HI,
As a Passenger who sticks my neck out the side of the rig, I wonder why open wheel front wheels are allowed on racing rigs. I absolutely appreciate that we all accept risks when we strap on our helmets, but I think we can reduce a risk here with no real downside.
Most of the rigs have a completely enclosed fairing around their front tire. And for that matter completely enclosed chair tire as well already, so it can be done. It may require some air ducting for cooling and it will add some weight for sure, but it will also increase aerodynamics which will help reduce that as a downside.
I have already been hit by a front tire, luckily it grazed my ass and did not grip my leathers possibly because it was a wet race, so luckily I was not hurt. But i have to say, I would rather be bumped/hit by a fairing than have a tire grab my leathers and quite potentially run me over
In really close racing at very similar speeds say in a braking zone, a bump by a fairing might hardly be an incident, while the same situation with a front tire that grabbed on to my leathers would be a very painfull experience.
To sum this up, I am thinking of proposing this as a rule change at the next AGM, and im looking for feedback here first.
Feel free to comment pro's and con's.