Are you a MD or PHD, or did you just Sleep at a Holiday Inn Express Last Night, so now you're suddenly an expert?

Ask Tim Clauson how much he likes them. I have a background in physical science and health science. Did I study the HANS? No. Have I heard of it compressing the carotid artery in a crash? Yes. What's your point?
Posted via Mobile Device

One does have to be respectful about family members and friends. I have 20 years of open wheel video including numerous flips taken from track side inside 3 & 4 at the Action Track, but no one other than K&K insurance has ever seen my footage of the Vince Osman fatality at Kokomo.

I think it's great that so many people now go to races and record a portion of it. Too bad fans couldn't do that 30 years ago, imagine all the cool footage that would now exist. And I know how exciting it is to capture something spectacular in your viewfinder. Unfortunately, the casual fan might not have the sensitivities of the photographers and videographers that are more intimately involved in the sport.

It's really just a matter of where to draw the line between providing information and protecting personal privacy. No easy thing in a Youtube society.

I have heard of one crash where the Hans may have damaged the carotoid artery.

I would like to see them take the block wall down and put sand traps and a nice catch fence outside the track. I feel that for this particular track that would allow the cars to safely leave the track...the trap could slow them down and the fence would prevent them from getting into any other vehicle or person.

I have talked to Tim many times. I'll let him speak on this if he likes.
My Point is, your making comments on what you have "Heard". The Carotid Artery Injuries you have "heard" about may have been blamed on the HANS, but what has been found in the cases we looked at were much different. The compressions or torn arterys were all on the RH side of the neck. In those cases the seat used had one of the 2-3" wide "Hockey Stick" style RH head supports with just the thin sock like pad over the metal or carbon. When the car got into a hard barrel roll flip, the G-Forces lift the driver up out of the seat and the bottom of the helmet is then above this thin support and it actually put the forces on the neck when the car hit and the head and body were stretched up in the seat. Shanes will be looked at in time also, but his was a completely different type of hit.
Also, the Shoulder Belt Adjuster being located to high on the drivers chest have been found to cause that type of injury. They should be on lower part of the chest, or on the lower tip of the Hans or slightly below the Hans if there is enough room to get the belts tight. If the adjuster is on the lower shoulder area or upper chest it should be lowered. Again if the body is pulled up in the seat during the flip and these adjusters are to high, they then end up at neck level and in a dangerous area.

The most important point right now though is the continued positive recovery Shane is showing each day, and that we all continue our thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for the report KR. Apparently I have been misinformed. I apologize for coming across so ignorant in regards to this matter. Have they looked at different ways to secure drivers within the seat? Different belt material or better ways of tightening the belts? They must know that the G's will exceed the driver's strength when pulling the belts tight.
Posted via Mobile Device

I have a question. Why was the original gaurdrailing removed and replace with massive 4' by 4' concrete barriers? No tube frame is going to resist an impact with a rock that weighs 20,000+ pounds no matter how stucturally sound it is.

I pray for shanes full recovery and wish his family the best.

A few stacks of used junkyard tires around the turns walls might be the answer. This is how indycar handles their runoff areas on street and road courses. A lot softer than concrete. I think Ascot park did this as well. Hay bales on top and tires along the wall.