If I were to participate in Rallycross events do I need to be worried about my airbags deploying? If so, can I just pull a fuse or what would be the best way to deal with that?

 

Good question. I've heard of some people just removing them but if your going to drive it on the road too then I wouldn't. As far as disconnecting them I believe the only way is to disconnect your battery but I could be wrong. Possibly pull the wires out of the harness for the air bag?

 

I've never thought about this, but now that you bring it up that's a good thought. I'm curious to see the responses as well. Sub'd.

 

I've done some pretty ridiculous stuff off roading in trucks and never had an airbag deploy. I wouldn't think they would deploy unless you hit something but don't take my word on it because I have no experience off roading cars.

 

If you stuff the car off of a jump hard enough to deploy the airbags, you'll probably be glad they did. Leave them functional.


I have similar experience to riderun in my long travel ranger before it was gutted and caged. Plenty of suspension breaking, axle bending shenanigans occurred in that thing with no airbag deployments.

 

I agree with this guy^


If you actually have an impact hard enough to deploy an airbag, you'll probably be glad you left them in. I would just keep them, better safe than sorry!

 

unless the rules require you to remove them, you should leave them in.

 

thanks for the responses. some good insight. Anyone have Evo specific experience with this, just to add to the information of the thread?

The main concern with them is the cost and safety associated with a deployment that isn't necessary.

 

Haha, I remember watching the episode of Top Gear when clarkson's BMW side airbags deployed from the rough dirt road he was on.

Little off topic xD

 

Not necessarily off topic because it just further demonstrates the point that it depends on the vehicle. I've literally seen Jeeps and Trucks crash into a bank at at least 10 MPH downhill and have no airbag deployment yet some vehicles deploy the bags without detecting hardly anything.

 

Unless you have a cage and harness I would leave them in.

That said, I'm pretty sure cars have strategically placed sensors that detect the speed and angle of the impact to determine whether the bags deploy or not, but I could be wrong.

 

I rallycrossed a few years.

The goal of SCCA rallycrosses is to be mild enough to avoid any concern about airbag deployment. I wouldn't worry at all. Think autocross on dirt/grass/sand/gravel/snow etc. Mild "jumps" Like 1-2 inches.

Wheel to wheel global rallycrosses, I have not run any, would definitely be advised to remove airbags.

 

Also, keep in mind that not all SCCA rallycrosses will be perfectly created. I backed out of two rallycrosses due to the course being too rough in my opinion. (Basically one course was high centering some cars and a tree stump right at the edge of the course at another. )