| Author |
Message |
Chuck Babel (Chuck_98_rt10)
New member
Username: Chuck_98_rt10
Post Number: 2
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 26, 2002 - 9:20 am: | |
I�m not a big fan of the head restraint systems. They are uncomfortable and greatly reduce movement. At what point do we cross the point of reasonability? It�s a dangerous sport but so many people, usually �non-race people�, have knee-jerk reactions to every accident. If somebody said wearing a padded bra would protect you in a crash, some racing organization would be pressured into mandating it.
For example F1 and Indy travel at tremendous speeds. And being that the cars are so narrow the mirrors are just a foot or so apart requiring very little head movement. Other racing venues such as The Ferrari Challenge or Viper Days don�t get anywhere near the speeds of F1 and the mirrors are several feet apart requiring some head movement. For these reasons I don�t think a head restraint system should be required.
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BretM (Bretm)
| | Posted on Friday, February 23, 2001 - 3:40 pm: | |
At work today (I work for my dad's company during school vacation) I heard on the radio that the left seat belt failed. I find it hard to believe that it could be broken normally so it must have been defective. Also, he is infamous for taking his seat belt off on the last lap because he feels it is good luck. It's a shame to see something like this happen. I think that it is very good that more and more safety devices are becoming available but I don't really like it when they make things mandatory. It should be the driver's choice. |
Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
| | Posted on Friday, February 23, 2001 - 12:13 pm: | |
I think we can always speculate if the HANS would have been useful, no one will ever truely know.
today's news in case any haven't seen it, apparently Dale's seat belt failed, story:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010223/sp/car_earnhardt_crash.html |
Mark (Mnmark)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 4:53 pm: | |
In addition to HANS, other safety measures are available for the ovals in this country. The "roval" down in Rio has a 'soft' wall. Somehow, the walls are padded with tires, which are then covered by and bound to the wall with a big rubber band (made by Goodyear?). As these are expensive, I can understand why the local dirt track doesn't have this, but what is the excuse of all the NASCAR, CART and IRL ovals? |
Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 6:44 am: | |
From what I heard last nite, the HANS device may have saved Dale. I was suprised by the crash because although there was a lot of forward motion -- 180mph+, the smack on the wall didn't seem as intense as some I have seen. They said death was by 'blunt trauma to the head' but also said the HANS device would have prevented it. It seems like the ruff & tuff NASCAR drivers don't like some of the recent safety devices. Now me, I prefer to be safe and would wear something like that without questioning it.
As to where it will go from here.... I'm sure the safety experts will be looking at the next highest cause of injuries/death and continue to make devices to better protect the drivers. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
| | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 11:03 pm: | |
I think the Hans device is unquestionably a good safety measure. However, Dale didn't even want a full face helmet, much less a Hans device. It will never be known wether the Hans device would of saved his life, but it is known that Dale always went 100%. Most 100% car racers have a low life expectancy. |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
| | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 10:11 pm: | |
I was expecting someone to talk about this, but since no one has started...
What do think about these new "Hans" devices? I'm sure it wouldn't even tried to save fellow Vancouverite Greg Moore, but in Dale's case? The NBC reporter stated Dale walked away from worse. Now that the entire body will be strapped down in the car, will accidents now result in internal organs being squished against inside the body cavity?
Also in that news report, it was noted that CART and F1 makes the "Hans" device mandatory. |
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