From the SCCA Technical Services:

"It has been brought to the attention of SCCA Technical Services that the use of full-face or closed-face helmets while driving vehicles with active airbag restraint systems may result in injuries in the event of a crash that deploys the airbad. Because of the location of the steering wheel relative to the driver's position, the airbag axis is on a level with the driver's chin. In a crash with airbag deployment, contact with the chin area of a full face helmet can be so powerful "that the risk of fractures to the jaw cannot be ruled out" (Hubert Gramling, FIA Institute, FT3?AF, 18.5.1999). This applies to vehicles that may be used in Solo, RallyCross, High Performance Car Control Clinics, etc.


Therefore, it is highly recommended that full-face helmets not be used in vehicles with functional airbag systems. Potentially more restrictive language is currently being considered for 2005, which could appear in an early 2005 issue of FasTrack. If you have any questions, please contact the SCCA at 800.770.2055."

 

So for all you trackies, diable/remove your airbag when doing a track event with a full face helmet.

And dedicated trackies should consider purchasing one of these:
http://www.hansdevice.com

 

On Balance I'll take a fractured jaw over a Smashed in face, this is lawyers talking, pretty soon we won't be wearing belts so we can get out in the event of a fire, this is just BS......... My .02

A full face will always do a better job than an open period. As far as the Hans device, let's start a thread on the options out there. There are quite a few neck restraint systems out there, each with its own strengths, and weaknesses. Also ther are a wide range of prices, and some of the least expensive still have a considerable reduction in the forces on your neck. Carl

 

I think the options are to wear a full face helmet without an airbag or wear an open face helmet with an airbag.

 

What are the other options?

Please read this first:
http://www.hansdevice.com/history.html

Especially this "cartoon"
http://www.hansdevice.com/images/illustration.gif

 

See my thread above, I have asked Damon to Sticky it, and I will try to keep it up to date. Regards, Carl

 

Seriously, how do these assbags think that 2" of fiberglass/kevlar and FOAM is going to affect your neck in an accident? When the airbag deploys, regardless of what's on your head at the time, your neck will snap back. Period. Next they'll tell us that if you apply pressure to the gas pedal the car will accelerate!

**** like this makes me want to tear up my membership card. But I gotta hold out 10 more years for the shitty piece of acrylic with "25" on it....

 

Carl,

I am interested in reading your thread, but can't seem to find it. I wear one of the "other" head restraints, and would be interested in seeing the comments posted by people who have experience with other than HANS.

db

 

Um I can't see this applying to everyone......At only 5'5" i don't think i'm tall enough, in my WRX. My FC ofcourse isn't an Issue. In fact i just got in my car......and I'm not tall enough.

 

What a bunch of bologna. I agree with Carl; this is legelese speak.

Let's see. I have a closed face helmet to protect my face end eyes from flying debris or collision with a hard object. In the case of a collision between my face and an airbag though I should in fact have a big hole in the front of my helmet so my face may absorb the entire impact as opposed to the helmet

I will make slight allowance for the airbag possibly striking the chin of the full face helmet and pulling my head downward. Without the full face helmet the bag would just strike my chin itself and pull my head downward. Same result. Stupid reasoning all around.

I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer but I do have a good sense of smell...

 

The force of an airbag is supposed to feel like a heavyweight boxer punching you square in the face. I guess that feels better than hitting a steering wheel but still, that's gotta hurt. I'd rather have Mike Tyson punch my helmet's face mask than my face directly. Either way my head is getting knocked back pretty hard and my necks going to hurt. At least the impact isn't absorbed with my nose and jaw.

 

Proposed amendment to 2007 rules.
The commission has noted that the bulk of the serious physical injuries occur at speeds in excess of 4 miles per hour, therefore beginning in the 2008 season, no competition vehicle may exceed 3 miles per hour.
Thank you for assisting in making the SCCA the safest motor vehicle racing organization in the world

 

Airbags are for retards.

 

and people ask me why I run with NASA

 

if you put an airbag face down and set it off it will go like 40feet into the air, the mere fact that you need special permits to ship them; because they are bombs is enough for me not to want one less than a foot next to my face

 

Yeah, air bags are only good for head-on wrecks without helmets.


The reason the full face fractures jaws is because the lower part of the full face gets pushed upward by the airbag. The chinstrap then fractures the jaw.

I always put racing style wheels in my cars with airbags, because I would rather not have a bomb going off in my face also.

 

thankfully I drive an FC
airbags aren't for me!

 

I guess thats one of the reasons that real race cars don't have airbags.

 

The reason real race cars don't have air bags is because you don't want it going off in your face everytime you give the guy in front of you a little love tap
There are so many situations where an air bag would not help in a race car (side impact, rear impact, minor impact) that not having one is much better than having one that goes off at all the wrong times, rendering you incapable of continuing to control your race car.

 

I would think it would also have something to do with the fact that the helmet pretty much does what the airbag is supposed to do anyway, but yes, an airbag going off while you're doing 150mph would definately not be good for anybody.