-
Things have moved on since 70s in vehicle design and even more so in formula racing cars — back in 2014 I was in the composites workshop at Grove. I used to run the F1 team’s formal technical debriefs after action at request of the CTO for two seasons so had popped down to speak with the foreman as part of that. He showed me the chassis that had been returned to his workshop after Fillipe Massa had a 32G crash the Canadian Grand Prix. The tub I was shown was in remarkably good condition and mercifully our driver was OK too after being checked over in hospital. HANS a big factor.
Around that time the FiA and its partners were developing an accelerometer worn in their earpiece by drivers. Tailored to their individual ear shape it accurately measured deceleration and together with other data gathering in the chassis it was useful information for medics as well as helping with safety improvement work.
I certainly wouldn’t want to be in an early 911 (or any 60s 70s car) in an impact even at a tiny percent of that remarkable G — double locker seats, or not!
Steve