Motorsports security has improved considerably during the last 20 years, but there are nonetheless gaps that go away drivers susceptible. Learn on to see how Mackz Efficiency is addressing these gaps with innovation and perseverance.
How protected is automotive racing?
If anybody has ever watched any automotive racing occasion, they’d have certainly additionally seen a automotive crash. Automotive crashes can happen on account of a number of of three major causes: driver error, mechanical/part failure, or contact with one other race automotive. Keep in mind that every one these are taking place when the automotive/s are travelling at a median pace of 200kph (or 125mph). So, a break up second of an excellent/dangerous resolution is all it takes for a drastically totally different race consequence.
Through the years, elevated security measures taken by governing our bodies and enhancements in applied sciences have considerably lowered the variety of accidents and even deaths. In Components 1 racing, that features issues like having fire-resistant fits, having a survival cell (or ‘Monocoque’), neutralising harmful corners, Carbon fiber helmets, the Head and Neck Assist machine (HANS), the Halo machine, hearth safety gloves, and so forth. Notable decreases in accidents (from 1950 to 2024) had been seen in fractures, higher extremity accidents, and decrease extremity accidents. Although on the similar time, the variety of again/backbone, neck, and pelvis/sacrum accidents has remained constant. [study link].
One of many key contributors to the lower in accidents has been the HANS machine and the obligatory use of it since 2001. Developed by Professor Rob Hubbard of Michigan State College’s biomechanical engineering division, the HANS machine was proven to reduce the flexion-distraction force on the head and neck by 80%. Whereas it’s clear that the HANS performs nicely in frontal head restraints (FHR), it supplies little to no safety in aspect/angled impacts. Relying on the crash, it additionally doesn’t scale back the consequences of vertical forces (compressing the backbone) or horizontal G-forces on the physique. The HANS collar might additionally trigger bruising across the collarbone after carrying it. Tlisted here are hybrid variations of the HANS machine that attempt to deal with a few these limitations. Nevertheless, it nonetheless leaves folks wanting.
Not pleased with the state of the answer, Mackz Performance has made it its mission to make sure that each race automotive driver can stroll out of a crash with out life-threatening accidents. After spending over twenty years designing and testing, working carefully with consultants, and getting person suggestions, the Mackz crew has lastly developed the Mackz 360 SCS (Security Cell System). This revolutionary system supplies 360° protection, mitigating impacts not solely from the entrance but additionally from above, beneath, lateral, and, critically, rotational forces. These are areas the place present options, such because the HANS units, present extreme limitations.
The Mackz Distinction
What units the Mackz 360 SCS aside is that, in contrast to conventional neck restraint techniques centered on frontal deceleration, the Mackz system was designed with full-body biomechanics in thoughts. Firstly, it stabilises the helmet throughout X, Y and Z axes, offering Basal Cranium safety in all instructions. The implication of that’s big, together with stopping eye nerve accidents which have a extreme affect on a driver’s imaginative and prescient. [Check out this video of Tyler Courtney talking about his head trauma that led to his nerve injury – video and the video below of the actual crash.
Secondly, the Mackz 360 SCS distributes affect power throughout shoulders, again and torso, providing spinal assist and organ cushioning utilising high-density, fire-retardant foam. Additionally, it incorporates hearth and fume shielding beneath the helmet, a characteristic not seen in another product available on the market. On prime of all that, it’s designed with the motive force’s ‘security workflow’ in thoughts, permitting them to launch themselves from the seat and exit their automobile in simply 10 seconds within the occasion of a crash.
Tom Weisenbach, Govt Director of the Worldwide Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS), touts that ~ ” this machine is what motorsport has been ready 18 years for“.
How it began
Again in 1996, Paul Cleveland (founding father of Mackz Efficiency) was racing at Redline Speedway, Ballarat. He was coming onto the primary straight in second place and turned the primary place into the wall. He planted his foot and entered the infield, and sadly, the chief got here out of the mud and in addition bought by means of the infield. Paul shortly locked wheel to the left and took the entire again of his automotive off proper behind his roll cage. When the medics bought to him, they may not discover his helmet because it was trapped behind his shoulders. It took them 2 hours to chop him out of the automotive, and he was not respiratory for 10 minutes. He was revived twice, put in a coma and wakened 30 hours later. After many, many weeks within the hospital, Paul had a dream of the accident, and that’s when he got here up with the thought of a foam neck machine – one thing that might give higher safety to a driver. He began chopping up foam in his dwelling, and afterward, bought assist from a mattress maker and had a correctly designed neck brace. From the get-go, Paul started placing his foam neck units on race automotive drivers, and the suggestions was constructive.
Changing into Mackz 360
Quick ahead to the 2010s, Paul began to design a physique harness / security cell system, becauase he felt the neck brace was incomplete. Nevertheless, the harness design within the early phases missed the mark barely within the SFI Specification 38.1 Sled take a look at for Head and Neck Restraint Programs. Nonetheless, take a look at outcomes confirmed that the froth absorbs affect very well. Add to that, when he spoke to potential buyers, they had been solely fascinated with a fundamental neck machine. So the protection cell system idea was placed on the again burner until the celebrities aligned they usually discovered the fitting design engineer and manufacturing consultants, which allowed Paul’s imaginative and prescient to come back into fruition.
This complete journey of creating the Mackz 360 SCS was not totally in regards to the bodily product creation. It was additionally about really understanding all the ecosystem of racing, from the provision chain of security tools throughout racing codes, to medical science and requirements, regulators and even the minds of racers. A part of that journey concerned rebranding (Brase your self -> Mackz Efficiency) and repositioning the answer past merely a neck brace, and right into a extra complete security cell system (SCS).
IP, Analysis Validation and Past
Within the final couple of years, Paul reformed the management crew with preliminary funding and developed a strategic plan to deliver Mackz 360 SCS to the world of racing, spanning from Components 1 to grassroots racing. The crew has put fundamental IP safety in place for his or her design, and they’re taking essential steps in direction of engineering and medical validation. By partnering with Swinburne College of Know-how, the plan is to carry out full sled simulation testing and additional biomechanical testing to validate the 360° security system. The outcomes will inform any revisions required for the ultimate prototype, which might then bear the FIA-standard SF38.1 sled testing, materials burn testing and different important compliance checks vital for worldwide certification and approval. These approvals can be the ultimate hurdle earlier than Mackz 360 SCS is launched into the world.
Past motorsport security, Paul has envisioned that this security system might have broader functions in army functions, aviation, and particular contact sports activities.
Alternative to speculate
There may be at present a chance for buyers who’ve an curiosity in motorsports to be a part of the thrilling last steps of growth. The Mackz Efficiency crew is looking for funding to cowl analysis, testing, and the ultimate design and growth prices. If you need to have a stake in the way forward for motorsports security, you possibly can attain out to the Mackz crew right here – link. First in greatest dressed.
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