Funny Car Cage...Safe or not?

[Don Eckel 111]

Pictures can be deceiving and impacts create insane forces, but it appears that there is way too much room inside that cage. It also looks like he has moved a lot further forward in the car on impact than he should have. It's difficult to see the padding on the other bars of the cage as well. IMO, funny car cages, as with any other piece of safety equipment, are only effective when designed and used the right way. When I am strapped in my car, I cannot move my upper body forward at all. Leaving your belts loose is just giving you a running start toward severe injuries.

[Wayne Scraba]

More than a dozen years ago while I was sitting in an airport lounge waiting for a flight, I had a lengthy conversation with the late Jim Deist. Jim was convinced we had it all wrong when it came to roll bars (period). His point was a driver's helmet could easily come in contact with the roll bar hoop, simply because the hoop is too close (to the helmet). He elaborated on the normal stretch in a belt/harness in an accident (its a lot), even when they're cinched tight. A funny car cage only made it worse, even with all of the "padding" in the world. Basically, the driver's head gets rattled around in a crash in such a case and that's why people die or have serious head injuries. Jim was a pretty smart Kat and I suspect he was right.

Anyway, I no longer have a dog in the fight (race cars), but I think it's very important this gets hashed out. It would be nice if the powers at NHRA were listening....

Wayne

[G Schenck]

Originally Posted by Drew Olson

The problem with most new style dragsters is convenience. These guys are buying big cars for resale value. There is no need for a 24" wide dragster. Anyone who knows me knows I am a big ol boy and I fit well in a 23" wide car. There is no reason a 200# guy needs a 24" car. These 24"-26" cars are big even on me. My dad crashed his comp car in Memphis in 01 and it was a 20" cage and again he is not exactly a small guy with a 20 suit on he was in there pretty good. the car rolled several times hitting the cage directly on the track several times. Did he get his bell rung yes did he have injuries like the guy in the pic no. No accident is the same but I don't think that we would be getting the broken hips, legs, ribs ect if cars were built to fit like the old days. But the short answer to your original question I personally think fc cages are extremely effective if built properly.

You are so correct.

I had my car built for me. 19 inch. with a dragster hoop not a funny car hoop that everyone runs now. There is no way that my head could come close to hitting the front bar, that's why NHRA does not require you to pad that bar.( it appears that his belts were not tight enough) Some of the cookie cutter cars can fit two young drivers at a time.

Greg ( just my opinion)

[Wade Mahaffey]

Originally Posted by Wayne Scraba

More than a dozen years ago while I was sitting in an airport lounge waiting for a flight, I had a lengthy conversation with the late Jim Deist. Jim was convinced we had it all wrong when it came to roll bars (period). His point was a driver's helmet could easily come in contact with the roll bar hoop, simply because the hoop is too close (to the helmet). He elaborated on the normal stretch in a belt/harness in an accident (its a lot), even when they're cinched tight. A funny car cage only made it worse, even with all of the "padding" in the world. Basically, the driver's head gets rattled around in a crash in such a case and that's why people die or have serious head injuries. Jim was a pretty smart Kat and I suspect he was right.

Anyway, I no longer have a dog in the fight (race cars), but I think it's very important this gets hashed out. It would be nice if the powers at NHRA were listening....

Wayne

Just a few that know first hand what the cages can do are John Force and Connie Kalitta. They have both lost drivers from head injuries. Mr. Deist RIP was right on in my opinion. There's excuses and reasons not to engage and bring about corrective action, and action requires effort, and to each his own. When I think about a race car crashing expert....I think about NASCAR. Who crashes more than they do....we should take some notes!

Wade Mahaffey

[j gardiner]

I agree 100 pct. with you Wade we have seen it first hand. I don't know why doorslammer drag cars aren't built like a stock car I bet if it was the other way around they would be a couple deaths a year.

[gbur]

Regardless of size, if you can't get your butt thru a 18 in bathroom door ,you surely don't need a 24 wide cage, otherwise ,skip McD

[D.Johns]

I have a 25.4 chassis in my Stocker. Designed and built by me and I feel very safe with the bar placement and padding arangment.