Emergency Procedures

[JHPGT3]

I was thinking.......(and this can be dangerous sometimes), that as a pilot and Flight Instructor, I've been taught to practice and teach emergency procedures. Preparation is everything, right?
In sailing, we practice man overboard procedures and procedures to evacuate the vessel.
Do we ever teach emergency procedures in racing?
I'm curious, as an example, if anyone has been able to practice getting out of an upside down car and if they have any words of wisdom?
Great opportunity here for some laffs, but I'm serious!!
Thanks to all for a great week-end at The Streets!!

[MVZ944T]

John,

That sounds like a good idea. Can we flip your GT3 and practice using it to get out?

Mike

[Carl Scragg]

I've heard stories of drivers sustaining neck injuries trying to get out of their overturned car. The injuries are caused by suddenly being dropped onto the top of your head after releasing the 5-pt harness. So remember children, brace yourself before unbuckling your belts.

[MVZ944T]

John,

I all seriousness, I have considered practicing getting out of the car in a rush, not upside down, but just to make a routine. FI drivers must be able to get completely out of their cars in less than 5 seconds I think. Not a bad idea to at least practice the moves. In a real crash, assuming one was still consious, I would think that adrenalin would play a major factor in getting out. Considering I have to do a Houdini routine to get in and out, I doubt I would break any records.

Mike

[MVZ944T]

John,

In all seriousness, I have considered practicing getting out of the car in a rush, not upside down, but just to make a routine. FI drivers must be able to get completely out of their cars in less than 5 seconds I think. Not a bad idea to at least practice the moves. In a real crash, assuming one was still consious, I would think that adrenalin would play a major factor in getting out. Considering I have to do a Houdini routine to get in and out, I doubt I would break any records.

Mike

(does this thing have spell check?)

[kary]

John and I have already done this in real life at the Speedway last year. Though I never got out of the car I was unbuckled when John restarted the car. It might be a good example to train from given we were stalled directly in a dangerous area where cars were passing.

Upside down might be a bit harsh using John's car, but what do ya say John, can we flip your car over for training purposes?

[Mike]

Have you practiced grabbing the fire bottle with your gloves and helmet on? What if your door could not open could you get out through the door window? Could you if required to exit quickly kick out your windshield or rear window? Can you do all of the above with your eyes closed, as in a dust cloud or thick smoke?

[kary]

Have you practiced grabbing the fire bottle with your gloves and helmet on? What if your door could not open could you get out through the door window? Could you if required to exit quickly kick out your windshield or rear window? Can you do all of the above with your eyes closed, as in a dust cloud or thick smoke?

Mike that is another set of good one.

Hey, John, can we practice kick out your windshield also?

[my87944s]

I once had to disassemble and re-assemble an M-16 while hanging upside down with a burlap bag over my head. After a few tries and realizing I had to lay the parts out in order, I got down to 1:10 or so...
But really, I had thought about this after watching a Nascar event where a car was flipped and on fire, it was at the far back of the track and took awhile for the course workers to get over. I swear that driver was out of the car before it stopped moving. And they have ALOT more safety equipment than any of us would have.

[JHPGT3]

Hey there,
I forgot about this post until tonight. I had the feeling i could count on some pithy comments. Thanks guys (even you, Kary!).
In all seriousness, when I look at the cage being built in my new car, and think of the proximity of the steering wheel and a wraparound Recarro/Hans seat, there is very little room to maneuver to get out, let alone when upside down. This has got to be the time when you count on fire suppression systems and corner workers to do their thing. I honestly don't think I would have the ability to get out in less than a minute and it might take a lot more!!!
My new car is on a rotisserie right now. After the cage is in (very soon), we could put two seats in there. WE could then put Kary and Mike VS in there, strap them in, flip the rotisserie around several times (or more, to simulate the very high speeds for which these gentlemen are known). We could have a little fire going. Maybe some fire hoses --Mike G. could use Simone's old broom to sweep the floor and create a little dust cloud as he suggested --you get the idea. Basically, we DO have the vehicle to do a little research in this important area. R U ready for a little science?

[kary]

Hey there,
I forgot about this post until tonight. I had the feeling i could count on some pithy comments. Thanks guys (even you, Kary!).
In all seriousness, when I look at the cage being built in my new car, and think of the proximity of the steering wheel and a wraparound Recarro/Hans seat, there is very little room to maneuver to get out, let alone when upside down. This has got to be the time when you count on fire suppression systems and corner workers to do their thing. I honestly don't think I would have the ability to get out in less than a minute and it might take a lot more!!!
My new car is on a rotisserie right now. After the cage is in (very soon), we could put two seats in there. WE could then put Kary and Mike VS in there, strap them in, flip the rotisserie around several times (or more, to simulate the very high speeds for which these gentlemen are known). We could have a little fire going. Maybe some fire hoses --Mike G. could use Simone's old broom to sweep the floor and create a little dust cloud as he suggested --you get the idea. Basically, we DO have the vehicle to do a little research in this important area. R U ready for a little science?

I like the test rotisserie set up! Can I use your racing suit during the test? I assume it is a three layer SFI rated suit

But on a serious note, I think given your set up John, it would be extremely difficult to get out of the car in a big crash and if you were slightly dazed from a big impact you likely would not be able to do anything under your own power. That said, a good in car fire system is a must. Multiple nozzles in the interior, engine compartement, and possibly in the front trunk. After seeing a video of a 993 RSR spin out and hit a wall which was followed by a Ferrari spinning out at the same location and then T-boning the 993 RSR I a believer in as much protection as you can get without compromising horsepower to weight ratio too much.

Here is the video for those that have not seen it. Is is about 19MB.....

www.group9motorsports.com/videos/insanecrash.mpg

[JHPGT3]

Kary,
That is the worst damn thing I have ever seen!!! Horrible!!!
Where did that take place and when. And what happened to the guy in the car that was engulfed in fire. It doesn't show him getting out!!
Back to the drawing board on the fire suppression system. Who the hell cares about weight after seeing this!
Everyone should see this before they next get on the track.
I'm still shaking my head as I write this!
WOW!
I don't think we need to try to simulate this on the rotisserie, but I would still like to get you and Mike in there for a few spins!!

[kary]

Kary,
That is the worst damn thing I have ever seen!!! Horrible!!!
Where did that take place and when. And what happened to the guy in the car that was engulfed in fire. It doesn't show him getting out!!
Back to the drawing board on the fire suppression system. Who the hell cares about weight after seeing this!
Everyone should see this before they next get on the track.
I'm still shaking my head as I write this!
WOW!
I don't think we need to try to simulate this on the rotisserie, but I would still like to get you and Mike in there for a few spins!!

As I understand it the guy in the Ferrari was ok but the guy in the Porsche ended his racing career. Both survived. I guess we can see the Porsche driver trying to get out, I think he was badly hurt and will not return to racing.

[ttweed]

Where did that take place and when.

It happened in Japan in 1998. One of the drivers ended up sueing the organizers of the race over the safety crew response.

"Car race promoters held responsible for crash damages
Thursday, October 30, 2003 at 03:40 JST
TOKYO — The Tokyo District Court ordered a group of race promoters Wednesday to compensate a driver injured in an accident in 1998, dismissing a pre-race written pledge obtained from the driver not to seek compensation over crashes.

Fuji International Speedway Co and other defendants were ordered to pay 90 million yen in damages to Tetsuya Ota, whose limbs remain disabled after sustaining burns in the accident in the May 1998 "Japan GT Championship." (Kyodo News)"

TT

[MikeD]

It looked to me like one of the guys started pickup debris rather than help the Porsche driver out of his car.