In a message dated 08/02/2013 10:52:58 PM Central Daylight Time,
mike.mehl@yahoo.com writes:
> I ditto Tony's insight. I have run the HANS both while driving the
> Rabbit
> (with a roof) and the TR4. I only notice it at pre-grid. Never notice it
> is
> even on while on the track.
>
It's not unlike arm restraints, which were originally 'encouraged, but not
mandatory in vintage racing her in the Midwest. When VSCDA decided to make
them mandatory, I was one of the balkers. But then I watched a video
Motorsports photographer, Gordon Jolley, had made showing a Sprite doing a half
dozen barrel rolls at the bottom of the hill at Road Atlanta (arm flailing in
the breeze). I decided maybe arm restraints was a good idea. And, of
course, while they felt somewhat restrictive when I first put them on, they
were
of no consequence whatsoever, once the green flag dropped.
It is the same with the HANS and similar. And as difficult as it is to
bring up and revisit it, Uncle Jack's fatal incident at GRATTAN is a classic
example. As Tony said, had he been wearing a HANS device, in all likelihood,
he'd still be with us.
It's evolution, and you've got to pay attention. Recently, my sister sent
me a greeting card that had a picture of a 1930ish European Grand Prix
starting grid. All full of great, old formula racers. The drivers had helmets
(sort of), and goggles, but no seat belts, roll bars, or other safety
equipment. Not only that, most had short sleeve shirts. One was smoking.
We've
evolved since then, and are still learning.
Bill Dentinger
PS One of the drivers, my money says he was British, clearly had a shirt
and tie on underneath his short sleeved coveralls. I love that.
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