SAFETY

The reality of racing is that eventually, the driver will be faced with a situation that can cause bodily injury. If you are going to drive a racecar, take as many precautions as possible to reduce your chance of being injured. Be consistent in implementing those precautions, accidents or unexpected failures can happen at any time. The car can be replaced, you cannot.

The damage from this crash was due to a stuck throttle, which I didn't realize had happened until reaching the corner.  It left me about 2 seconds to respond before hitting the wall at about 90 mph.  The car held up well under the circumstances.  I limped away bruised, but not broken, wishing that I had been wearing my shin guards.  A Simpson neck collar and shoulder harness pads worked well to reduce injury and pain, and are highly recommended.

Helmets and head protection:

You should always wear a Snell SA rated helmet for auto racing. This means "Special Application" for racing. They have .120" thick shields, a fire resistant interior and are subjected to different crash tests than M rated "Motorcycle" helmets. Most helmets are fiberglass. The more expensive ones use special laminating processes or other materials like carbon fiber and kevlar to make them lighter causing less neck fatigue.
Correct helmet fit is critical. A helmet should be as snug as possible without giving you a headache. You can start with your hat size but that is just the beginning. With the helmet on, chin strap undone and neck held rigid, twist the helmet left and right to check for excessive play. Then, with the chin strap on, rock the helmet back then forward to see if it can roll off. Wear the helmet for an extended length of time, up to 30 minutes. If it feels snug during these tests but doesn't give you a headache, you have the right size. If you plan to wear a Nomex head sock (balaclavas), which I highly recommend, test the fit with the head sock on to assure comfort.
A helmet support collar is a must. This loose-fitting neck brace prevents the helmet from over-extending and breaking your neck in an accident.  The Simpson Nomex round Neck Collar is a good choice.

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