DRIVER ESCAPE - SAFETY

[my friends call me Zappy]

After Capps crash, I think it's obvious we need to somehow hinge the side windows on the FC's. Capps was fully conscious yet couldn't get out the roof hatch. The Safety crew was helpless until the car was righted. thank GOD there was NO fire.
NHRA needs to get with the body builders/fabricators & address this ASAP.

 

[TooTall999]

There were hinged side windows on Ashley's car. Nobody else seemed interested in the design though.

 

[Just Paul]

Yup it's been done. Pretty sure there was a pull handle just inside the Dudley hole, and the entire section would come right out.

 

[stitcherbob]

anyone know if there was any room to get out while upside down? Maybe the carbon fiber roof was against the dash/rollcage?

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Bob there must have been no way to get out while up-side down. Ron said he was trapped and had to wait till they rolled the car back on the tires to get out.

 

[TooTall999]

Only way out is the roof hatch. Unless you're a serious contortionist. But the only one that ever seemed concerned was Poppa John, he was worried about Ashley which is why they came up with the side escape windows on her car. No other driver/ team seemed concerned enough to incorporate the design.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Dave do the Force FC's still use them, or have they also abandoned the feature ?? I think it should be mandatory on both sides. (jmo)

 

[MHayes]

Dave do the Force FC's still use them, or have they also abandoned the feature ?? I think it should be mandatory on both sides. (jmo)

None of the Force cars currently have that feature anymore.

 

[DixonFan]

 

[M Jones]

Who was that who said , it was the brakes because the chutes were out, one chute falling out and almost open at the beginning of the sand trap is not what I would call chutes out or did I miss something in the video

 

[turbo ken]

Don't forget they put the "dog house" that kind of covers the steering wheel, brake lever, fuel shut off on the chassis after they strap the driver in to help protect their hands, and arms from being burned in a fire.

 

[ironpony]

also when you are upside down with all your body weight on the belts, things get bound up. Not sure if it was aired, but the track interview Ron said he was starting to freak out while he was hanging upside down and could not get out.

 

[Nemo]

I was curious about his running out of air comment. How does the air mask seal to the face of the driver inside the helmet (if it does) or does it just provide air through positive pressure displacing the smoke? I know the feeling of running out of air and not being able to displace the mask to draw in possibly contaminated air...

 

[turbo ken]

Provides air through positive pressure in the helmet.

 

[vegasnitro]

Haven't the drivers been told to go straight into the sand by the sanctioning body? Once he went in at an angle (and kept increasing that angle), going over seemed inevitable.

 

[yoda]

At some point, he had to be wondering while strapped in upside-down cocoon, after a 200mph "Oh Chit" moment-

"Is anything on fire, now that all these flammable liquids are in things that are upside-down?"


Yeah- I'd be a bit wigged out being stuck in there for more than a minute while they were trying to tip me over to get me out...