PCA HPDE Changes
 

For those of you who participate in Driver Education opportunities sponsored by PCA, there are new rules changes coming for those who have multi-point restraint systems.

The following is an excerpt from an email I received yesterday.

The number one priority of PCA's HPDE Program is track safety. A core belief in the DE program is that a person can purchase a stock Porsche and take it to the track for an HPDE weekend, after an appropriate tech inspection of course.

Some people choose to modify their cars to increase performance and others to increase safety. A popular modification made to track cars is the addition of a multi-point harness system. Starting January 1, 2019, the DE Minimum Standards will be expanded to state that if a driver uses a harness system, he or she will ALSO be required to utilize a head and neck restraint system, commonly referred to as a HANS device.

A head and neck restraint device is an integral part of the harness system. Because the rule of equal restraint always applies, if a driver uses a harness system there must also be a harness system available and used by the passenger. Thus, both the driver and passenger will be required to use a HANS device. We highly encourage all DE participants to not wait until 2019 to comply with this new minimum standard. Head and neck restraint system devices are now more affordable and easily purchased online.

The DE Committee's decision was made over the course of two years after careful review of options, conversations with DE participants and discussion of a variety of perspectives. Please pass on this information to your DE drivers and instructors as soon as possible to avoid any confusion.

It makes sense to wear a HANS if you have a multi-point harness. The extra stopping power of the harness will be harmful to your head in an accident.

There is also debate on what to do with new cars with active cruise control (or whatever it's called) - the device that automatically slows your car if you approach a car in front of you too quickly. There may not be a way to deactivate the system and that has PCA concerned. Don't know all the details about the system or how it will be dealt with for DEs, but I've heard rumblings that cars with this feature may not be allowed on the track.

After reviewing crash test data I agree with the HANS requirement while running harnesses in a DE. The neck becomes the weakest link and Basil skull fracture is a significant risk. Standard 3pt belts allow for more torso movement in an impact putting less stress on the neck.

Husker: We spent the day with one of your own: PCA National DE Chair John Krycek, who shared my car at a PCA DE event here in SoCal. Good guy.

Man up!

Have you seen how they do Nurburgring track days?

Yes he is. We are fortunate to have John as our region's Chief Driving Instructor.

This makes it pretty clear...

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