What, you think we spend all summer just lying around? Playing golf or fishing, maybe? Well, forget that nonsense. Da Boss has us chained to our drafting tables here in Area 51, beating on us to come up with new designs. With nothing but bread and water here in the dungeon, it's been a horrible summer.
Okay, so you don't believe that. Would you believe this?
Engineer A: "Hey, you think this would work?"
Engineer B: "Sure. Why not." (How's that for science?)
We've roughed up a variation of our Link design that needs absolutely no connector on the helmet. You just make the usual belt connection and then do the secret magic trick at the helmet end. No drilling holes, no nuts and bolts, no adhesive, no nuthin'. Five minutes after you open the box, you're rollin'. Want to give it to a buddy to try? Great. Five minutes later he's rollin.' Honest. My face hurts from grinning so much.
Does it work as well as a real Isaac system? Not a chance; it does not use dampers. Does it work as well as an Isaac Link? Probably not as well, but it will be close; it probably ranks fourth in the world, right behind the Link, and will pass the SFI 38.1 load spec and the WSU 2KN limit.
Why do I say probably? Because we haven't tested it yet. Hell, we haven't even built one, but the functional difference between this design and the Link is so small that the performance will be similar.
So, several things are coming together:
1. We need to build a bunch for next season.
2. We would love to get some feedback from users in preparation for the 2008 rollout--test marketing, beta testing, pilot program, whatever you want to call it.
3. The ARRC is coming up, and in the past is has been a great place to get face-to-face fresh ideas from real racers.
We need a head count of potential ARRC users for a first production run, but there are two issues that need to be addressed, one ethical and one economic. With respect to ethics, we must insist that users be racers who are presently not using any head and neck restraint. Why? Because it is possible we may not get a prototype tested before the ARRC as this is a very busy time for test labs. Until testing is completed, we only want drivers whose heads are already flopping around in the breeze.
On the economics side, we can't do this for free even though we'd like to just to get the feedback. In the past at the ARRC we have given free upgrades to existing customers, but that was a fixed number. If we offer free systems to try we may have a volume problem from people who may not be serious about it. So, there will be a standard rental charge ($65) which can be applied to a 50% discount as a thank you for your participation. We can use the current Link pricing of $295, meaning the net to you is only $147.50 if you decide to purchase. Even if you don't, you still have a great improvement in safety for $16.25 per day--and no futzing with the helmet.
Any takers?
Okay, so you don't believe that. Would you believe this?
Engineer A: "Hey, you think this would work?"
Engineer B: "Sure. Why not." (How's that for science?)
We've roughed up a variation of our Link design that needs absolutely no connector on the helmet. You just make the usual belt connection and then do the secret magic trick at the helmet end. No drilling holes, no nuts and bolts, no adhesive, no nuthin'. Five minutes after you open the box, you're rollin'. Want to give it to a buddy to try? Great. Five minutes later he's rollin.' Honest. My face hurts from grinning so much.
Does it work as well as a real Isaac system? Not a chance; it does not use dampers. Does it work as well as an Isaac Link? Probably not as well, but it will be close; it probably ranks fourth in the world, right behind the Link, and will pass the SFI 38.1 load spec and the WSU 2KN limit.
Why do I say probably? Because we haven't tested it yet. Hell, we haven't even built one, but the functional difference between this design and the Link is so small that the performance will be similar.
So, several things are coming together:
1. We need to build a bunch for next season.
2. We would love to get some feedback from users in preparation for the 2008 rollout--test marketing, beta testing, pilot program, whatever you want to call it.
3. The ARRC is coming up, and in the past is has been a great place to get face-to-face fresh ideas from real racers.
We need a head count of potential ARRC users for a first production run, but there are two issues that need to be addressed, one ethical and one economic. With respect to ethics, we must insist that users be racers who are presently not using any head and neck restraint. Why? Because it is possible we may not get a prototype tested before the ARRC as this is a very busy time for test labs. Until testing is completed, we only want drivers whose heads are already flopping around in the breeze.
On the economics side, we can't do this for free even though we'd like to just to get the feedback. In the past at the ARRC we have given free upgrades to existing customers, but that was a fixed number. If we offer free systems to try we may have a volume problem from people who may not be serious about it. So, there will be a standard rental charge ($65) which can be applied to a 50% discount as a thank you for your participation. We can use the current Link pricing of $295, meaning the net to you is only $147.50 if you decide to purchase. Even if you don't, you still have a great improvement in safety for $16.25 per day--and no futzing with the helmet.
Any takers?
