Racers are freeflying DEATHTRAPS !

[bhenry 0]

Whoa people ! before anyone starts flaming me, I don't agree AT ALL with the subject of the post.
This however seems to be the general attitude towards the Racer container at The Irish Parachute Club where I jump.
My first new gear was a Racer Elite, and I put 500 jumps on it before getting a new rig which happened to be a Jav in order to match up gear with a 4 way team i was training with.
I have had no luck selling this gear at our DZ even though it is in immaculate condition and going for 1,000 Euro (870 USD)
http://gearforsale.barneyhenry.com
Few people have racer containers at our DZ and I believe that the prevailing anti-racer attitude is blind ignorance on the most part.
It is now at the stage that the developing freefly safety committee for our national organisation is deeming any/all containers which use velcro 'unsafe for freeflying', but amazingly at the same time they feel there is no need to bring in a mandatory AAD rule.
This is basically because the people making these rules, the existing freeflying group at the DZ don't use racers, but not all of them currently have AAD's ! Brilliant, eh ?
So folks - the only way to get informed and expert opinions on the issue of whether or not a Racer Elite or Power Racer is a safe container for freeflying is to come here, outside the tiny blindfolded community that is Irish Skydiving.
All comments welcome,
Barney

[3fLiEr 0]

I know some people that FFly with Racers - they are happy with them - myself - I would not FFly a Racer - I just would not feel happy....................
Just my 2 low pulls worth
bsbd
"In a world where we are slaves to gravity I am pleased to be a freedom fighter"

[Geoff 0]

Deathtrap, no, but a racer wouldn't be my ideal choice for FF, mainly because of the Velcro and the vulnerable main flap. Plus personally I don't like poptops, but that's just me.
As for AADs, this is a huge subject with a vast number of opinions, but I certainly don't find it 'amazing' that a DZ does not mandate AADs. Few DZs do mandate AADs, even for freeflying.
You did say 'all comments welcome'!
Geoff

[bmarkworth 0]

I have about 50 FF jumps in one of the new racers (tuck tab risers) and besides being a bitch to pack, I had no complaints. The main flap tucked in so tightly that I never worried about bridle exposure. The tuck tabs are kinda a pain in the ass to close, but once you get the hang of them they stay shut. I did not like the fact that the risers had a trough that was closed by velcro, as it too was a pain to close. All in all, it took a lot of effort to pack it, but once it was done, I had no worries about jumping it in any orientation.
Bryan

[JJohnson 0]

I still own my first rig, which is a used older racer. I used it for my begining FF rig when I came over to th dark side and started my colorful freeflopping career. If I did not pack it correctly and carefully I could get a toggle to come up prior to deployment.
However with the new features on the Racer I cannot see that they would be unsafe. Damn comfortable rig. I like my VooDoo more, but I would buy a Racer for FF.
JJ

[FreeflyGoat 0]

RACERS ARE FREEFLY DEATHTRAPS!!!
Unless you enjoy floating toggles and brakelines trailing behind you. I've seen it happen on video and to a friend so this is what has formed my opinion about them.
Now I cant speak for the newest models because I have not looked at them myself.
AADs- necessary but not mandatory.
Goat aka Dereck aka SuperFreak
AD A#292

[Levin 0]

Quote

RACERS ARE FREEFLY DEATHTRAPS!!!
Unless you enjoy floating toggles and brakelines trailing behind you. I've seen it happen on video and to a friend so this is what has formed my opinion about them.
Now I cant speak for the newest models because I have not looked at them myself.

actually i have seen this in the air. now this has been awhile back, but kyle trailed both toggles between his legs while he was headdown in stradle position (of course the story doesn't stop there). reason it happened is because his velcro was shot. rigs are like cars in a way. you have to keep up the maintanence. just basic things like rubber bands, closing loops, kill lines, re-lines, untwisting steering lines, repacks, clean cables, straight pins and in the case of racers, velcro.
imo, the NOS is fine for freeflying. i jump the older version with the velcro riser covers. i have never had any problems with it. the new version has tuck tabs and is very secure. this is also a very comfortable rig. imo, the 2000 elite is not so freefly friendly. it has open risers covers. so whenever this model rig is presented to the air the risers are exposed. and when headdown can sometimes lead to a riser around your arm. i have one of these models with a spectre120. so i use this rig for when i am jumping a tube. the velcro on this rig is in good shape. i have no problems with this rig at slower airspeeds. lately i have been jumping this rig while i get my newly healed broken ankle ready for the fx again. i get a riser around the arm (usually right side) about 1/3 of the time at higher speeds. if i loose sight of somebody and have to break off into a back track then it's pretty much a guarantee. trick is to catch it around the elbow so that it doesn't get under your arm. don't think this is racer only problem. i've seen it a few times on javelins. a good example for everybody would be the guy on the 'chronic' team on chronicles3. he has a riser around his arm as he spins before break off. if you have a racer 2000 elite and want to use it for freeflying i recommend not using it. if that is not an option then i recommend getting a pair of new snap risers from jump shack. they have a tab on them that only allow the snap toggle to be released by a downward motion. pretty secure. jump shack also has a riser cover mod that they can do. it's just anouther flap to cover the risers all the way. i got it on one of my past elite 2000's. problem was that the extra bulk made it hard to close the riser covers. and after just a little wear the velcro on top would not hold them closed all the time. so in summary the elite 2000 is no good and the NOS is no worries. blue skies
napoleon