UK Karting - Notice Board (General Karting) : Re: I don't!

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Re: I don't!
Posted by 'itpro' on 20 Oct 2008 @ 18:51

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itproJoined: August 2001
Total Posts: 6
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Guys, I don't want to be rude but I am now in my FIFTIETH year in karting (having driven my first when I was 6) and I have seen most types of accidents and been involced in FAR too many myself.

The 'perceived' problem with the neck brace is not complex:

Yes! The neck brace MAY help prevent the neck from over-flexing backward. It may also prevent the neck from whacking too far forward. There is even some suggestion that it is the base of the helmet hitting the collar bone which assists in breaking so many of those!

However, you SHOULD be asking yourself HOW it does those things. It's simple, the helmet is forced into the brace, this would then appear to INCREASE the pull UPWARD on the neck itself! It's easy to see HOW this works, imaging that the head was attached just by a floppy bit of string. The helmet would 'meet' the neckbrace and the remaining 'forward' force would roll the helmet as far forward as the 'string' would allow on the basis, that it CAN'T move further forward/backward so it just tries to STRETCH the string!

In reality, your kid's SPINE is that string!

Those who have been involved for ages have heard about that (supposed) Sid Watkins statement and have taken HIS veiws on board! I can't PROVE what Sid is supposed to have said but I also see NO signs of the MSA introducing a 'compulsion' to wear one.

************

Keep in mind that karting is STAGGERINGLY safe! Yes, it DOES have deaths and there is no point in pretending it DOESN'T. But Horse Riding, Football, Rugby, DIY, Ski-ing, cooking, etc. has WORSE figures!

Take every precaution that YOU think is sensible. It's just that I have watched, probably 500 kids/adults hit the barriers over the years and very VERY few were wearing the neck brace. In all that time, I have seen merely HANDFULS of 'neck injuries' caused during driving. On that basis, I didn't make my son wear one.

The choice is yours!

However, I have to state (for the usual litigation problems) that I cannot PROVE any of this and I don't even know for SURE that Sid Watkins' report EXISTS! You really MUST make your OWN decisions.... just be aware that we know of VERY little EVIDENCE that the neck brace DOES help! The facts that NO reputable manufacturer of neck braces is willing to STATE that their brace actually WILL make your kid SAFER is pretty clear sign that such evidence does NOT exist! If there WAS any PROOF of it's life/heath saving abilities, you can be utterly C*E*R*T*A*I*N that they would be trumpetting it from the ROOF TOPS!

Ian

Message Thread:

neck brace by 'HC64' (20 Oct 2008 @ 14:35)

Re: neck brace by 'Roblin' (20 Oct 2008 @ 14:57)

Re: neck brace by 'HC64' (20 Oct 2008 @ 15:05)

Re: neck brace by 'Roblin' (20 Oct 2008 @ 15:12)

Re: neck brace by 'HC64' (20 Oct 2008 @ 15:29)

Re: neck brace by 'itpro' (20 Oct 2008 @ 15:09)

Re: neck brace by 'itpro' (20 Oct 2008 @ 15:03)

Re: neck brace by 'HC64' (20 Oct 2008 @ 15:10)

i agree by 'cosgrove78' (20 Oct 2008 @ 15:30)

Re: I don't! by 'itpro' << You are here!

Re: neck brace by 'Zoesdad' (20 Oct 2008 @ 15:59)

Re: Leatt neck brace by 'richydehav' (20 Oct 2008 @ 16:27)

Re: Leatt neck brace by 'BanzaiBoy' (20 Oct 2008 @ 17:00)

Re: Leatt neck brace by 'NikG' (20 Oct 2008 @ 17:11)

Re: Leatt neck brace by 'bigp' (20 Oct 2008 @ 17:18)

Re: Leatt neck brace by 'davidmc' (20 Oct 2008 @ 19:29)

Re: Leatt neck brace by 'DBaldwin' (20 Oct 2008 @ 20:04)

Re: how heavy is your crash helmet by 'neilaustin' (20 Oct 2008 @ 21:06)

Re: how heavy is your crash helmet by 'raceinstructor' (21 Oct 2008 @ 0:09)

Re: how heavy is your crash helmet by 'BanzaiBoy' (21 Oct 2008 @ 12:34)

Re: how heavy is your crash helmet by 'Minisueg' (22 Oct 2008 @ 20:53)

Re: how heavy is your crash helmet by 'NikG' (23 Oct 2008 @ 9:06)

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