period...

Rock

Re: Kill switch location
 

Henry, check your PM....Wade

Re: Kill switch location
 

Sit in your racecar and strap yourself in. If you use your right hand to activate the transbrake button, try reaching the ignition switch with your left hand to see if you could shut off the engine in an emergency.

Racers are highly intelligent when it comes to making a racecar go fast. Use some of your intelligence to make it safer.


Travis

Re: Kill switch location
 

Hell I just assumed you meant on the starting line, in that case I wouldn't know any different till the finish line. As for stall testing I'm not a big fan, won't do it unless I'm at least on the track, don't have the stones to hold the chain saw wide open otherwise. I have over the years witnessed this at different tracks and I vacate the area as soon as the guy stomps it, never know if he may have brain fade and just let go of the button. Joe

Re: Kill switch location
 

I have a RaceTech dragster and it has a master battery shutoff within easy reach of my left hand. Push type rod/cable just below the dash. I have occasionaly sat in my car and thought what would I do in an emergency if my throttle stuck. I practiced the various hand motions I might need. I also have two brake systems completely seperate, one foot one hand lever. My last dragster was Ron's injected. Fuel shutoff cable was within easy reach of my left hand. That would have been my first move in a stuck throttle situation, shut off the fuel, pull the chute, kill the switches......My present car it would be pull the chute, battery off, switches off.

My good friend had his throttle stick at the finishline at Island Dragway. It was an 8.90 something run at 153 mph in a '67 Nova. He reached for the shifter to neutral it and somehow engaged reverse in spite of the reverse lockout feature of the shifter........that car was destroyed when it locked the back tires spun around and rolled over. His safety gear did a goodjob and he was basically unhurt.....

Re: Kill switch location
 

if you look in both of our dragsters there is a big red nob for the shut off switch that is attached to the master switch with morse cable.

Re: Kill switch location
 

When I rewired the car last summer I installed a driver operated safety shut off switch that kill all electrical function in the car. Based on this thread I'm going to remove the guard around the button that prevents accidental engagement of the switch. It will be easier to engage if there is a problem.
Thanks for the heads up.
Cam

Re: Kill switch location
 

I my 69 Camaro I had a push-pull switch on the shifter plate. Pull was on and push would shut off the power to the coil (in my case.) You could slap it down with your hand and shut it off in a second. A ill switch on a steering wheel could be a bad idea because the wheel may not always be straight, you could be swerving.