Have a good seat?

"Have a good seat?" A concerned person might ask that...about the movie, concert, or a race. I am asking it about the seat in your race car. Having a good seat makes a big difference in how a crash turns out!

What is the role of the seat in your race car? Experience resulting from crash sled testing has shown that the seat is critical in your ability to survive a nasty crash in the best condition. Having a seat that is made to your size of appropriate materials and with proper bracing, designed to support your head, shoulders, chest, and pelvis, and installed correctly in the chassis is a huge step toward protecting your biggest investment...YOU!

There are a number of exceptional seat manufacturers...check out the ads in the magazines. As I conduct safety inspections, and as I just wander the pit areas trying to see what folks are using, I am struck by the wide variety of seats being used...good and bad. Folks, if you can take the side head support on your seat and bend it with your bare hands, you are not getting much protection from it. If the chest supports bend easily, that is bad! I have been in the business long enough to remember when fiberglass drivers seats were on their way out and folks griped about that change! "Aluminum seats are just too expensive...no need for them" was the whine occasionally heard. Fast forward 30 years and we hear the same thing about seats with proper design and structure.

In a recent conversation with Kris VanGilder of Innovative Safety Products (ISP), he advised me that an appropriate seat can be purchased for $1000 or less...and that would include head supports.

And remember...a crash at a quarter-mile can result in injury, not just the bigger tracks. There is no substitute for a good seat! Keep your seat in good shape by putting it in a good seat.

Our goal: Everyone goes home standing up at the end of the night.

Keith

September 11..."Let's roll!"

Hope you don't mind if I slip out of "racing gear" for a moment to pause and remember those who died on September 11, 2001...especially those who gave their lives protecting the lives of others.

Now, you might be ready for me, being a former paramedic and firefighter, for this post to be about the 343 firefighters who died at the World Trade Center complex. Well, I was thinking of going that way...and this morning I was having a conversation with a friend who reminded me of the folks on Flight 93 that crashed in PA after a bloody fight to regain control from the terrorists who had hijacked the plane and were planning to flight it into the White House or the Capitol.

Personally, it is hard to imagine the guts it took to organize the ill-fated attempt to take the plane back from the terrorists. The terrorists showed evidence of their motivation...dead and injured flight crew proved that. I can only imagine what was going through the minds of the passengers, especially Todd Beamer, whose words "Are you guys ready? Let's roll!" echo in history. I will never forget their actions, born of personal integrity and courage.

Please take just a minute today to thank God for folks who are willing to risk it all for others...and offer a prayer for those who suffered injuries and for the families of those who died on 9-11. Our world changed on one beautiful, sunny fall day...and let us never forget that day.

May God bless all of us as we remember this tragic day in history.

Keith

Seat Belts and Shoulder Harnesses--Pay Attention!

Let's consider for a moment the critical nature of seat belts/shoulder harnesses in the modern race car. Whether it is a sprint car, stock car, or an Indy car, the role is the same--keeping the driver in the seat (hopefully, a properly constructed one), using the pelvis and shoulder structure to help control the body as the car accelerates, decelerates, and changes direction.

It is critical to pay attention to your belts, how they are installed, and how they are worn. You need to check the dates on the lap belts and shoulder harnesses at the start of every season...if you drive more than one car, then have a plan to check them routinely. Most sources agree that your restraints should not have seen more than their 3rd year since manufacturing...and that is under good conditions. Exposure to sunlight, exposure to chemicals and dirt (pay attention dirt-trackers!), points of abrasion, and use during a previous significant crash all will shorten their useful life. Please note...racing restraints are really only intended to do their job once! If they have done their job well once...allow them to be retired with dignity...there is no economy in continuing to use "abused" belts.

Details of installation are important. READ THE DIRECTIONS! What the belts are mounted to, the angle compared to the drivers body, how the belt passes through the seat, how and where the shoulder harnesses are mounted, where adjusters are placed...all play huge roles in how well the restraints will perform. Do not hesitate to call the manufacturer to help you make sure you are using their product in the best and safest way!

We will discuss safety restraints in more detail in later entries....this is an important subject. If you have any doubts, please...ask!

Remember to say thanks to your local safety team...they care about you!

Keith

Feature on Dirt Track Safety Teams on Speed

Might want to take the opportunity to watch the Speed Channel broadcast of the WoO Dirt Late Model race from Eldora on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 12noon...Terry Kibler, Safety Coordinator at Eldora reports there will be a feature aired on dirt track safety teams during the broadcast...should be some nice exposure for the guys and gals "in the trenches."

Keith

DuQuoin Fairgrounds Racetrack...30 years later

I had the opportunity to work the ARCA Lincoln Welder Truck Series (ALWTS) race on August 24, 2008 at the DuQuoin Fairgrounds Racetrack...a 1 mile dirt track...smooth as glass...nice and wide. It is also the scene of a defining moment in my racing safety career 30 years before.

The ALWTS race was uneventful...one caution for a spin with minor wall contact...good racing!...Norm Weaver and Paul Hahn put on a great example of close and clean racing! This event is not the point of this entry...more, what happened there 30 years ago.



Early in my racing safety career, I was blessed to work with Professional Track Services (PTS), a Fort Wayne-based track safety company. On Saturday, August 26, 1978, we were providing coverage for a USAC Stock Car Division event (yes, that long ago)...a vicious crash occurred on the front stretch involving a chain link fence. The driver was critically injured and, as I understand it, ultimately recovered from his injuries. The PTS crews there that weekend (we also had a USAC Dirt Champ race on Sunday) played key roles in the medical care and extrication of this driver. How ironic is it that I would be at the same track 30 years later, almost to the day. It is interesting how much has changed and how much as stayed the same in those 30 years.

As I performed the safety inspections for the ALTWS show, I was struck by the irony of being back at DuQuoin after so many years. Having someone from a sanctioning body assigned to on-and off-track safety duties is still not that common...seeing the improved seats is very encouraging...seeing head and neck restraints being used is huge...and what is also encouraging is seeing the increased level of focus and training of safety teams. The concrete wall around tracks, versus the old guardrail retaining wall, has been a big improvement at many tracks.

What was also interesting to me is how far ahead of the curve the folks from PTS were...they were literally decades ahead of their time! We all need to strive for excellence the way the leaders in our business have done...and we cannot get complacent with our progress...we must keep our eyes open, our heads up, and continue to be aware of opportunities for improvement.

Remember...at the end of the day, everyone goes home standing up!

Window nets...why not?

In my travels, I have encountered a couple of divisions that do not require drivers side window nets. I am not sure I understand why that would ever be considered acceptable. Why would a driver think driving a car without a window net is a good practice?

Let's review the basics...the drivers side window net performs 2 critical functions...it keeps things inside the car inside (heads, arms, etc)...and keeps things outside the car outside (debris from the track surface, parts from other cars, etc). I do not ever recall first person experience where a net was a negative...nor do I recall any anecdotes about nets being a problem. I do remember Richard Petty's crash and violent flip at Darlington in 1970 where his arm and head were outside the window opening (I was very young! ) I recall a story about a stock car driver who was upside down when a large piece of debris came through an unnetted window leading to his demise...not sure if it is true or not, and can see how it could happen.

Does your track or series require window nets? Have you seen issues with nets that were problematic?

Have a great race, whenever your next one is!

Keith