Some Great Ways to Make Your Race Car Safer
We’ve all spun cars at one point or another. Thankfully you’re here to read this guide which means you haven’t had any serious incidents. It might not even be your fault when a crash happens. This is how to build a properly safe track car.
A Proper Roll Cage
Ditch the 4 point bar and go for a proper cage. The minimum you need for most track days barely passes for something that’s going to save your life. Sure if you roll you might walk out alive, but what about side or frontal impact? Your life is worth a lot more than a couple thousand dollars. Do it right the first time so you don’t have to worry about the unexpected. Gussets and door bars are a must-have on any car.
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Safe is Speed
When you feel confident you perform your best. Confidence comes from ability, experience and getting in “the zone.” Making sure you come home in one piece of you wad a car up is about more than just self-preservation. Understanding that you’ve done everything possible to full proof your car is going to give you the gusto to push harder through each turn and get on the gas earlier.
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Weird Quality
Equally as important as having the right cage is the quality of the fabricator piecing things together. Good welds save lives. TIG welding (Tungsten Inert Gas) is what the good ol’ boys in NASCAR use and is highly recommended. Go to someone with experience who has a good reputation in the industry. If you’ve ever seen a serious wreck in stock car racing you’ll understand immediately how important proper welds are!
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5 or 6 Point Harness
A 5 point harness is preferred over the inferior 4 point and God forbid 3 point harness. The 6 point is better as a 5 point has been known to knock your family jewels in extreme conditions. 6 points wrap around the thighs and lock the body in place. It’s all about protecting your pelvis and holding yourself in place.
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Mounting Angle
The angle that the shoulder belt mounts is critical. Most seats lean back slightly so taking this into account you want the belt to be 90 degrees to your spine +/- 10 degrees. Mounting these belts on steeper angles compresses the spine. The last thing you want is preload on your spinal chord in a wreck!!!
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Practice getting Out
When a car wrecks it can catch fire in seconds. Practicing getting out of your vehicle quickly can save your life. Having a fire suppression system onboard isn’t an end-all solution to life-threatening situations. Nothing is fail-proof so having your head in the right place and being calm is critical. Always assess the situation and if you smell anything burning, get the hell out!
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HANS Device
Head And Neck Support devices are designed to control forward and rearward movement of the head during a crash. Required in most racing series now they are a lifesaver. You drill two mounts into the side of your helmet where the device connects. They’ve been around since the 80s with the purpose of reducing basilar skull fractures. This is the injury that killed Dale Earnhardt.
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What else?
Window nets and fire extinguishers are great to have on board on top of the things on this list. A good cage and proper seatbelt system paired with a seat that will protect your head from slapping into the roll cage are important as well. These things can be expensive, but if you’re serious about pushing your limits you’re likely to get it wrong at some point. When you do you’ll be thankful you spent the money and time to do it right. Stay safe out there!
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