Paul,
I feel for you regarding the loss of your friend. However, I still stand by
my opinions of composite materials. Fiberglass, and what we commonly know as
3carbon fiber2 are worlds apart. Yes, they both use woven strands suspended
in resin (did someone call it 3rags and glue2?), but it9s really only a
visual similarity. This is why I was looking for someone more adept (and
qualified) at explaining these materials than I.
If I had to choose between a fiberglass seat and a well-designed aluminum
one, I might make the same choice as you. But truly advanced composites are
a world away from common fiberglass. You can make 3carbon fiber2 like the
stuff you see in the import tuner catalogs for dash inserts. I9d no more
make a racing seat like that, than I9d build one out of cardboard. However,
put composites in the hands of an expert (like F1 car designers, for
example), and they can make structures of astounding strength. Or they can
make things of good strength, and incredibly light weight. It9s all in the
design and materials, and IMO composites give you greater design flexibility
than aluminum can. In this case, it9s not about the weight, it9s about
making something that fits, and is very strong.
Now for the apology part: I9m sorry that you may have been offended by my
claim that there was misinformation being posted on team.net.* I should have
toned down my original comments. In that sense, perhaps there was some
hypocrisy. However, I stand by my original opinions.
I agree, crash data (and crash testing) from all the race series is a fine
idea.
Of course, none of this will make someone fasten their seatbelt, or make
sure that it9s installed properly in the first place. Sigh.
Regards,
William Loring
(* there9s a straight line, if I9ve ever heard one.)
> From: "Paul Foster" <pfoster@tampabay.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: Hypocrites
>
> Something I forget to sprinkle in a healthy dose of "I think" and
> "apparently" along with IMHO but that was what I meant too.
>
> I have given the subject of seats great consideration since a PCA racer died
> at my very first race when his fiberglass seat contacted the roll bar and
> broke in half. It is a very personal subject for me. Personally, I believe
> that aluminum seats are better than fiberglass or composite seats. I don't
> have the resources to personally destructive test them to get quantitative
> data but I base this opinion on knowing the similarities between fiberglass
> and composites and knowing how well they have worked in NASCAR. Personal
> injury is gone down dramatically since their inception. How NASCAR got
> talked into allowing it the first time must be quite a story but I believe
> it was a very important day in racing safety.
>
> I believe racing seats are compromised to a great extent by trying to keep
> weight down. I believe the safest seat would probably be tubular steel but
> they would weigh perhaps twice what the comparable composite or aluminum
> seats do. That's they way of racing. Everything is a tradeoff.
>
> So yes, I apologize for taking exception to your remark which I took
> personally. Are you ready to do the same?
>
> Always just IMHO,
>
> Paul Foster
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