This is the Statt Mann Baby. Time to Scatt a little bit.

It’s more than obvious that motorsport on any level is dangerous. People get injured. People die.

This week, a very unscientific look at the problem found 21 deaths worldwide this year. At least 13 came in some form of rallying.

I’m a big rally fan. I’ve participated. Organized. And won awards covering the sport.

So, it’s hard to talk about the death of a woman, a co-driver at a national championship rally in New England nine days ago. Now, I have no idea how she died or why.

But people are working hard to make motorsport, especially rallying, safer. Speeds have been reduced. Cars have been modified for safety. Equipment is checked and double checked to meet safety standards.

But, in my opinion, the one piece that’s not considered enough is the age and wear of the shell itself. People in rallying and even drifting are using cars built 20 and 25 years ago.

They’ve been banged around. Welded. Modified. And banged around some more. The fact that some are using 25-year-old metal that’s welded, weathered, and worn is beyond me, no matter how much safety equipment is bolted in.

I hope people in the motorsport industry reconsider the issue and outlaw metal that’s a quarter century old.

Peace.