HPDE Safety Equipment
After hearing of the news of the driver killed at an HPDE event at Road Atlanta, The management and Chief Instructors of the group I'm with put our heads together. The conversation was about what we could do to stay ahead of the curve on safety at our events. We all agreed there was a gap in coaching and education for the intermediate driver. There are often basic safety items that the intermediate driver just isn't aware of.
Given the recent discussion about safety I thought I would share some copy I put together on a basic safety item progression that makes sense for the type of accident we are most likely to see at an HPDE event. I wrote this so it represents my opinions only. Basic Safety Recommendations for HPDE events While many new drivers want to make modifications to their car, they often overlook some basic safety upgrades in lieu of performance upgrades. A newer driver will almost always benefit from more seat time and coaching then performance modifications. In an effort to help prevent new and intermediate drivers from making the same mistakes as I did, here is a list of safety items that you should consider investing in prior to performance upgrades. I am listing this in what I believe is a logical order of importance based on the types of incidents that are most probable at an HPDE.
Drive Well. Jim Pomroy |
And, welcome to making a car COMPLETELY unsafe for street use. You just outlined a car that is essentially a race prepped car, that is no longer streetable.
The idea, while great, is not feasible for the general public that wants to just get some seat time at the track. Someone who has to seriously ask themselves if they want to invest in a set of race pads and brake fluid for a track day will only be turned off by a recommendation for $6000+ in safety equipment. |
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Thanks for the feedback though. I will add a sentence about a roll bar being an issue on the street if your head can contact it. |
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Race seat - deletes side airbag. If you get into an accident, good luck getting insurance to cover your medical bills, after they find out you deleted a core safety component of the car. Roll bar - Depends on the person, but still a risk Harness - Absolutely , 100%, illegal on the streets (we're not debating the merits in terms of safety, but legality). Also, see above regarding insurance and an accident Just how you're trying to prepare HPDE drivers for a worst case scenario at the track, I'm comparing that prepped car against the worst case scenario on the street. I absolutely agree that safety equipment is important on the track, but track/racing safety equipment does NOT belong in a street car. |
Well you don't wear the 4 point while driving on the street. That's the beauty of it. You don't have to remove your factory belts. I'd be interested to see some pics of a t-boned car with a harness bar.
Not everybody is just bringing their daily driver to the track. At least not at the events I'm seeing. Heck, not even in my journey through the hobby. I had a car in a trailer by year 2. For example, last event at Sebring I had a check ride in a 350z for an intermediate driver. This car was devoid of most of its interior, had a roll bar and some race seats in it. He had harnesses in the car with no sub belt. He had no HANS. This was after I wrote the copy above and I refused to ride in the car. He had no idea the danger he was in. This was aimed at the intermediate driver. |
Keep in mind that motorsports in general cost far more on the east coast, than on the west coast. We have $80 track days here, and on any given weekend, in SoCal, there are typically 4-7 events going on where you can drive.
At the HPDE level out here, I'd say over 90% are driving street cars that see regular street use. |
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I think a qualifier about when you begin to possibly compromise street safety could be added. The driver needs to decide what's important to them. I've had cars that I drove on the street but drove them on the track more. For me the track safety was more important. |
I added/edited to include some information on how some upgrades may impact street driving. I appreciate your insight.
The recent wreck at Road Atlanta was an intermediate driver with no instructor. From what I heard the car had a factory seat and belt. It was the opinion of the shop that loaded the car up after the event that if it had a race seat, harness and HANS, the driver may not have given his life for the hobby he clearly loved. My understanding of the incident may be completely wrong. I still felt compelled to share information with the 1000's of drivers I touch at events throughout the year. At the end of first intermediate meeting I did, 2 drivers wanted to know where they could buy a HANS right now. Obviously they had a harness in their car. They had no idea of the real risks. |
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About the incident at Road Atlanta, I've heard it was caused by a mechanical failure on the driver's SN95 Mustang. Do you have any data on whether most crashes are caused by mechanical failures vs. driver error? Just wondering whether a stronger emphasis should be placed on preventative vehicle upkeep/maintenance (instead or in addition to driver training and track safety equipment). |
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I would argue that it's equally important to remove airbags in a car that's running harnesses. I'm sure we've all seen the Honda commercial that shows how critical airbag deployment timing is in an accident. Safety systems are just that, systems. But as we all know, people compromise and ignore safety recommendations in the name of cost. Every time our driver goes on track in our BRZ he's in a full suit, gloves, HANS device, and EJECT helmet removal system. When the 4-point goes in, the airbag comes out. You will not see our car half-assing safety. It's either a street car, or a track car. Some things shouldn't be compromised, however inconvenient it may be. |
Nice list OP and good words of wisdom from @CSG Mike and @PST.
I'm looking forward to the next @Beastronix / @86Nanny unit that allows me to turn off the airbags at the track :) |
Also for head and neck restraints, I've picked up the Simpson Hybrid Sport since I routinely hop into street cars on the track, and it is a bit better of a system for OEM belts than the HANS (I've always got my HANS though when running a harness).
For those of you with HANS posts on your helmets, that do the same (street car to track car routinely at the same events), the Hybrid posts are the same as the HANS posts, so you can switch back and forth without changing the helmet posts; just make sure you order it with "Post clip tethers and post anchors". http://simpsonraceproducts.com/images/products/hs.png |
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I don't have exact statistics to share on causes of accidents. It may be difficult to separate the two. I've seen an incident that the driver swears something must have broken when no evidence of it can be found. I've seen a driver use his experience and skill to not crash after a mechanical failure. |
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