With February & March loaded with races, let’s take a minute to talk about gate numbers & how they are placed on shafts by your crew. Safety as it relates to gate panels ..and the way they release from the gate shaft..has been under a great deal of scrutiny by TD’s the last two seasons. While SPM took the step of including a “panel height indicator” on shafts starting last year, another important consideration is placement of adhesive gate numbers. Placing numbers above the the panel near the top of the shaft, especially when multiple stickers are used, can add significant resistance to a panel as it slides off the gate. We recommend that the gate numbers be placed below the panel. This will ensure that the number doesn’t inhibit the panel’s release should it become necessary. Attention to details like this will help you “soften” your race arena and ensure products related to safety work as designed.