Master Cutoff Switch

Travis Miller · 03-22-2019, 09:57 AM

After returning from a month "down South" working Div 2 races including both the Baby Gators and the Gatornationals I must comment on an important issue I found missing on a lot of racecars.

As stated in the 2019 NHRA rulebook, master cutoff switches MUST be clearly marked for the OFF position. That means both the left-right lever style and the push-pull type.

It would seem simple to turn the switch off if an incident happens on the track. But let's look at it a different way. After an incident on track the first person to arrive at the scene will turn the master cutoff switch to the off position. The second person arriving may not know that the switch has been turned off and turn it the other way which would turn the system back on. This can happen when the switch is NOT clearly marked.

The other one is the push-pull type. Everyone knows that push OFF is the way these switches work....or do they. Marking with a PUSH OFF label will assure that in an incident the power gets turned OFF. All it takes is for one person to pull the switch and the system is reactivated.

Marking your master cutoff switch is a simple yet very important way to let everyone know which way is OFF.

03-22-2019, 09:57 AM	#1
Travis Miller Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 476 Likes: 1 Liked 275 Times in 25 Posts	Master Cutoff Switch After returning from a month "down South" working Div 2 races including both the Baby Gators and the Gatornationals I must comment on an important issue I found missing on a lot of racecars. As stated in the 2019 NHRA rulebook, master cutoff switches MUST be clearly marked for the OFF position. That means both the left-right lever style and the push-pull type. It would seem simple to turn the switch off if an incident happens on the track. But let's look at it a different way. After an incident on track the first person to arrive at the scene will turn the master cutoff switch to the off position. The second person arriving may not know that the switch has been turned off and turn it the other way which would turn the system back on. This can happen when the switch is NOT clearly marked. The other one is the push-pull type. Everyone knows that push OFF is the way these switches work....or do they. Marking with a PUSH OFF label will assure that in an incident the power gets turned OFF. All it takes is for one person to pull the switch and the system is reactivated. Marking your master cutoff switch is a simple yet very important way to let everyone know which way is OFF.