No shoulder harnesses for Hillary?

[Terry]

That's good to know Suzie. A few years ago I bought a set of belts that had wide velcro strips over the latches on the shoulder as well as the main latch to protect that from happeninng. Maybe that needs to become standard?

Jenn, when Suzie told me that I definitely could relate--Somehow, I managed to catch my glove cuff on my cam lock lever while shifting or returning to the steering wheel after shifting or something. Anyway, the end result was one side of the lap belt and one shoulder strap became unlatched. Boy was I glad I had no head on impact in that configuration--left shoulder attached, right lap attached, crotch strap attached and the rest loose. I always liked the cam lock harness, but after that ordeal, I started putting a strip of racers tape over the latch handle after buckling in. At the end of the season, I went back to the latch link style.

 

[Jenn]

Jenn, when Suzie told me that I definitely could relate--Somehow, I managed to catch my glove cuff on my cam lock lever while shifting or returning to the steering wheel after shifting or something. Anyway, the end result was one side of the lap belt and one shoulder strap became unlatched. Boy was I glad I had no head on impact in that configuration--left shoulder attached, right lap attached, crotch strap attached and the rest loose. I always liked the cam lock harness, but after that ordeal, I started putting a strip of racers tape over the latch handle after buckling in. At the end of the season, I went back to the latch link style.

Yep, been there, done that. That's why I posted in the first couple replies that it didn't have to be somebody NOT doing something. Just something got caught up in it and released like Tony P's incident.

When my dad got his last jacket, the arm restraints buckled directly into the cam lock rather than going over the belts like the Simpsons do. There were a couple times where it didn't click completely and it came out.

 

[cstarns]

I want to pass on to all of you what Jim told me about the shoulder harness incident.

Hillary's chin strap caught the latch of her shoulder strap and it released it. When she pulled the parachute, the g-force caused her to slip out of the other shoulder strap because she has a very narrow upper body.

At NO time was there a mistake made by ANY of the team members failing to strap her in. It was a fluke thing and they are addressing the situation to make sure it never happens again.

DO NOT throw anyone under the bus on this!

Thanks

End of story. Thanks for the info Susie.

 

[PJ]

Thanks for clearing it up Suzie,

Glad I missed seeing that one, my daughter too she would have freaked.

 

[paoldtimer]

Thanks for posting this, now I feel like a ditz for what I posted earlier.

ditz? I thought ditz was reserved for the females of the world and guys were putzes??

 

[paoldtimer]

I want to pass on to all of you what Jim told me about the shoulder harness incident.

Hillary's chin strap caught the latch of her shoulder strap and it released it. When she pulled the parachute, the g-force caused her to slip out of the other shoulder strap because she has a very narrow upper body.

At NO time was there a mistake made by ANY of the team members failing to strap her in. It was a fluke thing and they are addressing the situation to make sure it never happens again.

DO NOT throw anyone under the bus on this!

Thanks

Thanks Suzie for setting the record straight!!

 

[HEMI6point1]

ditz? I thought ditz was reserved for the females of the world and guys were putzes??

Didn't think of it earlier.

 

[Suzie Q]

Thanks for clearing it up Suzie,

Glad I missed seeing that one, my daughter too she would have freaked.

No Problem! I wanted to get the story from Jim so that we are ALL crystal clear as to what happened.

Jim did not want to see the footage either. I can't say I blame him! That was some pretty scary stuff.

 

[You!]

Just so I understand Suzie, the chin strap hit the adjuster of the shoulder strap, not the latch, right?

 

[Jenn]

ditz? I thought ditz was reserved for the females of the world and guys were putzes??

Leave it to you to clear that one up Cheryl

 

[Suzie Q]

Just so I understand Suzie, the chin strap hit the adjuster of the shoulder strap, not the latch, right?

It got caught on the latch and pulled it open.

 

[You!]

So it was not a cam lock style latch? I didn't think anyone used the "arm" style latches anymore. Like this http://www.djsafety.com/main page_files/PRODUCTS/LapBelts/322002-R_lg.jpg Even these have a velcro piece that prevents this from happening. I'm really confused.

Wish they would allow us to go back to the aircraft style, turn and hit style.

 

[hotrod]

That is confusing. I can see the chin strap reaching the adjuster, but can't quite figure out how it reached the latch. Must be a lot different than the restraints in my comp dragster. Seems like it would have lifted the adjuster, loosening one side and then she slid out of the other side. Just my thoughts.

 

[stanman]

So it was not a cam lock style latch? I didn't think anyone used the "arm" style latches anymore. Like this http://www.djsafety.com/main page_files/PRODUCTS/LapBelts/322002-R_lg.jpg Even these have a velcro piece that prevents this from happening. I'm really confused.

Wish they would allow us to go back to the aircraft style, turn and hit style.

If it is a Simpson harness it has a lever that releases the cam lock.

 

[Jenn]

Latch type is personal preference. My dad prefers the cam lock, brother prefers the lever type. Cam one you can pretty much attach in any order, latch type is a specific order. Cam lock type seem to work better with the DJ arm restraints.

 

[SAS]

The harness must always be able to release quickly , in case of fire , so its locked on , but in this case the release was by a chin strap. Yet another change everyone should pay attention to.

 

[davey]

So it was not a cam lock style latch? I didn't think anyone used the "arm" style latches anymore. Like this http://www.djsafety.com/main page_files/PRODUCTS/LapBelts/322002-R_lg.jpg Even these have a velcro piece that prevents this from happening. I'm really confused.

Wish they would allow us to go back to the aircraft style, turn and hit style.

Hey Bill,
The article says on comp plus it's about 50/50 cam lock vs. lever style. An NHRA official speculated that the velcro piece was not there. Of course, that was only his particular speculation. Doesn't mean it's true. Also, doesn't mean he has any "inside information" or was even on the grounds at the time. Probably why he spoke under the condition of anonymity. I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'!

 

[You!]

Thanks Dave. You likely meant this one Drag Racing Internet Magazine - Competition Plus.com which I hadn't seen yet.

Now it all makes sense. I had totally forgotten that Simpson even made that style latch and I have never used that type. Like I said earlier, the one I liked the best was the aircraft style where you have to turn it then hit it to get it to release.

I think Joe Hansen (DJ Safety) and or Tommy Abbott (Chute Metal) told me years ago that NHRA had outlawed those and they could not be certified with that hardware.

 

[sdwarf36]

Having run both, the only problem I see with the cam lock ones are you cant tell by looking if they are all the way snapped in. And you can get them partially in without them "clicking in".

 

[willy]

Good thread.

Would Hillary's lap still be restrained? She appeared to come up quite a ways..the slo mo was scary..and I'm certainly glad it was an uneventful run..by that I mean straight and no trouble.