A couple pf Spec E30 drivers need your prayers....

#21

Kim and I want send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to both Tom and Rick.

Heal up quick and enjoy the rest of the summer, the racing will still be here when you get back …

#22

What if anything about cage design, restraints, center net, driver’s seat, etc can be learned from the incident. It is great to hear that both drivers will make full recoveries, I hope that people take the time to figure out some best practices from the accident.

#23

jonmca wrote:

I took a quick look at Tom’s 3" harnesses afterward and didn’t notice anything unusual, including the material in the belt adjusters (need an expert to really look at them). His HANS was in the seat but I forgot to look at its tethers. His steering wheel was (IIRC) on a non-collapsable hub adapter and I’ve ordered a collapsable unit to upfit on my own car. His steering wheel spokes certainly collapsed (wheel rim was resting on the sidestalks) but I’m not sure that’s the intended way to absorb energy.

I’ve said this before: I wish NASA Pro Racing had a research partnership with a major university so that a mutually beneficial arrangement could be established wherein totalled race cars were donated to the university (along with all available accident info including video, etc.) for examination and hopefully recommendations could be made for future CCR revisions that would better guide us to install proper cages and safety equipment. Lord knows SCCA may/should have created a similar inititave already. Does anyone know if Traqmate, etc. can record impact forces?

For the record, I don’t consider a safety-equipment vendor to be a true “expert” on race car crash dynamics, cage design, or many times even proper harness installation.

#24

I am glad to hear you both are pretty much okay. I hate to hear about this stuff…

:frowning:

#25

Guys,

I hope you have a speedy recovery and are back soon.

Regards,

-Steve

#26

mrussell wrote:

[quote]Does anyone know if Traqmate, etc. can record impact forces?

For the record, I don’t consider a safety-equipment vendor to be a true “expert” on race car crash dynamics, cage design, or many times even proper harness installation.[/quote]

Traqmate’s accelerometers record all the g forces in the horizontal plane, so theoretically it would record the impact force. However, IIRC the accelerometers have a limited range that is high enough to record all reasonable cornering/braking forces, but not impacts over a few g’s.

After any kind of hit that does damage to the car, get belts rewebbed, trade in the HANS for a new one, same for the seat, etc. A lot of the equipment - even helmet padding - is designed to sacrifice itself for a big hit ONCE. Don’t wear that same brain bucket again!

Glad our SE30 brethren made it through as well as they did!

Steve D.

#27

mrussell wrote:

[quote]jonmca wrote:

[quote]
I’ve said this before: I wish NASA Pro Racing had a research partnership with a major university so that a mutually beneficial arrangement could be established wherein totalled race cars were donated to the university (along with all available accident info including video, etc.) for examination and hopefully recommendations could be made for future CCR revisions that would better guide us to install proper cages and safety equipment. Lord knows SCCA may/should have created a similar inititave already.

For the record, I don’t consider a safety-equipment vendor to be a true “expert” on race car crash dynamics, cage design, or many times even proper harness installation.[/quote]

Both Clemson and Georgia Tech have strong mechanical engineering programs and both have a bunch of kids that are into racing.

Every ME senior is looking for an idea for a senior project.

#28

For sure, it is good to hear that neither driver was seriously injured in the Sunday crash.

Rick and Tom are both well-liked in the Spec E30 Mid Atlantic community and we hope for a speedy recovery for both racers.

Carter Hunt
Spec E30 Mid Atlantic Regional Series Director
Spec E30 National Series Director

#29

http://vimeo.com/5298396

Some footage of the Sunday Autobahn race.

#30

Glad you guys are OK. Tom, we can’t loose any racers in our region as we are still very thin. Let me know if you need anything to get back on the track. I have two parts cars that can help if need be. AND don’t forget Simon has his spare car.

Michael