Some safety questions (in light of Chin/RA)
10-20-2012, 03:41 AM
#32
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I don't understand why everyone doesn't use a Halo seat in a dedicated track car. 6 point harness HANS is not an option.. 5 point?? How do you spell testicular rupture? How exactly does that heal?
When I get into a student's car with a 5 point I tell them to make sure its tight and they all see the light
When I get into a student's car with a 5 point I tell them to make sure its tight and they all see the light
10-20-2012, 03:52 AM
#33
Scott
10-20-2012, 12:08 PM
#35
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I think CarbonX (and Stand21) are vastly more comfortable, but are the same SFI rating for protection.
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10-20-2012, 12:33 PM
#36
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IMO, HALO seats are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they unquestionably offer significantly more protection from other-that-full-head-on impacts. On the other hand, they really make it difficult to exit the car in a hurry in the event of a flash fire.
10-20-2012, 05:47 PM
#37
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VR - You are right.. I find Halo's a Chinese puzzle to get in. But I can dive out really quickly. I remember watching a video of some guy at VIR hitting oil at speed going into T1 and hitting HARD on the side. I think he would have been hurt without the Halo.
10-21-2012, 11:51 AM
#38
Addict
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I'll probably get flamed for this, but in my opinion, in a car that does not have a cage, the need for a suit is less since egress from the vehicle is typically much quicker than it is in a caged race car. Will a suit decrease your risk of getting burned? Yes of course. But the risk of that is much less in a street car, and in hot climates, using a suit increases your risk of dehydration and/or heat stroke.
BTW, the comparison of street vs track car oversimplifies a very important aspect! The inertia of an incident does not change between street or track car.
If i were to oversimplify, I could say that a track car has less mass thus inertia but that would involve many other variables such as an assumption of similar speed. It is a fact that street cars can travel as fast as race cars and, they don't have fuel cells...
You make a very large assumption which is your ability to extricate yourself from a car, one that has sustained such level of damage or impact that results in a fire.
You can prepare for overheating or dehydration (i do a lot racing in the south...) or rehydrate if/as needed. Once you've burned it becomes more of a life or death situation.
May God bless you and keep you away from harms way. Me, i provide all the safety equipment available.
Last edited by Juan Lopez; 10-22-2012 at 07:58 AM. Reason: break paragraphs - argh Ipad
10-21-2012, 11:53 AM
#39
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I find that my carbon x u/w cleans well with Woolite.
Last edited by Juan Lopez; 10-21-2012 at 12:14 PM.
10-22-2012, 10:28 AM
#40
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I have had a racing equipment dealer talk me out of a multi-zone fire extinguisher system arguing that activating the system is a waste of time and that they are often not that effective anyway - his argument was to stop and get out of the car as fast as possible and then walk away in case of a fire, interested in what others think about this.
10-22-2012, 11:25 AM
#41
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^+1
They call them fire "suppression" systems for a reason. I figure the fire system is there to help me get out, the fire bottle is to save the car in a small fire once I'm out. I carry both, worth the weight IMHO... If you can afford it the new haylon systems are your best system. Don't discount a fire in a DE car. 944 fuel rails are notorious failure points, evenbon street cars...
They call them fire "suppression" systems for a reason. I figure the fire system is there to help me get out, the fire bottle is to save the car in a small fire once I'm out. I carry both, worth the weight IMHO... If you can afford it the new haylon systems are your best system. Don't discount a fire in a DE car. 944 fuel rails are notorious failure points, evenbon street cars...
10-22-2012, 12:22 PM
#42
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Every major track requires as part of its rental contract at least a BLS (basic life support) and many require as part of the rental the on-site presence of an ALS (advanced life support) ambulance and crew. Their insurance requires it (the track's policy) and this has been standard practice for over a decade. Now, different tracks have different EMS protocols...
10-22-2012, 02:51 PM
#43
Race Car
fwiw, (posted on RLOT)
(summary: kid is burned on 80% of body after crashing his 18 yr old birthday gift. (F430)
*the point is, street cars burn too, if you crash them hard enough.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/t...ns-in-a/nShLf/
ps: I need to look at cool max underwear next... (already have some carbon X)
(summary: kid is burned on 80% of body after crashing his 18 yr old birthday gift. (F430)
*the point is, street cars burn too, if you crash them hard enough.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/t...ns-in-a/nShLf/
ps: I need to look at cool max underwear next... (already have some carbon X)
10-22-2012, 03:52 PM
#44
I won't drive a car on-track without all safety equipment. I could care less what others think. I have the suit and gloves and shoes, so I'd be silly not to wear them. I have a light Sparco suit, but have cool suit in my race car (birthday gift from my fabulous wife, along with a ChaseCam another year...).
I've also stopped instructing at DE's. One too many drivers that have no idea how far over their head they are, and clearly don't value their own safety, let along that of a passenger.
The one other safety thing you might want to think about is a fuel cell. Sure they're expensive, but you can get them used if you look. I got my 996 Cup cell used from a pro team that had one season on it, for about half the cost of a new one. For DE use (or non-enduro race use) you won't need the double top redhead fittings, so can save quite a bit there also by plumbing to the standard fuel door.
I've also stopped instructing at DE's. One too many drivers that have no idea how far over their head they are, and clearly don't value their own safety, let along that of a passenger.
The one other safety thing you might want to think about is a fuel cell. Sure they're expensive, but you can get them used if you look. I got my 996 Cup cell used from a pro team that had one season on it, for about half the cost of a new one. For DE use (or non-enduro race use) you won't need the double top redhead fittings, so can save quite a bit there also by plumbing to the standard fuel door.
10-22-2012, 04:14 PM
#45
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Has anyone seen data to support this? Not trying to start an argument, but I've never seen any data. We've all seen the data on the various neck devices in a front hit but I don't think I've ever seen any seat data. It's seems intuitive and logical, but I'd love to see some data. In particular, I'm curious because I would assume there is seat deformity that happens in a high G impact. I'm wondering if certain seat construction would be more effective than others.