Phoenix Head Surround

[Wright D]

The Phoenix F1000 has a fully functional head surround manufactured with the same materials as used in the highest levels of racing.
The full Kevlar body is filled with the same SFI/FIA approved foam used in F1 head surrounds. I thought you guys might like to see one before it is painted.

[glenn cooper]

VERY tidy, and ultra important.

[marshall9]

Dustin,
Would and could you be able to make one of these for my car? The car is local , Phoenix, AZ
Marshall

[Wright D]

We can make a head surround for anything. However; I designed the Phoenix chassis and body work from the beginning to have adequate structure to support the surround. There also must be good clearance between the steel substructure and the drivers helmet to fit the 3+ inches of the energy absorbing foam. Much attention has been given to making this part both functional from a safety stand point and from an instalation and removal standpoint.

[quartzracer]

Nice work! Can you elaborate on the foam? Is the outside of the surround firm while the inside is filled with the energy absorbing material.

[stephen wilson]

I assume the whole surround has an Al backing plate, how thick is it ? How is the rear of the surround retained ? I'll be building my own soon, and could use some advice.
Thanks
Steve

[Wright D]

The outer and inner faces are 100% Kevlar, no aluminum backing plate. The part is made with a flexible resin and the foam is just a touch flexible too. The final product has about the same flexiblity as an automotive arm rest, dashboard, or steering wheel. Firm, but kinda gooshy...
It took tons of research to find the correct foam type and where to buy it. If interested in building your own, then you can buy the foam through us so that you won't have to buy two drums worth. We also built several small trial parts to get all of the process for manufacturing with these products down pat before building head surrounds.

Mounting of the back of the surround is done with two bullets that slide into recpticals on the chassis.

[Wright D]

VERY tidy, and ultra important.

I won't ever design a car without a functional head surround.

[a. pettipas]

Nice piece Dustin.

[ghickman]

It took us about 200 hours to build all the tooling involved to replicate these in quantity.

I researched this for weeks going thru FIA (F1) specs and experimenting with different layups.

I had to bring the technology down to a level that we could work with.....we don't have an unlimited F1 budget writing checks at will.

The only step closer would be certification by the FIA.

Fairly certain this is the only US Built Formula car with a head surround that has something as close to FIA spec as you can get.

[provamo]

nice work gentleman!

[Wright D]

Thanks!!
Gary and I are way excited about the 2014 season.

[Richard Dziak]

Phoenix Race Works has advanced their levels of technology, design, and concept.

So good to see this, especially the head surround compared to previous MY Phoenix F1000's.

They are constantly in an advancement stage of design and production from the inception of their first F1000 to present.

[David G]

if you do start to make these for early 90's van diemens, I am certain there would be alot of interest from Ontario Can, as there are a couple dozen of these in Ontario, and as many as 12 running regularly. The one in pic is nice.
Dave

[old 59]

+1 for early Van Diemens. David G is right, probably some interest in Ontario, Canada as there are quite a few of this style car (RF90-92) running.

[Wright D]

As stated above, Gary and I can build a head surround for any car. However; if the car was not designed to have a FUNCTIONAL head surround from it's inception, then getting good results for both safety and use will be all but impossible. It is possible to insert a token head surround with a thin crossection that won't dissipate adequate energy without huge spikes in g's.

[jaltaman]

When I saw this head surround in the shop, I immediately pictured the Red Bull F1 chassis - this piece of equipment looks exactly like the ones they use.

As Ringo says, "It don't come easy." Dustin, Gary and Tony spent a lot of time and effort to get this head surround right, and get it right they did.

These guys don't mess around...

[stephen wilson]

As stated above, Gary and I can build a head surround for any car. However; if the car was not designed to have a FUNCTIONAL head surround from it's inception, then getting good results for both safety and use will be all but impossible. It is possible to insert a token head surround with a thin crossection that won't dissipate adequate energy without huge spikes in g's.

So if you can only fit 2" or 2.5" of foam in an existing chassis, wouldn't that be better than leaving no lateral support/protection? I assume you leave ~ 1" gap between the helmet and bolster?

[Wright D]

Obviously something is better then nothing.... It will be impossible to match the performance in energy absorption tho. attaching and latching the surround to the chassis can also be tuff if not thought out well.

[stephen wilson]

Yes, on many chassis the frame members are too low to support a bolster of sufficient height, so structure would have to be added. Do you have any pictures of the "bullets" and front retention hardware you are using?

[quartzracer]

Guys with older cars should look at the head restraint that "Radical" offers. We are using one in a DSR and the shop is going to install one on a McLaren M8 for safety. Very universal and a nice piece. There's a photo of one in the link below. NASCAR and Butler Racing have done extensive studies on driver's safety in regard to "sideways" head protection, utilizing top medical doctors who study head trauma (sports related) from around the world and engineers, I'm sure they used budgets that even F1 would be amazed at. The result can be seen in the seats the driver's now use which include built in head restraints. Dwight is correct in everything that he is advising. We re-engineered an Atlantic tub (carbon fiber) that the designer had originally intended to have a removable head collar, but never got around to it. I had Jeff Freeman out of Sacramento design and fabricate a removable head collar and it took a lot of work and a lot of money. The end result is fantastic and with the help of Dwight and his well researched foam we will have a finished and safe piece.

http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/show...=sideways+head

[beachguy12]

Guys with older cars should look at the head restraint that "Radical" offers. We are using one in a DSR and the shop is going to install one on a McLaren M8 for safety. Very universal and a nice piece. There's a photo of one in the link below. NASCAR and Butler Racing have done extensive studies on driver's safety in regard to "sideways" head protection, utilizing medical doctors and engineers, I'm sure they used budgets that even F1 would be amazed at. The result can be seen in the seats the driver's now use which include built in head restraints.

http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56274&page=2&highlight=sideways+h ead

I saw this when you first posted it. Where in the Radical web site can I find more info on it?

[quartzracer]

If you go to the "Spring Mountain Raceway" website and go to the Radical section. I don't remember exactly but get to the parts section and it is pictured there. The piece is well made and light weight. It fastens with three bolts in the main headrest portion. When bolted in I am sure it is as effective as anything.

[beachguy12]

I found the Radical Head Restraint on the Radical UK website.

http://secure2.cyberware.co.uk/~rad-...estraints.html

AH0054 - Head Restraint

£349.54