Earnhardt move.........
decadent and depraved
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From: Right Behind You
Originally Posted by jimdandy
Not really a fair statement. The head restraints were just coming into use at the time, and were not really totally proven in actual use. They were cumbersome, and a pain in the *** to deal with. Several of the drivers would not use them until it was definately proven they were an asset, then NASCAR made them manditory. jd
Tim
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Originally Posted by jimdandy
The head restraints were just coming into use at the time, and were not really totally proven in actual use. They were cumbersome, and a pain in the *** to deal with. Several of the drivers would not use them until it was definately proven they were an asset, then NASCAR made them manditory. jd
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Originally Posted by SMIGGS
Were they not being used in F1 and Indy car before NASCAR? They were not proven at the time in a real situation ( unless other series were using them before ) but it seemed Earnhardt ( and others ) basically shrugged off this new safety technology. It was proven that if Kenny Irwin and Adam Petty were wearing them at NHMS when they crashed, they both would still be around today. Hence why they were introduced in the first place.
Remember, Earnhardt's death was first attributed to a faulty seat belt. An autopsy later proved otherwise.
In late 2001, NASCAR mandated the use of either a Hutchens device, or HANS device. The Hutchens device was later deemed to not perform as advertised, and only the HANS was approved by NASCAR.
The device was first designed in the 1980's by one Dr. Hubbard whose brother had a friend killed in a sporty car testing accident. jd
Last edited by jimdandy; Sep 7, 2007 at 11:00 AM.
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