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The message I want to get across is "If it doesn't feel right, IT AIN'T!"  In my humble opinion, there are only two on-board systems that are CRITICAL.  They are the steering and the brakes.  (Throttle return mechanisms and the gizmos that hold the wheels on run third and fourth.) 
 

EXAMPLE #1
The scene, the Sunday afternoon race at the first race weekend at the Naval Airstation in Tustin California.  The practice sessions and the qualifying race had gone well.  Now we have 2 maybe 3 laps to go in the main race.
Like most small formula cars, my steering wheel has a web shaped like a T.  When the car is running straight ahead, I can see the oil pressure gage and the tach between the rim and the top of the T.  Back to the race.  In third I exit the last turn on to the front straight.  I look down at the tach so I can shift exactly at 6 grand. Except I can't see the tach.  The web of the steering wheel is now blocking my view of the tach. Humm, why has the "home" position of the steering wheel shifted 90 degrees?  I don't know and I don't want to find out at 100 mph.  IF IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, IT AIN'T.
Hand in the air, slow down, get off the track.  Later I discover that the arm from the steering box to the tie rod has cracked and started to split.
 

EXAMPLE #2
The scene, a practice session at Phoenix International.  Rocketing through the infield I hit a berm on driver's left a little harder than I have in the past.  As I set up for the next right, the steering seems….I don't know….fuzzy is a good word.  The next left is fine.  The next right is fuzzy again.  IF IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, IT AIN'T.  Slow down, come in.  The bolt holding the left tie rod to the left spindle had broken.
 

EXAMPLE #3
The scene, a practice session at Sears Point.  The car,  someone else's Vee.  "The steering seems weird."  He spends 2 hours going over the car.  Next session, "Seems OK…. No, it's still weird."  Come in and check it out.  All OK so go back out.  "Still seems weird, I'll slow down to 75% and go in."  Two turns before the pit entrance a U-joint in the steering shaft snaps.  The car goes straight off into a dirt bank.  No serious injuries but significant damage occurred.  IF IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, IT AIN'T!!!!!!
Racing can be dangerous.  But we have a chance to make it as safe as possible.  Always remember  IF IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT-----FIGURE OUT WHY.

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