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Originally posted by Mike Beck:

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Originally posted by fivecentcharlie:

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Originally posted by Lenny5160:

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Originally posted by Cashflow:
What I don't understand is guys, especially in Super Comp that have a really fast dragster and won't wear some type of head and neck restraint.

To be honest, I don't really know what they do. The rules don't say that I need one, so I've never looked into them.

From afar, they aren't cheap and look like a hassle. If I were to run my car wide open on the 1/4 mile, I would need one.

In very basic terms,they keep your head from snapping back and forth on impact. That snap is what tears the brain/skull loose from the spinal cord and kills a person instantly (or it could sever the carotid artery and you can bleed to death in a matter of seconds).

Basilar skull fracture, that is what killed Earnhardt and several other people in various sports.

After going to RCR a few weeks ago and looking at Earnhardt's cars there. I am no convinced a HANS would have saved him. With a roll bar with cheap padding behind his neck. I am not convinced. That's not to say they are not a wise thing to use. But it is only one piece in a bigger system to protect the driver.

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Originally posted by markemark:

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Originally posted by WILDBILL:
Where did this accident happen?

Great Lakes Dragaway

Thank you.

Don't know the whole story about Dale's crash although rumors have floated around for years that he was not properly buckled in. I wasn't there so I don't know.

Back to the head and neck restraint. Yes, it is just a piece to the puzzle however my feeling is you need to buy the safety stuff first and THEN make the car go faster.

I'm always preaching about brakes. Folks, you get ONE, that's right, ONE chance to stop at the end of the track. If you have junk brakes on the car then you might not.

You can always make the car go faster, buy the safety equipment and save some more money till next month and then buy the new cam, manifold, heads or whatever you've been dreaming about in order to go quicker and faster.

I've seen some pretty hairy crashes in all these years, some ended well and some did not. I'm going to err on the side of safety and then if I'm involved I hope the odds are stacked a little more in my favor.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

If a person is too dense to not understand basic safety and common sense, do you really think they will listen to these posts, or read warning labels for that matter. Darwin was spot on.

In those final few micro seconds before the crash your last thoughts will be “Am I going to survive?” When that happens you will immediately:

(1) Regret saving a few dollars on safety equipment having spent that money buying worthless crap that isn’t going to do squat saving your butt.

(2) Refer to item #1, ‘cause there ain’t no item #2 !

Bob

A friend wears a full suit, gloves, shoes, all of it in his 10.5 second car. Asked him why one day, he said he thinks the fire will be just as hot in a 10 second car as it would be in a 9 second car.

Fire retardant clothing shouldn't be judged by how long it takes YOU to get out of the car, rather how long it takes for someone else to get you out of the car. T/D only requires me to have a -15, but I wear a a -20. Yeah its hot, but its also warm at times lol.

When I built this car my goals were run in the 6's and run 200mph. The car would 6.80 all day long at 195. Built a new motor and the first pass the car made the shift at the hit. So I'm mad at it before 60 feet but decided to leg it out for the data. Ran from 100' feet to the finish line with both chute levers in my hand. may as well let them out as they had been packed for a while. Entering the traps I let both fly and as my nose hit the dash I thought that may have been that magic 200 (was 226)

I strap much tighter after that, and I by no means was able to lean out prior to.
I'm 5'11" at 190lbs in a 21" hoop, with isp pads, hans, and a -20.

Years ago at Bandimere this guy had a Pro Stock looking Cougar in S/C. He was racing a friend of ours, Phil Jaramillo. I don’t know if he hit the brakes or what exactly happened but he crossed right behind Phil and hit the wall hard, rolling the car numerous times.

The Safety Safari guys told him if he hadn’t pulled his belts so tight he probably would have been killed.

If this happens in front of YOU in your 190 mph S/C car you will damn sure wish you had a Hans and everything else on to protect you.

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Originally posted by Tom H:
A friend wears a full suit, gloves, shoes, all of it in his 10.5 second car. Asked him why one day, he said he thinks the fire will be just as hot in a 10 second car as it would be in a 9 second car.

Good post and I agree. Although I have my car set up to run 6.5 in the 1/8 I wear everything that one would need to run 9’s in the 1/4 . Your friend is smart.

Then....why not run a top fuel suit and nomex underware?

I was wearing the nomex top for awhile but I got too fat. LOL

I agree with what most of you have said here but I want to add one thing I think is Extremely important.

Diapers or belly pan.

I have seen several really bad crashes that simply would not have happened if they had a diaper. Yes, you should wear all of your safety equipment for sure but also why not try to prevent the crash in the first place?

There have been several racers who were well known pass away in the last few years. I would like to know if they ever found out exactly what happened. I mean did they die of a health issue like massive heart attack or brain aneurysm or was it a mechanical issue like stuck throttle.

The reason I want to know is because maybe we can learn from it to help prevent it from happening again.

Check out money tree tripple 20's Sundays race semi finals.Seems guy in dragster did not read this post .Instead of roll bars 2" past front of helmet he has 2" of helmet in bars.

Even worst announcer announces his dad is watching him run.Probably where he learned it from.

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I agree with what most of you have said here but I want to add one thing I think is Extremely important.

Diapers or belly pan.

For sure

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Originally posted by Bucky:
Then....why not run a top fuel suit and nomex underware?

Leave out underwear part and I do. The fact its hanging in closet has nothing to do with it. I have nomex hood,but Hate the heat part.Ironic that what I hate about it is also what it protects me from.

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Originally posted by Bucky:

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I agree with what most of you have said here but I want to add one thing I think is Extremely important.

Diapers or belly pan.

For sure

Went with full length belly pan.Cpl reasons.Solid block needs all the air it can get. Lot easier to work with,especially by myself. The fact that it blends in to belly pan for drivers compartment and aids in less drag from air under car had nothing to do with it.

Always check the TPP rating of the suit you’re buying. They aren’t all created equal. 3.2A5 minimum is 19 but my suit is 27. I see guys get into cars running low 6s with jeans on and single layer jacket.

I wouldn’t care if they were only hurting themselves but it makes me think that if they will ignore their own safety what are they letting go about the car that could effect mine????

I'm always surprised at the tracks that don't enforce any of the basic safety requirements, especially sanctioned tracks. The sanctioning is somewhat of a joke but it does give the tracks access to insurance. for that reason alone you would think the sanctioning body or the insurance company would have a say in what goes on.

We all tend to forget how fast our cars are today and how bad you can get hurt ! I think a diaper and a head and neck restraint are 2 of the best things you could do for your self ! Good thread !

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Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
Always check the TPP rating of the suit you’re buying. They aren’t all created equal. 3.2A5 minimum is 19 but my suit is 27.

Is this a ProFox 5 ? 1 or 2 piece? Do you know if it weighs more than a 19 rated suit or same weight?