There is a possibility of a new air bag design for NASCAR cars, with a
sensor for 150-180MPH and then releases to the floor after deflate.
--------------------------------------
Steven St.Laurent
Test Engineer
Test Branch, GSD, MCTSSA
MARCORSYSCOM, USMC
(Work) 760-725-2506 (DSN: 365)
(Work) mailto:stlaurents@mctssa.usmc.mil
(Home) mailto:saint1958@home.com
"In fact, my work has already proven
itself to be correct. People such
as you just haven't gotten it yet.
(unknown author)
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven T. Ekstrand [mailto:cyberlaw@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2001 1:05 PM
To: Michael Silver; malibugr@ix.netcom.com; dakota-truck@buffnet.net;
Multiple recipients of MML; barracudaOwners@yahoogroups.com; Kori Novak;
smiller@la.tharpe-howell.com
Subject: DML: Re: Earnhardt Tragedy-Accident Didn't Look That Bad?
I just wanted to add to my post yesterday about the tragedy in Daytona.
Today NASCAR had their press conference on the death. A few people also
asked how I came to know so much about racing accidents.
In a rather bizarre chain of events I was once accepted by a court as a
motor vehicle accident reconstruction expert based upon my extensive
knowledge and study of racing accidents. It became an interest when I was
confused as a kid. I'd watch accidents that seemed impossible to live
through and others that seemed so minor yet the results were often the
reverse. To make it more personal, so many of those lost or injured in the
crashes I witnessed were friends of my family. My dad turned down offers
to pursue an Indy career after he lost friends Art Pollard and Swede Savage
in 73. All three of them had been Chrysler factory drivers at one point in
their careers.
Now what frustrates me is that the injury most common today does not seem
to be understood well by the NASCAR community. Early generations had
different problems. Joe Weatherly's death was the result of inadequate
restraints. Window nets came in to existence. Savage's accident and well
as Fireball Roberts really showed us the fire issue. I lost a friend in
Drag Racing to fire as well. Now the NASCAR cars are extremely strong,
almost too rigid. The driver is very tightly secured. But often the
drivers head is not in the forward direction. Not only that but often the
seat is too upright in NASCAR.
NASCAR and Dr. Bohannon are saying the HANS device would not have helped,
but I am very confident it would have saved his life. This was an absolute
textbook example of the type of accident it helps most in. It probably
would not have saved Greg Moore in CART even though that is the death that
really got things going with the HANS device being mandatory in CART racing
this year. I can't imagine not wearing a helmet in Hockey, but many of
the veterens that were grandfathered when the rule went into effect did
not. Many cried that seatbelts in race cars would cause more injuries.
Ironically, about the only item most agree on in racing is a helmet, and in
accidents like Dale Earnhardt's the helmet actually is part of the problem.
The extra weight on the head magnifies the effects of sudden deceleration.
NASCAR has been under the gun for its failure to implement changes after
Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin died. Now that they have tragicly lost their
greatest competitor and most marketable icon it almost seems like a message
has been delivered.
Steve Ekstrand, Pasadena, CA
Homepage: http://sites.netscape.net/professormopar/homepage
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 11:59:21 EDT