Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Alpina Safety Systems officials are planning design and construction changes to Alpina Air Modules to make them better suited for use at U.S. racetracks, based on recent experience at Pocono, Portland, Daytona and Road Atlanta.

According to Alpina Motorsports Manager Robert Pertl, new Air Modules will be constructed using a heavier PVC cloth and will be fitted with an additional heavy-duty, replaceable skirt attached to the face of the module itself. The heavy-duty additional skirts will be designed so they can be retro-fitted to existing modules as well, Pertl said.

At typical European tracks, gravel traps stop motorcycles before they impact Air Module or Air Fence sections. At U.S. tracks, a lack of run-off room and a lack of gravel traps typically results in crashed motorcycles reaching the Air Module sections and often damaging the sections.

Damage to sections can be caused by punctures from footpegs or other sharp parts or by burning from contact with hot parts such as exhaust systems or brake discs.

Alpina plans to be in full production of Air Modules in the U.S. by January 2002, according to Pertl, who is at Road Atlanta this week and also attended events at Pocono and Daytona.

Besides attending races where deployment of Alpina Air Modules was financed by the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund, Pertl is meeting with officials at five U.S. racetracks and one Canadian track regarding possible future use of Alpina Air Modules.

Pertl has also had discussions with Formula USA officials regarding deployment of non-inflatable Alpina Defender modules at dirt track races.