[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Nice pics. Thanks for sharing. The only thing I think of when I see these types of cars is the open cockpit were being the driver you head is out there for just about anything to hit. Not to mention rolling over and having the car on top of your head.

I was involved in the development of a GP board game that was never bought by a game company, but I collected the rules over the years.

1956: 2500cc maximum, or 750cc maximum supercharged.
No restrictions on weight, dimensions or fuel type.

1966: 3000cc maximum, or 1500cc maximum supercharged.

Minimum dry weight 500kg (1102lb).
Commercial fuel required, 100 octane maximum.
Aircraft-type self-sealing fuel tanks required.
Cars must have a self-starting system, including battery. In the pits cars may be started by external means.
Cars must have a dual backup braking system.
Cars must have a driver roll-bar.

Oil tanks must be sealed. Oil replenishment during the race is prohibited.

1976: 3000cc maximum, or 1500cc maximum supercharged.

Minimum dry weight 575kg/1268lb.

Reciprocating piston engines may have no more than twelve cylinders.
Commercial fuel required, 100 octane maximum.
Maximum fuel capacity 250 liters (55 gallons).
Self-starters(including batteries) and dual backup braking system required. Batteries must be capable of starting the
car at least twice(however, when cars are in the pits they may be started by external means).
No bodywork may cover the wheels. Wheels and tires must be exposed to the airstream.
Oil tanks must be sealed. Oil replenishment during the race is prohibited.
A circuit breaker, capable of shutting off all electrics manually, is required.
Cockpits must be at least 60cm (23.6") long and 45cm (17.7") wide.
Driver roll bars must be fitted, consisting of tubes with minimum diameter of 3.5cm (1.4") and wall thickness of at least
2mm (.1"), and a minimum height of at least 5cm (2") above the driver's helmet and minimum width of at least
38cm (15").
Cars must be fitted with a six-point safety harness for the driver.
A headrest must be fitted, capable of protecting the driver under 5G rearward acceleration.
A life support system must be provided, consisting of an air bottle connected to the helmet by a fire-proof hose.
Tubes and cables must be constructed so as to prevent any liquid leaking into the cockpit or any electrical area.
"Rubber bag" fuel cells are required, and must comply with U.S. military specifications and FIA regulations regarding
fuel-resistant fabrics(or may be made of two bags, one inside the other).
Magnesium sheet may not be used in construction unless it is at least 3mm (.12") thick.
Body metal covering the fuel tanks must be an aluminum-magnesium alloy at least 1.5mm (.06") thick.
Fuel tanks must be attached with aircraft type "dry break" couplings.
Steel suspension members may not be chromium plated.
Tank fillers and caps must be constructed so as to resist breakage in the event of a crash.
Cars must be fitted with two fire-extinguishing systems, both of which can be operated by the driver, and at least one
of which can be operated by a person outside the car. Half of this system must be used to protect the forward part
of the car, specifically the cockpit. These fire-extinguishing systems must be mounted within the main structure of
the car.
All wiring must be surrounded by a fire-resistant material.
Cars must be fitted with an external emergency handle, which will shut off the engine and trigger the fire extinguishers.
Maximum body width between front and rear wheels 140cm (55"). Width beyond 110cm must be a "crushable/
deformable structure" consisting of a sandwich core at least 10mm (.4") thick, with two outer sheets of 1.5mm (.06")
aluminum, with a minimum strength of 25lb. per square inch and a tensile strength of 14 tons psi.
Crushable structure surrounding the fuel tanks must be at least 100mm (4") thick.
Any oil tanks located outside the main body of the car must be protected by a crushable structure at least 10mm (.4")
thick, and may not be located behind the gearbox or final drive casings.
Maximum width of the rear wing is 110cm (43"), and the front wing 150cm (59").
Fuel, oil and electric lines may not be further than 60cm (24") from the centerline of the car, or run adjacent to the main
fuel cells or within the crushable structure. Water lines may run through the crushable structure.
Adjustable wings are not allowed.

Cars must be fitted with a fifteen-watt red taillight to be used in bad weather conditions.

Changes For This Year: Maximum front overhang is now 120cm (47.24"). Maximum rear overhang is now 80cm (31.5").

Maximum height of the airbox (which, being attached directly to the engine, is not actually "body work") is now limited
to 85cm (33.5") above the lowest sprung part of the car. The top of the air intake must conform to the 80cm
bodywork rule.
Maximum overall width (including tires) is now 215cm (84.6").
Maximum tire width is now 21" (53cm). Maximum rear wheel rim diameter is now 13" (33cm).
A "substantial structure" is now required forward of the cockpit, capable of sustaining a 25G deceleration without the
pedals moving backwards more than 150mm (5.9"). This must include a second roll bar near the dashboard to
guarantee the driver's helmet will not touch the ground in a roll over.

Oil lines and oil coolers must be surrounded by a 10mm thick crushable structure.

My point is to show how the rules have grown over the years. Most of them deal with driver safety. The roll bars are very effective, and the sport is much safer now than it was in 'the good old days'.

I've been riding motorcycles for 44 years now, and it's much more dangerous that driving a GP car, and for the same reasons you mentioned.