Basic Analysis

First, Be Aware: 
There is no practical total solution that will eliminate all possible injury.   Extreme forces can always overwhelm any safety system and injury, paralysis or death can occur.   A safety component such as the Crash Pad can only reduce the risk of injury when used properly and in conjunction with other appropriate safety equipment.

Crash Pad 2

The Problem

Neck and Back Spinal Injury can occur when the car lands wheels down on the frame.

In a crash, when there is a hard impact to the bottom of the frame, the driver is forced into the seat bottom. With the end of the driver's tailbone firmly belted against the rigid seat bottom, the weight of the driver's head and helmet act like a pile driver, compressing the spine. Injury can occur in the neck, the weakest area, or the back. The injuries are typically compression fractures, broken vertebrae, ruptured discs between the vertebrae, or nerve damage.

Analysis

Spinal Compression Injury is the most common serious injury occurring in short track Open Wheel Racing today.

As containment seats became more common, so did the spinal injury problem.   Seats now support the driver and his spine so well, that in a wheels down or frame bottom type of impact, the driver's head and helmet is aligned directly on top of the spine and it acts like a pile driver, compressing the spine.  A frame bottom impact is a very short duration. The sudden impact creates a spinal compression that can exceed the threshold of injury for an individual's body.

There are TWO things needed to reduce spinal impact forces

1. Compressible Material

The downward motion of the driver’s body and spine must be slowed down during the impact. The Shock Absorbing Material works like a shock absorber. The material’s resisting force remains the same throughout the compression of the material.

2. Compressible Space

The driver's body needs room to slow its downward motion. The thickness of the Crash Pad provides the critical compressible space needed to slow the driver's downward motion.

The combination of uniform resistance and compressible space reduces the “peak value” of the impact and spreads the forces over a longer period of time and area so the body is more able to absorb the impact with lower risk of injury.

Pad your Butt to Save your Back

Less expensive than a Crash Helmet, but just as important

The Benefits

  • Unchanged "seat of the pants feel" - Cheek Technology - of the car
  • Significant reduction in driver crash shock and impact forces
  • Works like a shock absorber for your spine
  • Creates the critical space needed under you to dissipate impact energy over a longer period of time
  • Puts some compressible space between your butt and the impact of the rear end into the bottom of the seat in a crash
  • Reusable - recovers to original capability in seconds - ready to go again
  • Simple - just custom tailor the Crash Pad to fit your seat and go
  • Take it with you from ride to ride
  • Removes quickly to wash the car- wipes clean with damp cloth
  • Adjustable width - fits 14" to 18" width seats without requiring modification by trimming padding and rewrapping Velcro flap upholstery
  • Adjustable thickness - 1/2" layers can be added or removed for 1/2" to 3" thickness
  • US Military testing found this material BEST to reduce the risk of spinal injury for the same problem
  • Proven tough outer covering
  • Does not support flame
  • Bonus - it is super comfortable- eliminates pressure points