How much is safety worth?

[cicero819]

How much is safety worth to us. After reviewing Ken Etter's pictures from his accident, I've come to the conclusion that a freak accident can set us back or even worse cut our lives short. I read what Angelo Ditocco had to say in another thread on what he wish NHRA should allow for his Super-Stocker wish list, are things to do were mostly for safety related items. I've decided to go with a 12 points roll cage in my stocker instead of the lighter 6points mounts, why take a chance and I'm sure the extra strength won't hurt. I know that in my previous race cars that safety sometime took a back seat to performance. I know I'll pay a little more attention to checking and rechecking for malfunctioning parts in the future.CR

[smracer2002]

...

[GTX JOHN]

Unfortunately, no bar can extend past firewall in stock in NHRA

[JP]

John, a bar through the firewall is not the fix.
A real cage, a harness that is anchored correctly just behind the seat and allowance of racing seats, that is the fix... or at least a safer way to go racing.

I will my self add a HANS/HNRS to my equipment next season.

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Unfortunately, no bar can extend past firewall in stock in NHRA

[GTX JOHN]

My Demon has a full CM cage, It has 2x3 subframe running welded thru floor. Cage is attached to subframe by 2x2 square tubing. It has four extra crossmembers connecting cage to frame rails. I'll post pictures after World Finals and anyone is invited to check it out at race.
Most of Kens injuries were from steering column sustaining direct contact with Concrete K rail then completely collapsing crumbling segment and then being thrown into Ken's face like a Javelin breaking his full face helmet and then his Jaw.
I am not an engineer but I have to think that front frame rails extending near front of factory frame there would be afforded some protection for the column which is the worst part of front of car to use to absorb the force of impact. I will try to post some pics of Kens car which I purchased after finals.
What does everybody else think about allowing front extension to cage in Stock?

[Ken Etter]

I met with Bruce B at the national race last week. I gave him some pictures that are much more graphic than the ones floating on the net. I gave him 4 suggestions based on my experience. 1 Racing seats (mine were folded up and didnt do a good job securing me) 2 Full face helmets 3 Allowing forward bars on a cage 4 take the batteries out of the front ( Mine exploded on impact sending acid everywhere and started a fire. Unsafe for the driver and the safety crew trying to help. Plus how many people have dropped a wrench on the battery when working? I have. Put it in the trunk and make it safer for the drivers,mechanics,tech inspectors during teardowns. Just my 2 cents.

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Ken Etter

I met with Bruce B at the national race last week. I gave him some pictures that are much more graphic than the ones floating on the net. I gave him 4 suggestions based on my experience. 1 Racing seats (mine were folded up and didnt do a good job securing me) 2 Full face helmets 3 Allowing forward bars on a cage 4 take the batteries out of the front ( Mine exploded on impact sending acid everywhere and started a fire. Unsafe for the driver and the safety crew trying to help. Plus how many people have dropped a wrench on the battery when working? I have. Put it in the trunk and make it safer for the drivers,mechanics,tech inspectors during teardowns. Just my 2 cents.

Ken, first I 'm glad you are on the road to recovery. How were your suggestions received by Bruce? I would hope that all of those suggestions would be adopted

[Phillip marvetz]

I'm for the bar's extending forward of the firewall. In my car's they could be installed so that they wouldn't even be seen in the engine compartment.

[Rick Angles]

Since I am starting on my stocker, I have been making a list of tasks, plus absorbing info from all those on here. Reading over the thread on Ken's accident with the brake pushrod coming out made me think of all those "what if's". My son just started motorcycle riding this past spring. I went and bought us each ( I never took any classes and have been riding for years ) a seat in a basic riders class. During the class work, I remember seeing a pie shaped chart of accident possibilities. Rider not alert, speed, animals etc. We were taught that by elimating/reducing the variables, that the ride would be safer and more fun. Now to look at our hobby, appy the same principles to this. Use steering,braking, etc as variables. You could use different areas of the car as the variables. Look at the braking system, from the foot surface to the tire, front and rear. Look at the steering system from the steering wheel all the way to the tire.You can see where I am going. I know we look at ways to pare weight, be more consistant and make more power. I know I am guilty of this. In my list of things to do with my Starfire, I was planning on pitching the ebrake handle ( between the seats ) and all cables etc. I know if you cut a pound here and there, that should make an improvement. If to light, now you can put the weight where you want it. But now I believe that the few pounds the ebrake setup weighs, I will leave it in and working. The front end will be one of the first areas to be rebuilt, all new bushings and parts. The steering wheel lock ( is your still installed ? ) will be completely removed, rod and plate. I am looking at all things, from performance ( would like to at least run under the index, no matter how small ), maintenance ( how to make things easier), to safety. It is no good being fast, if you can't stop or something breaks that you could have corrected.

[Ken Etter]

Chad,

Bruce agreed that all my suggestions were good. The appearance of the car would be the same going down the track. I know people will say there is a performance advantage having race seats but lets be honest how many seats out there have lightened and or modified then reupholstered. Put a good seat in that can be bolted to the rollbar.