Inertia Switch on Track

[11Budlite]

I did a track day on Monday at LRP and had my first real issue with the Caterham. I was tracking out onto the main straight after the downhill and ran onto the curbing/rumble strips on the left side, when my LF cycle wing decided to take flight and the car lost power. I'm sure I was confused with both issues happening at the same time, but it didn't occur to me that it could be the inertia switch until I was towed back into the pits. To be fair I stayed on the curbing longer than necessary, but I was surprised that it tripped the inertia switch. A couple questions.

 

1: Has anybody else had an issue with the inertia switch being tripped when on track?

 

2: Has anybody moved the inertia switch to the inside of the firewall where it could be reset from the driver's seat? 

[JohnCh]

They can trip from curb hopping. It's common enough that Caterham even sells a bypass plug. I have read of people relocating them to a more accessible location in the cockpit rather than disable them, which seems a more prudent choice.

 

https://caterhamparts.co.uk/switches/7564-inertia-switch-bypass-plug.html

 

[7Westfield]

or you could just wire a toggle switch in parallel, to bypass it on track

[11Budlite]

Thanks for the replies, that gives me a couple ideas to think about.

[S1Steve]

Good morning Bruce. My thoughts would be possible relocate, but not remove or disable. You are well aware it’s there for a safety purpose…  Or I could break you shoes and say drive better and stay off the curbs..😆😆.  Hope your Well..

[11Budlite]

15 minutes ago, S1Steve said:

Good morning Bruce. My thoughts would be possible relocate, but not remove or disable. You are well aware it’s there for a safety purpose…  Or I could break you shoes and say drive better and stay off the curbs..😆😆.  Hope your Well..

 

I did get a point-by on the downhill so I was off my preferred line. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

 

Thanks, you too Steve!

[KnifeySpoony]

Driving on curbs is part of track driving. If you're not using curbs, you're slow. If it is triggering the inertia switch, I think I would consider bypassing it, or looking into why the switch is triggering (faulty maybe?). I have never had the issue thankfully. 

[CarlB]

I had this problem. I had a motorsport quality engine harness built for my car. The guy who built the harness is a very well-known tuner and he set up my ECU so the fuel would cut off on oil pressure. 

[S1Steve]

1 hour ago, KnifeySpoony said:

Driving on curbs is part of track driving. If you're not using curbs, you're slow. If it is triggering the inertia switch, I think I would consider bypassing it, or looking into why the switch is triggering (faulty maybe?). I have never had the issue thankfully. 

Thanks for the driving lesson, my comment was meant as joke amongst old friends..

[11Budlite]

I don't want to make a big deal about this, but at the tracks I frequent in the Northeast there are curbs you can use to be quicker and curbs that you should avoid. I've brushed up against this curb many times, but Monday was the first time I went up on top of the curb. The vibration was very surprising and was enough to trip my inertia switch, as well as send my LF cycle wing into the woods!  At the 14:45 mark of this video they explain the curb I ran over and what can happen if you're not careful.

 

 

[Croc]

9 hours ago, 11Budlite said:

1: Has anybody else had an issue with the inertia switch being tripped when on track?

 

2: Has anybody moved the inertia switch to the inside of the firewall where it could be reset from the driver's seat? 

1. Yes.  Many times. 
 

2. no.  But my switch accidentally fell off the car on purpose last week so it will not bother me again. 
 

I have not been upside down in cars since the 90s so I am safe.  Hold my beer….