The Wright Device is an inexpensive helmet restraint system developed by Jay
Wright of Over 40 Racing Motorsports Accessories, Inc. Jay is a Professional
Engineer and an SCCA Club Racer since 1978. It is the only head and neck
restraint device currently on the market that does not void the SFI helmet
certification.
Jay was seriously injured in a motorsports accident at Road Atlanta in 1993, an incident which left him paralyzed from a head/neck injury. Noticing an increasing number of head and neck injuries over the next two years, he set about to develop a lower-cost yet effective alternative to other devices. The result of that work is the Wright Device.
Jay's main goal was to develop a helmet restraint system to help prevent injury and death due to high speed impact. His criteria were that:
To begin the project Jay reviewed common mail-order supply catalogs to find suitable yet commonly-available parts for ideas. More than 3000 reviewed pages later his first design was constructed.
The
initial helmet attachment design used four flat hooks (three hooks on the top
and sides of eye opening, one on back bottom of helmet) attached with one inch
webbing and a release button to top of helmet. This design optimized the main
load to the top of helmet eye opening with the webbing to the eye side openings
designed to keep the head turned towards the impact (to minimize neck torquing).
This first design also incorporated a chassis-mounted seatbelt inertial reel to
reduce the g-loads on the head and neck.
The design was submitted to the Wayne State University Bioengineering Center
to be judged against biometric standards set by the automotive industry for
passenger cars and trucks. While the tests were encouraging, the design did not
meet Jay's exacting performance objectives.
Improving upon the design, Jay adjusted attachment points, webbing sizes, and release mechanisms, everything being subjected to the same torturous testing methodology. The third and final design incorporated everything he had learned, resulting in the product available today. This design uses a non-retractable seat belt donor with its 2-inch webbing replaced with two 1-inch webbing pieces. Instead of being attached to the chassis it is attached to the competition shoulder harness and the helmet hooks, release button, and webbing are sewn on.
This design was further tested in modes to simulate top strap failure, and the testing facility certified that the Wright Device's test results were on par with other harness-type systems that attach to the body, such as the Hutchins, and at a level consistent with all such head and neck restraint systems.
The Wright Device is offered three different ways:
The Pro Kit (Free Download) - Detailed assembly instructions, parts lists, part sources and numbers for the Do-It-Yourselfer. All components are easily available from mail-order or retail sources.
The Pro with Full Body Harness - Pre-assembled including all parts. Installation required. Includes harness modified from commercially-available safety harness.