fhp911

I was at Watkins Glen over the weekend and there was an unfortunate accident involving a brand new 997 turbo.

The front end was messed up and the airbags deployed, which wrecked the windshield and will necessitate new airbags, of course.

Worse, the driver's glasses got pushed into his face and he needed stitches.



QUESTION 1: For those of us who are belted in with 5-6 point belts and track seats, are airbags helpful?

QUESTION 2: What is the easiest way to disable the airbags? I checked the diagram of the fuses and don't see any fuse for it on the chart. (But my wife does say I can never find anything, so maybe it's right there.)

TIA, CIA, etc.

Jim H.

I think the side airbags may be helpful in reducing forces for that vector. Not sure about the front airbags but I wear a full face helmet and since it is designed to protect the face on hitting something hard, it should work hitting something soft like an airbag...

Airbags are not easy to deactivate from what I understand. It can be done on the passenger side for child seats but I think a special hardware adaptor is required. When you remove the steering wheel and use a non-airbag wheel, a resistor of some kind is usually required to simulate the presence of an airbag.

Your wife is right. The key sensing organ used for finding anything is the uterus. Men are SOL...

Cheers.

doc2s

they can be turned off by a dealer.

Van

If your airbag light is on, will they deploy in an accident? If not, just unplug the plug for the seat belt latch.

GT3 Racer

Q1: No to front airbags. Ask me how I know.

DanH

I really hope you didn't have a 'de-gloving' incident? (its as grim as it sounds except you aren't wearing gloves..)

Airbags can do a lot of damage and I'd rather they didn't go off if I was harnessed.

Marv

From what I hear airbags are not a good idea if you are using a racing harness, neck brace and helmet.

I have also heard that full-face helmets and airbags are not good in that they impact the chin guard and can cause neck injury.

I really can't speak to that, but I do know that systems are designed to work together. On the street a 3-point safety belt and airbags are tuned as a system. Mixing those with racing harnesses, etc. can diminish the effectiveness of the whole system. It would be wise to talk to some professionals in the industry and get recommendations that support your use and needs.

fhp911

Gents and others,

I started this thread. The concensus seems to be that we are better off with the airbag disabled when we are properly in racing seat, belts etc.

CAN WE DISABLE THE AIRBAG OURSELVES? (ie, is there a simple way to do this trackside?)

Fred

ps: i regret that I titled the thread 'ABS'; that's what came out instead of 'Airbag'

Van

I think you can edit your original post and change the title.

roberga

Your local P shop can do it. They can put a switch in. Mine did it when putting n a steering wheel without the bag.

LiveNupe

How do you know????

GT3 Racer

I had an on track incident in my GT3 a couple of years ago. I have a 6 pt. harness, Hans, Full face helmet. I watched the airbag deploy and it never touched me. So my comment is: They are of no value
when they go off.

Nordschleife

they don't reach you if you are pushed far enough back. However, more and more we are seeing the fast drivers sitting closer to the wheel an d elevated as much as possible. In this position, the airbag can, indeed, make contact with the helmet.

Theoretically, I can see some value in side bags, in practice I don't know. I tested airbags a couple of years ago, but only had the front bags, it was interesting and worth the beater car I bought to do it in.

R+C

TT Gasman

So what happened at the track?

DanH

Do you guys still get more powerful airbags in the US than in Europe? I know they certainly used to have a bigger charge to compensate for the vast numbers who don't believe in seat belts.