After a brief introduction the seminar started with an explanation about fire protection and a warning for drivers who wear their fire-suit all day during a raceweekend. In case of a fire the suit will protect the driver against the flames but the heat can be so intense that sweat on the skin will start boiling and cause serious burns. So wear a fire-suit during a run only and always dry it (but never in the sun) when back in the pits. Exactly the same can be said about helmets, racing shoes and oil on a fire-suit. There are special products to remove oil or methanol from a fire-suit. Dirt can cause weak spots in case of a fire.



Also all different products were shown. To start with the shoes, from the normal racing shoes to the Funny Car boots. Special attention was paid to the new and more comfortable materials they are made off nowadays. And here again the warning to use clean shoes and not walk through the pits with the shoes you wear during a run. For underwear and gloves the same story, use clean ones so sweat does not have a chance.

The different types of balaclavas were shown too. The ones with only two holes for the eyes give the best protection. Next issue was the safety belt and especially how to wear them. The angle to the shoulder has to be right. A too big or small angle can cause serious injuries. And here too the warning to keep the belts clean and dry, the material can be influenced by dirt. And never buy used belts because you never know what happened with them.



An important issue was of course the HANS (Head and Neck Support) system. The different types were shown, the way to use them and the protection they give (side impact and/or front and back). Patrick Lynch explained the Eject helmet removal system, already mandatory in the USA. With an instrument Patrick could show the pressure on a driver’s neck when the safety crew tries to remove the helmet. No less than 31 pounds was the pressure and this made clear a neck injury will get worse. With the Eject system the pressure was reduced to only 4 pounds. The small air bladder fits in any helmet and in the event of a crash the rescue marshal can inflate the Eject system, which gently lifts the helmet off a driver’s head. The system can also be fitted into the balaclava. In the next months safety crews will get instructions how to use the system.



At the end of the seminar there was plenty of time for all kind of questions and personal advice. For the drivers present, the seminar proved a very useful meeting.



The Simpson Sweden website is located at www.simpsonshop.se