[Land-speed] Hans Device and Safety

[drmayf]

I am still curious as to what is driving this discussion this year. It 
was also discussed last year as well and we wound up withsome good 
lateral head restraints.   Was there a paricular recent event that has 
caused a resurgence in the discussion?  
Some of the things that I wonder about are the designs specs.  When I 
look to the current level of HANS the speeds of the vehicles are around 
200 mph given that nascar and the other track circuit cars  probably 
purchase most of them.  So are the ones we might use going to have 
capabilities at 300 mph or higher? The energy requiremts are moe than 
double in that case. So will the unit that has the carbon fiber back 
board be strong  enough at 300 mph? What about 250 or 325?  Is the club 
willing to tell us what the minimum design requirements are? Ie how many 
G's should the unit be able to withstand in prevening head forward 
snap?    Can the club tell us how to mount the restraints for LSR 
racing? Will any of the manufacturers of implements back up their 
systems at speeds greater than which they may have been designed for? If 
we have system designed by an owner how will the club approve it?  How 
will they evaluate the restraint capability?  How will they facor in 
such things as seat layback, seat belt stretch or give, or the lanyard 
attachments for the helmet? How will they factor in the mass of a helmet 
and head in assuring that the installed unit will function as expected?  
Will Deist or Stroud or any of the other  manufacturers stand behind 
their products? If not, why should we use them?

Lots to consider here.   I like to think that if a rule is hard and firm 
then the club needs to stand behind that as well. For instance if a 
specific device or kind of device is mandated then the club, whether 
NASCAR or SCTA should stand behind that product and be responsible when 
it fails to do it's job. 

Interesting stuff..

mayf
Ed Weldon wrote:

>This is probably a bit early to start arguing the minutia of the future
>decisions on head an neck restraints; but I couldn't help but do a little
>counting of records from the 2008 rule book.  My counts are probably off by
>2 or 3. For Bonneville cars there are 650 records of which 386 are over 200
>mph (59%).  Below 200 the counts are 150-200mph, 157 records.  100-150mph,
>91 records.  0 to 100 mph, 16 records.  And this count has little to do with
>the large number of participants in those classes (which helped provide the
>impetus to open a 3rd course this year).
>  
>
snip