Valhalla 360 Plus Device?

[Karterdude!]

Team Valhalla Racing is dedicated to providing safety equipment to the driver that is looking for the best possible safety equipment for his or her chosen form of racing.

The Armadillo Rib Vest is contructed of materials stratically placed in the vest, to absorb impacts to the driver’s body.The Armadillo has passed the testing criteria to meet the SFI 20.1 testing spec for approved chest protectors.

The 360 Plus Device was developed to replace the standard foam collar that many drivers wear while kart racing.The 360 Plus Device actually provides a robust platform for the helmet to engage and potentially reduce injury to a driver during a crash situation.

Following are detailed descriptions of these two items.

The 360 Plus Device is completely different approach to wearing a neck collar.

The injection molded, glass reinforced nylon core piece, along with the firm chin foam parts, provide a stable platform for helping control the movement of a driver’s head when needed.

Major issues the 360 Plus Device helps limit is front and rear hyper-flexion, extreme lateral motion, and the relief of a compression load to the spinal column.

* Frontal hyper-flexion is reduced by the front of the helmet coming into contact with the firm foam pieces of the Device under the driver’s chin. These components are constructed of a foam that is much denser than the normal neck collar currently worn by drivers.
* The vertical braces of the core piece, located behind the driver's helmet, helps control the rear hyper-flexion. The helmet coming into contact with the upper vertical brace, located directly behind the driver's head, reduces backward movement. This engagement then transfers the energy to the lower vertical brace located against the driver's back.
* Extreme lateral motion of a driver's head is minimized when the helmet comes into contact with the Device. While not hindering the driver swiveling his/her head from side to side, the device provides a robust platform for the helmet to rest against as in a roll over situation.
* Compression load is the amount of pressure and stress exerted on the spinal column due to an impact. The compression load on this part of the body is unloaded when the helmet comes into contact with the device. The energy is then transferred to the Device and then to the upper torso area of the driver.
* This is all accomplished while still allowing the driver unrestricted rotation of the head to look over the shoulder for on-coming karts.

The 360 Plus Device is also designed to prevent the helmet from projecting over the edge of the Device and creating a fulcrum action.

The firm foam pieces under the chin of the driver are much stiffer than the foam used in other neck collars that are currently available to drivers now.

* The denser foam allows for better control of the helmet movement.
* The 360 Plus Device is designed with foam parts in the front, verses plastic, to help minimize potential injury to the throat area if forced backward.
* Designed break away feature.In the bizarre event that something should hook inside the Device, the 360 Plus Device is designed to break away so that the potential for serious neck injury is reduced.
* The foam pieces are adjustable – laterally, front to rear – to adjust for the different chest thicknesses of drivers.

The 360 Plus Device weighs in at only 1.75 lbs.

* All material components that make up the 360 Plus Device are manufactured in the United States.All assembly is done in the United States.

Information sourced from: www.edwardskartwheels.com.au

Was just wondering when or if this would be brought into kart and if anyone uses this and how it feels? It would be allowed wouldn't it because this is one super neck brace

[outlaw19]

Leatte and EVS have a similar design Leatte are around $750 EVS between $200 to $500. I have recently bought a mid range EVS neck brace which I will be using while racing. Rule 14.7 states only that a neck brace is compulsory there is no definition of design. The current horse collar used by most drivers affords very little support and with the varying designs some are really bad, I won't be using a horse collar. Its the old how much do you value your own safety. The EVS and Leatte both have Australia Standards and I presume the one mentioned would also if not don't buy it. Most common neck braces used are not standards rated that answers a lot in its self.
They do need to be worn a few times to get used to with the safety being carried over a bigger area. Honestly I wouldn't go back to the horse collar not after using this device. They are now becoming common with a lot of bitumen drivers there is no reason why not with dirt. If AIDKA rule against them then I would question the confidence of the people making that decision. I would be using a HANS Device if there was a practical way of tethering it but there isn't so I will use my EVS. I would suggest you try one on with your helmet and form your own opinion.

[tom]

I agree with what you say about neck braces outlaw!

I have been using a Leatt for the last 2 years (as shown in front page pic at the moment), it is very comfortable to wear, and has been extensively tested to provide maximum support in case of accident. (unlike foam collars)

The 360 looks very similar in it's design. I can't see AIDKA preventing anyone from wearing this type of neck brace.

On a side note, i still disagree with making neck braces compulsory.. I am yet to hear from anyone that has done any research into neck injuries in conjunction with neck braces that will say the foam collar is of any assistance. There are many people who will say that it causes injuries (especially in the case of a "face plant" type accident)

[Cougar]

Thats why you are a Rooky Racer...

[Kar 32]

AIDKA need to rewrite there ruling on neckbraces the collar, is called a neck support not a neckbrace so technicually everyone who runs a neck support is running against the rules. Need to fix the wording on that rule I think.