This is the last time for this subject, honest. I don’t want to wear out the welcome mat here, but we have always found the IT.com forums to be the perfect combination of smart racers and budgets. Dumb at any price is of no value, and smart and rich is OT for this subject.
We would like your input on two things involving a new product we are going to add to the line: the price and the name. The product is a head and neck restraint that serves the budget-conscious racer--the one who is willing to pay for "good," but doesn’t feel the need for "best." We had some good ideas on pricing from a thread posted here last fall, but that was purely hypothetical. This is the real product. We crash tested it earlier this week and are planning a press release.
Since you cannot comment on something until you know about it, lets begin with a description (I may have a chance to post photos later).
Description
Because a large component of the cost of the original Isaac system is in the damper assembly, this new product uses mil spec parachute webbing. This is not the dog leash material made in China that you find in some designs. This is what a Special Ops guy uses when he drives an ATV out the back of a C-130 (yes, they actually do that now). If it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for racers.
That’s the only major change. The bits and pieces at the end of the webbing are different, of course, but it all still connects to the same helmet mount at the top, and the same style roller assembly at the belt.
Because webbing does not control the velocity (and kinetic energy) as well as a damper, it does not work as well as an Isaac system, which is what we expected. However, because there is much less webbing than in the body-style products such as the Hutchins, Simpson, etc., it is a more rigid restraint that catches the head earlier in the crash pulse, when the energy is relatively low.
The theory and the math predicted a performance better than other webbing products but, to be frank, it performed much better than expected. It is the third best product ever tested at this lab, bested only by the original Isaac system and the HANS device.
Let’s throw in a few FAQ-type questions:
How about side loads? It won’t work worth a hoot, just like everything else out there except the original Isaac system.
Do I have to keep it tight? Yes, but you don’t have to preload your neck, just take out the slack.
Do the straps have to be replaced periodically? Yes, it will have to be sent back for replacement. We are checking for a "ruling" on this, so at this time we do not know the frequency.
Is it, or can it be, SFI certified? Not at this price.
Price
Last fall’s thread had readers here suggesting prices ranging from $149 (fat chance) to $495. Given the above description, what do you think now for a version that performs at this level and uses the bottom-of-the line helmet pin?
Names:
What do you think? The following have been suggested:
The Isaac Link
The Isaac ParaLink
The Isaac Lite
The Isaac Geronimo
I’m out for most of the rest of the day, but we’ll try to find some pics.
Thanks everyone.
------------------
Gregg Baker, P.E.
Isaac, LLC
http://www.isaacdirect.com
We would like your input on two things involving a new product we are going to add to the line: the price and the name. The product is a head and neck restraint that serves the budget-conscious racer--the one who is willing to pay for "good," but doesn’t feel the need for "best." We had some good ideas on pricing from a thread posted here last fall, but that was purely hypothetical. This is the real product. We crash tested it earlier this week and are planning a press release.
Since you cannot comment on something until you know about it, lets begin with a description (I may have a chance to post photos later).
Description
Because a large component of the cost of the original Isaac system is in the damper assembly, this new product uses mil spec parachute webbing. This is not the dog leash material made in China that you find in some designs. This is what a Special Ops guy uses when he drives an ATV out the back of a C-130 (yes, they actually do that now). If it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for racers.
That’s the only major change. The bits and pieces at the end of the webbing are different, of course, but it all still connects to the same helmet mount at the top, and the same style roller assembly at the belt.
Because webbing does not control the velocity (and kinetic energy) as well as a damper, it does not work as well as an Isaac system, which is what we expected. However, because there is much less webbing than in the body-style products such as the Hutchins, Simpson, etc., it is a more rigid restraint that catches the head earlier in the crash pulse, when the energy is relatively low.
The theory and the math predicted a performance better than other webbing products but, to be frank, it performed much better than expected. It is the third best product ever tested at this lab, bested only by the original Isaac system and the HANS device.
Let’s throw in a few FAQ-type questions:
How about side loads? It won’t work worth a hoot, just like everything else out there except the original Isaac system.
Do I have to keep it tight? Yes, but you don’t have to preload your neck, just take out the slack.
Do the straps have to be replaced periodically? Yes, it will have to be sent back for replacement. We are checking for a "ruling" on this, so at this time we do not know the frequency.
Is it, or can it be, SFI certified? Not at this price.
Price
Last fall’s thread had readers here suggesting prices ranging from $149 (fat chance) to $495. Given the above description, what do you think now for a version that performs at this level and uses the bottom-of-the line helmet pin?
Names:
What do you think? The following have been suggested:
The Isaac Link
The Isaac ParaLink
The Isaac Lite
The Isaac Geronimo
I’m out for most of the rest of the day, but we’ll try to find some pics.
Thanks everyone.
------------------
Gregg Baker, P.E.
Isaac, LLC
http://www.isaacdirect.com
