Re: Funny Car Cage...Safe or not?
 

Pictures can be deceiving and impacts create insane forces, but it appears that there is way too much room inside that cage. It also looks like he has moved a lot further forward in the car on impact than he should have. It's difficult to see the padding on the other bars of the cage as well. IMO, funny car cages, as with any other piece of safety equipment, are only effective when designed and used the right way. When I am strapped in my car, I cannot move my upper body forward at all. Leaving your belts loose is just giving you a running start toward severe injuries.

Re: Funny Car Cage...Safe or not?
 

More than a dozen years ago while I was sitting in an airport lounge waiting for a flight, I had a lengthy conversation with the late Jim Deist. Jim was convinced we had it all wrong when it came to roll bars (period). His point was a driver's helmet could easily come in contact with the roll bar hoop, simply because the hoop is too close (to the helmet). He elaborated on the normal stretch in a belt/harness in an accident (its a lot), even when they're cinched tight. A funny car cage only made it worse, even with all of the "padding" in the world. Basically, the driver's head gets rattled around in a crash in such a case and that's why people die or have serious head injuries. Jim was a pretty smart Kat and I suspect he was right.

Anyway, I no longer have a dog in the fight (race cars), but I think it's very important this gets hashed out. It would be nice if the powers at NHRA were listening....

Wayne

Re: Funny Car Cage...Safe or not?
 

You are so correct.

I had my car built for me. 19 inch. with a dragster hoop not a funny car hoop that everyone runs now. There is no way that my head could come close to hitting the front bar, that's why NHRA does not require you to pad that bar.( it appears that his belts were not tight enough) Some of the cookie cutter cars can fit two young drivers at a time.

Greg ( just my opinion)

Re: Funny Car Cage...Safe or not?
 

Just a few that know first hand what the cages can do are John Force and Connie Kalitta. They have both lost drivers from head injuries. Mr. Deist RIP was right on in my opinion. There's excuses and reasons not to engage and bring about corrective action, and action requires effort, and to each his own. When I think about a race car crashing expert....I think about NASCAR. Who crashes more than they do....we should take some notes!

Wade Mahaffey

Re: Funny Car Cage...Safe or not?
 

I agree 100 pct. with you Wade we have seen it first hand. I don't know why doorslammer drag cars aren't built like a stock car I bet if it was the other way around they would be a couple deaths a year.

Re: Funny Car Cage...Safe or not?
 

Regardless of size, if you can't get your butt thru a 18 in bathroom door ,you surely don't need a 24 wide cage, otherwise ,skip McD

Re: Funny Car Cage...Safe or not?
 

I have a 25.4 chassis in my Stocker. Designed and built by me and I feel very safe with the bar placement and padding arangment.

http://youtu.be/34KdfIG2USI

http://youtu.be/LBnbszKCjvw