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Brad, Jim, Stacey, Curt…..
Will the new style neck braces be allowed in the club and or CSC races? My understanding from one of the manufactures is that WKA had already approved them but I haven’t confirmed this.
Thanks
Mike EdwardsThe new CSC required neck braces for male and female drivers will look something like these: (Unless you are on a Blue Chassis like Chumper suggested)
No exceptations.I agree with Doug you shouldn’t have to wear a neck brace unless you want to. I’ve been a karter for a long time but the only reason I wear a neck brace is because I have to.
@Kart45 wrote:
Doug
Why wouldn’t you want neck braces?
Mike
Driving is more comfortable.
Your ability to look around the track is improved.
Your hearing is less restricted.I’m glad Greg turned me onto it – I never practice with a neck brace anymore.
The list of reasons I don’t like neck braces:
They are uncomfortable, especially with my previous collar bone injury the neck brace will make my shoulder very sore at the end of the day, and my neckbrace is only 3/4 inch thick
They restrict your vision, you have the ability to look up and down a lot more, as well as side to side. Especially on a corner like the last one at Centennial it helps your ability to look down and over to look for problems on the straight.
They restrict your sense of hearing. It greatly increases your ability to hear an approaching competitor as well as know how close they are and where they are in relation to you.
My neck brace has always been a question in pre tech and I have been pulled off the track because officials haven’t thought I am wearing one, but it does pass tech in that it hasn’t been cut or altered since new. I think it should be driver choice, plus I don’t think many people will switch to wearing no neck brace, probably less than half. I’m excited to hear Stars has dropped the rule, hopefully the Supernats and RMAX challenge will follow suit.
Well having had serious neck and back injuries from crashing, racing motorcross and cars the pain and recovery time far out way the minor discomfort from wearing a brace. Why in hell Stars would elect not to mandate a piece of safety gear makes no sense. Of course no one said every decision that they have made has always been the right one.
Mikey
There have never been any studies to support the contention that neck collars are effective in at reducing injuries in karting. There have also never been any studies to show that that don’t work either. CIK in Europe has not required them for years. Stars is just following the international rules that don’t require neck collars. This year at the SuperNats, SKUSA dropped the requirement for the SP class as it was being run under international rules.
Since karting injuries are so rare, particularly when compared to other forms of motor sports, I think the improved abilities of the driver to be aware of his/hers surrounding’s out weigh the questionable value in the event of an accident. If the improved ability of the driver to see and hear avoids an incident, I think its better to make the use optional. Prevention of accidents should be our first consideration in safety.
I have been reading about the theories of wearing a neckbrace or not to wear a neckbrace on various forums on the web. But in the end those who insure this sport and our racing locally will probably make the decision at least for this year….
A lot of the reasons to not wear a neck brace could be used as the reasons not to wear your pants below your butt hole, yet is still done. 😮
Come on Rod. It’s the style.
I was bald before bald was cool.
And I wear my pants low (belly induced) but jack the heck out of my Bvd’s.
WAIT… back on topic.
Seems the device that keeps the head from accelerating forward, like the Hans and Leatt would be much more affective. We were legally allowed to remove one layer of foam from Roman collar, just doesn’t seem like it would do much under a heavy compression.
After running in Europe, he can’t stand the collar for the reasons mentioned above.
Greg, you need to quit parking the rig on top of your collar when not in use!!!
Oh yea, coming from a man that makes Mikeys spinal injuries look like a hang nail! :loony:
I dunno. When I got injured last year I was wearing a neck brace. About the only part of me that didn’t hurt was my neck.
Charles
Two things on this:
1. In a conversation with Dr. Terry Trammell of the former CART Safety Team, he told me that the use of a neck collar in karting is pointless. There are no studies proving what the neck collar does, nor is there a standard that the MFG’s use to produce neck collars other than flame resistance. Different MFG’s use different types of foam to produce these pieces.
2. The CSC’s rule/former rule 2.2.5 in regards to modified neck collars is ridiculous. I watched a former race director spend 1/2 a heat race wanting to black flag someone because he THOUGHT the neck collar was altered as he watched the race. Luckily for the competitor someone else was able to point out that it was the drivers suit collar that was un attached and was flapping. How lame would it of been to take the competitor off the track on an assumption. The racing is what is important. Lets focus on that!
I am a supporter of dropping the neck collar rule for all Senior classes. Keep Juniors and youngsters in all the equipment. The perception of safety with the younger ones and their parents should always be paramount as new families join the sport.
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