Let us not forget that racing is not golf, THIS IS A DANGEROUS HOBBY. Face
up to it. After that reflection though, there is nothing better than an
inccident free racing day on track.
*Never be beaten by equipment.*
On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 at 2:07 PM, Jhouathome <jhouathome@aol.com> wrote:
> Well put both Bill and Ken. Bill, you are correct that a HANS would not
> have
> saved Bob Hanneman in the incident at Blackhawk. His fatal injuries were
> not
> neck/spinal in nature. That however in no way suggests that a HANS is not
> a
> critical piece of safety equipment. I have had several discussions
> regarding
> the need for or advisability of a proper head restraint system. I am 100%
> convinced that it is. Just as all of our fire protection will not protect
> us
> from blunt force trauma injuries, a HANS will not protect us from injury to
> our bodies from forces outside of the HANS influence. All of our safety
> devices and components including belts, seats and seat mounting, roll
> structure, fire suppression, flame and heat protection, arm restraints,
> helmet, and head and neck system, not to mention the army of track safety
> personnel, are designed to work in concert to produce an all inclusive
> safety
> plan. To leave out any single part of that plan is to leave yourself
> needlessly exposed. It simply makes no sense.
>
> Bill, you observations about driving and the vintage spirit are most
> accurate
> and appreciated. The foundational source of most racing incidents is
> driver
> error, or at least failure to drive in such a way that the accident was
> avoided in the first place. I have investigated countless incidents and
> crashes over the years, and the overwhelming majority were the result of
> either driver error or one or more drivers failing to drive defensively.
> Having a 360 degree field of awareness, driving in a 100% predictable
> fashion,
> and practicing the vintage motto of "when in doubt, don't" will keep you
> out
> of most incidents. Yes, there are mechanical failures, and yes there are
> those circumstances when we cannot avoid someone else's problem or mistake,
> but most incidents are self-inflicted or at least the result of
> contributory
> negligence. Only relatively rarely are incidents "unavoidable".
>
> That having been said, we all make mistakes and have lapses in judgement,
> and
> things break either from poor prep, fatigue, or pushing beyond the limits
> of
> generally ancient chassis engineering. That's why we have safety systems.
> But there can be no argument that the safest incidents are those that never
> occur, and the best use for safety equipment is to never have to use it at
> all, but for those situations, regardless of cause, when I find myself in
> an
> incident I want every bit of current safety equipment available working for
> me. Every time I replace an out of date set of belts or helmet I say a
> prayer
> of thanks that I get to retire that item from old age, and I never had to
> rely
> on it!
>
> John Houlton
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Oct 14, 2013, at 3:31 PM, BillDentin@aol.com wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 10/14/2013 2:51:04 PM Central Daylight Time,
> > kknight@klaenv.com writes:
> >
> >
> >> If you still are on the fence regarding the purchase of a HANS, or
> >> similar
> >> device, read Sam Smith's column in Road and Track November, 2013 issue
> >> (pg.
> >> 32). Racing is a calculated risk, make sure the numbers are in your
> favor
> >> as much as possible. Enough said.
> >
> > Amici...
> >
> > I too read that article, and I sure agree it is hard to argue against the
> > need to wear a HANS (or similar) when racing. Why not increase the odds
> > against serious injury or death. Why not take every precaution you can?
> Why
> > not indeed? It is foolish not to, and articles like the one Sam Smith
> wrote
> > in the current issue of ROAD & TRACK will help racers come to that
> > conclusion.
> >
> > But in fact, that HANS device is no cart blanch waiver for avoiding
> injury.
> > From what I understand, it would not have prevented serious injury in
> what
> > happened at Blackhawk last June. I was not there, but I understand that
> > the driver's head was struck by the wheel of another race car. I am NOT
> > speaking against the importance of wearing a head and neck restraint, I
> am
> just
> > not sure it would have been a fix in that Formula Vee race at Blackhawk.
> But
> > I understand why it caused Sam Smith to quickly question his own safety
> > equipment habits.
> >
> > Racing is dangerous. Fangio said that he considered he was taking his
> life
> > in his hand every time he took to the track. But that was NOT his
> greatest
> > fear. He feared causing an incident where another would be injured or
> > killed. I kind of share that feeling. Sure I don't want to be injured
> myself,
> > but I think I would have an even bigger problem having been involved in
> an
> > incident I caused, where someone else was injured. I stopped deer
> hunting
> > not because I was afraid of getting shot, but because I worried about
> shooting
> > someone else by accident (that happens every year here in Wisconsin).
> >
> > I think...especially in vintage/historic racing, just as important as the
> > need for arm restraints, head & neck restraints, seat belts, roll cages,
> fire
> > extinguisher, etc., etc., is the need for a good, proper 'Vintage
> > attitude'. Because of the huge disparity in equipment and talent in our
> sport's race
> > grids, there is no room for 10/10ths (or worse 11/10ths) racing.
> >
> > Wear a HANS (or similar), but also have a good vintage racing attitude.
> >
> > Bill Dentinger
> > _______________________________________________
> > fot@autox.team.net
> >
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