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I have an old racer, I took a few useless skydive things off it and now I am left with a few options.

I would prefer to go with the Velcro conversion, but looking at the shape, and feel seems like a pin conversion would also work.

If anyone has some photos of the conversions that where high tech back in the day, or notes that where learned on the way to BASE specific gear ? (besides the evident things, example the tiny integrated (reserve) riser where they used or always longer 3-ring risers)

(and yes I know there are better ways to jump off fixed objects then taking a step back, I have and have had more then one BASE specific rig, this is just a project, and maybe to be used for the occasional S)

Pete Certain BASE 683 hand converted a Racer
into a 3-pin single parachute system that was
gifted to me after his death.

I have jumped it many times but always via
Static Line, since I already own 2 Gargoyles.

He covered the reserve risers and tacked
them down, BASE risers were attached to
the rings where the main would've gone.

I also have an old Strong SKY rig I am in the
process of converting to a single canopy rig.
We used to do unpacked jumps in Twin Falls.

I am currently without internet at home but
if you friend me on FaceSpace and/or like
Sky-Frogs then you can see plenty of
photos and videos of each rig.

I made my first 30 or 40 BASE jumps with the same Racer I used for skydiving because... there were no BASE rigs back then.

I have attached a picture of one of them. I made only two modifications:

1) the Carl Boenish mod where you sew tapes into the bottom of the main container so you can stow your lines like a pilot emergency rig (this was also pre-tail pocket days).

2) I put duct tape on the velcro tabs on the sides of the main container top flap. You can see that mod in the attached photo.

You can also see the video here that shows how a canopy opens out of a Racer. The technical detail:

--1,104-foot smokestack
--catwalk railing launch
--275 sf Strong Wizard accuracy canopy
--standard 36-in skydiving pilot chute on a 9-foot bridle
--slider up
--flat-pack free-packed with lines stowed in the pack tray
--Tape on the velcro closing tabs on the main container

Bottom line: you might want to open up the main container's lower corners, but is a great single-pin BASE container as-is... and why even remove the reserve? Keep a small round in it and you have the fastest-opening reserve on the market that could save your life -- and weighs about the same as a 6-pack.

Also, from a technical standpoint, the Racer is a highly proven rig that has been in continuous production since 1974; why do a jury-rigged one-off mod that won't even be tested until you try it the first time?

And if you don't want to put a reserve in it, use the reserve container for a stash bag, snacks, wingsuit, whatever...

Because there is really no good reason to chop it up, especially since you have other rigs and only want to use it for spans.

Just a couple of nitpicks...

The date on that video says 1984. There certainly were tailpockets around then. The tailpocket first appeared in BASE on Oct. 18, 1981.

Also, wasn't the Wizard a Bill Gargano canopy, the 2nd generation of the Comet that also included the Spirit and the Hobbit?

That's funny.

another route would be to basically cut off everything but to harness and make your own container from there. You could wind up with a Velcro rig that is quite functional pretty easily and completely hide the reserve risers in the process.

How about: Fixed risers with a built in set of rings for cutaways.

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Modifying Racer harness container for BASE . You need to just start tearing into it and play it by ear for a game plan .
( If it were me ). that is somewhat the way I would start . Velcro would definitely be quickest route for finish . Might be easiest to just trash all and build new around your harness .
Or Cut all off and trash everything but the back-pad section, with the harness/lift/ring & lateral that it is integrated with . Then just build (cover-over) with a top-bottom & side closing flaps with shrivel Flap .
Don't forget the BOC on the bottom tray . ditch all hard cable housing and do a quick routing with soft-cable cover for cutaway .

Probably an even better idea. But im not old enough to know about these so called "Racers" you speak of anyway ;)

Hey .. You start tearing into that Container yet and get something going for a BASE conversion ?

. ( if Not ) . I was thinking for a 'good start' and to make the conversion a little more easy on your part . you should remove the leg pads and then split the lower lateral off the webbing where your leg friction buckles are . Get a bulk of webbing out of the way and then split the corners on the bottom of your Main tray also.
. That way you can get it all laid-out nice and flat as possible . The project as a whole is less distorted, and that way you can get a better look at it and more easy sewing .
-
rough Example in the pic.
. ( Kind of ) what you want to end up . get it all laid-out with as one big open tray to move into the direction that you want, Velcro or Pin .
-

Isn't the baser by Sonic who runs the pro shop down at the ranch specifically a converted racer? Might be worth reaching out to him. If I'm wrong do correct me.

From my understanding it uses a Racer harness to preserve the TSO, but I'm sure the container is not a converted Racer. I believe Jump Shack builds the containers and Sonic sells them.

Kinda. It is actually an old fore and aft harness/container TSO. Hence the accompanying chest mount reserve.

Thank you for the correction.

It does kind of seam like more people are Posting interest and motivated to the actual Racer Base conversion get started . Than the guy who started asking weeks ago with his lone single Post ???
.

Nice very nice! been creating/jumping not waiting/watching
#44, more of a project then anything, nothing like that feeling of is this going to work?
HJ33/hookitt yeah dudes that’s a solid idea about hiding the risers, I had a few designs, but a whole cover risers would be tight, with great places to tuck riser covers.
Sonics thing is a whole another beast, iv used his BASEr a while back, great for plans.

So far I have been with paper trying to figure something out, got some fabric cut, but dint like it and now have a much better idea, I saw a slick Velcro rig in another forum about the beginner buying a new rig, next plan is to slash off the crap, and get going in a more new style direction.

why so keen on ripping apart a racer?
just buy some ty8 and mock up a harness with some hotglue and a few stitches to hold it together, then send it over to one of the guys here that own harness sewing machines to throw in the 5cord.
then finally build your container around it from scratch.
way more to learn that way, and also way more fun to jump it for the first time if the harness is also homegrown...

seems like a big jump, step by step ill be making it, ideally I want to make it all, one day no rush, thanks for the suggestion...

The Wizard was a Bill G canopy, released at about the same time as the Spirit (i used one for ~ 400 jumps) and the Hobbler.
Probably not a 2nd Gen Comet since the Wizard was BIG / HUGE (300 sq ft?)

cheers

And, I'm impressed with the mostly supportive comments in this thread about a gear mod question.
I was expecting to see, what are ya crazy? just buy a fill-in-the-blank.
Must be because it is the technical forum, not the general BS forum.

Craig

Edited: Fortunately I was wrong and Bill Gargano is not a dead guy!

Craig, check your PM...