Questions on Safety equipment for HPDE..

[Hapa88]

So I'm heading to Streets of Willow this weekend and had a few questions about safety equipment for HPDEs. This is a relatively slower track, 1.8 miles in length with top speeds being in the 90 mph range (mostly 2nd & 3rd gears).
My car is lightly modified, but it has all of the OEM restraints, OEM seat belts and OEM air bags. So my questions are:

1) I have a full faced helmet, a HJC AR-10. Should I remove the clear visor or leave it on? I'm planning to wear standard sunglasses inside of it.

2) Do you think a neck brace would be any benefit? Not a Hans device but something simple and very similar to this?

Thanks for any suggestions or help in advanced!

 

[GOT TOYS]

I have that same helmet if they let you take off the visor i would. I've done 2 HPDE's haven't used the visor yet.

 

[docjohn]

I use the shield on my helmet,I crack it open to let some air in but also it helps to reduce the amount of particulate junk,mostly your own brake dust that gets in to your eyes.Esp. if you get into traffic I find my eye are pretty red and irritated after a track day.I also wear sun glasses that are small enough to fit in the enclosed helmet.

 

[Hapa88]

So 1 vote on, 1 vote off... haha. Yeah all previous HPDEs I've left the visor on and had it cracked open (well actually opened as far as it will go). Anyway, this weekend it's supposed to be in the mid 90s degrees at the track, so I doubt I'll ever have the visor closed at anytime...

 

[SFNSXguy]

A while back I bought an open faced helmet (my first since I gave them up in 1972) for instructing at track days because I thought it would make communicating easier. I wear contact lenses, and even with close-fitting dark glasses the open-faced helmet was a no-go.
I went back to using a communicator with closed-face helmets.
Like docjohn I use the visor, often cracked open a bit for air.
Don't use the HANS device in NSXs - not enough head room, even with a Dali cushion or no cushion at all. Use the foam collar sometime, not while instructing.
Get some gloves for sure -- I like the ones with bright colors so folks can see hand signals easier.
Driving suit is good too, but some track day folks snicker at them as "too racey"... do whatever is comfortable for you.

 

[RYU]

Not sure how strict the officials are but don't forget to remove your floormat as well. This is SOP for many of the guys here but even I forgot to do so my first time out.

I hope you have a great time Adrian!

 

[RSO 34]

If it is sunny and I am wearing my Oakleys, I keep the shield up. If it is cloudy and have my regular frameless glasses, I keep the shield down by cracked like DocJohn to get some extra airflow.

 

[SFDreamer]

I usually run with my visor down (my sunglasses fit just fine) because I don't like to chance getting crap in my eyes (even when I was in AZ and track temp was 130+). I'll pop it a couple clicks open every 5 laps or so to get a little extra flow for a lap.

As far as the neck brace...I don't think it is completely necessary, but if it is not uncomfortable to have on then you might as well.

Have fun and bring her home in one piece. If you have the chance to record what you're doing DEFINITELY do it so you can study yourself.

 

[92 white 0650]

As for the collar, wear it if you want. But it has no particular safety value. It's a holdover from the real old days when real head and neck injury was not understood. Seems I have actually seen some argument against their use, but...........I doubt it makes any difference either way. If you have an airbag, you've got what you need, so just get out there and have fun.

And I hate to bring this up, but it inevitably will be; don't pay any attention to the arguments against full face helmets and airbags. They're theoretical or "small percentage" risks IMHO. You've got many other more important things to worry about.

As for visor up or down, just watch ALMS, Grand Am or NASCAR this weekend, and count the number of visors down. You'll only need one hand. Of course if you're going to spin, you may have a dust cloud coming in your windows, so............. keep the visor up, the face cool and don't spin or do any agricultural driving.

 

[docjohn]

Ted you are so right about the airbag making up for lack of a hans.We saw a horrific 1 car shunt at wgi in which a driver ripped the entire front end off his ZO6 ,he walked away unharmed he had a 6 point no hans, and his airbag did deploy .I actualy questioned him about neck pain ,and he denied any.

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: Racing harness needs an H&N restraint

Ted you are so right about the airbag making up for lack of a hans.We saw a horrific 1 car shunt at wgi in which a driver ripped the entire front end off his ZO6 ,he walked away unharmed he had a 6 point no hans, and his airbag did deploy .I actualy questioned him about neck pain ,and he denied any.

Doc, did he say he had his "face" (helmet) in the bag? I think we should clarify that

1) the stock 3 point works well with the airbag because it allows enough forward movement of the entire upper torso so that it (the torso) goes forward with the head allowing it to reach the bag. And

2) that the legitimate concern about use of a tightened 6 point harness without a HANS or equal H&N restraint, (and the seat well back makes it worse) is that the head will not reach the airbag and the feared basal skull fracture is back in play since the torso is severely (relative to the 3 point) restrained while the head is not and tries to "fly off the torso."

 

[docjohn]

He must sit close to the wheel because he did say the blow to his open face helmet knocked his dentures loose.

 

[Tytus]

I had an instructor mention that if you leave the sheild up the air bag can get inside in an inpact and that is not what you want to happen. If there is no air bag then leaving the visor open is a personal preference. I close mine once I am under way and open it after the checker.

I use a neck brace just to take the strain off the cornering forces. The first time I went to a DE event I had a sore neck after 2 days. Since I got the neck brace 2 years ago I have no pain at all.

BTW I am changing over to the R3 helmet and neck restraint system for the additional protection like a Hans device but it does not require anything other than a 3 point belt and standard seats.

Cheers,

Tytus