Recommended DE Safety Equipment - Sources

[catchacab]

No Safety System is perfect.  No Safety System will work in every application.

 

The Safety System you develop for your car will be a compromise, and your choice will depend on 1.what will you use your car for, DE / Racing / Street, and what organizations you will drive with PCA / BMWCCA / NASA / SCCA etc.  2. The amount of money you are willing to spend. 3. desired comfort.  4. Personal preferences. 5. Level of safety you are trying to accomplish.

 

One of the first questions you will need to answer is, will you use a HANS device?  Correct use of the device depends on use of compatible safety gear (seats, harnesses, roll bar/ cage and helmet) and proper installation[/b]. 

 

http://hansdevice.com/site/index.html

 

If you are going to be driving your car on the street, many feel that a roll cage is not safe.  In an incident on the street when not wearing harnesses and helmet you may impact against the roll cage.  If you are going to use a HANS device than you can not use a Harness Truss because the truss does not currently allow you to install your shoulder harnesses according to HANS specifications.  I don’t use harness guide bars any more, because I want my harnesses to be as short as possible.  In an incident harnesses may stretch 1/3 of their distance.  In my 944 I have a full welded cage.  This car is used exclusively on the track; My 993 has a DAS roll bar, and is used on both the street and track.  After this upcoming season has ended, I am planning on making my 993 a dedicated track car with a welded roll cage.  I do feel safer with the safety system in my 944.  For me the roll bar is a compromise.  Most track incidents don’t involve rollovers.  I bought the roll bar to anchor my shoulder harnesses.

 

http://www.das-sport.com/home.asp

 

http://www.bkauto.com/porsche/harness.php

 

Seats:  You must have seats with appropriate pass through for shoulder, lap and submarine straps.  You may choose fixed or non fixed back seats.  Non fixed back seats recline, and move forward allowing access to the rear passenger compartment.  Many feel fixed back seats are safer on track than non fixed back seats.  You should be aware that DOT requires seats that are used on the street to be DOT certified.  My experience is that I feel more secure in a fixed back seat.  You should also consider a seat back brace as additional safety equipment.  If you use a HANS device make sure your seat is compatible.  You will need additional space behind your head to fit the device.  There are also seats with “wings�?  around the head to minimize lateral head movement in an incident.

 

http://www.recaro.com/index.php?id=1501&region=3&L=2

 

http://www.sparcousa.com/

 

 

Harnesses:  Most prefer a cam lock system due to ease of use.  Some advocate a 6 point system over the 5 point system.  Stay away from 4 point systems and systems that integrate with your existing safety belts.  A lot of BMW drivers use these.  There is a lot of discussion on what belt width to use and the new hybrid belts with both 2 inch and 3 inch with belt (designed for HANS devices).  Some drivers like Harnesses with a sternum strap to reduce the chance of the shoulder belts spreading in an incident.

 

http://www.sparcousa.com/

 

http://www.schrothracing.com/

 

Helmet:  I always upgrade my helmet to the latest Snell rating.  I use a HANS device, and felt that drilling into the helmet’s shell can compromise the structural integrity of the helmet.  To my knowledge Arai is the only manufacturer with predrilled HANS attachment anchor sites.

 

http://www.araiamericas.com/Product_Tour.html

 

 

 

SCCA feels that use of an airbags are not compatable with full face helmets.

 

What do I have in my cars?  In the 944 I have a full welded cage, with Recaro HANS SPG seat, and a removable steering wheel (it is the only way to get my fat body into the car)  My 993 has Recaro Pole Position  Seats,  and a DAS Roll Bar.  Like I said before I like my 944 set up better, and will upgrade my 993 set up to match my 944 when it becomes a dedicated track car.

 

We haven’t talked about fire suppression, kill switches and NOMEX.  But that I have a funny feeling will be forth coming. 

 

JUST REMEMBER THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFTEY EQUIPTMENT RESIDES IN YOUR HEAD!!!  REMEMBER TO USE IT ALWAYS!!!