A groundbreaking approach to racecar driver safety.

Basilar skull and upper neck fractures are the most prevalent cause of car racing deaths in the US each year. Frontal Head Restraints (FHR) can prevent these deaths through a high collar that tethers the racer’s helmet during a crash. But drivers complain that these high collars knock against their helmet and limit lateral head movement.

Our work with Schroth and our engineering partner, Enginuity Works, resulted in a ground-breaking solution: a collar that is low-profile during normal driving, but uses the kinematics of the crash to become “activated” into the safe (high) position at impact. This approach prevents severe/fatal injuries in crashes, yet is virtually un-noticed during normal driving.

We also took a completely new approach to comfort and fit; instead of bulky padding, we over-molded the device with a soft elastomer with ribbing that contours to fit the racer. The product architecture allows just two versions to work across all car/seat set ups, ending confusion about choosing the size/configuration.

We believe the breakthrough design of the SHR Flex will encourage more recreational racers to adopt a FHR system, and reduce the incidence of injuries and fatalities across all levels of racing.

The design has won a host of prestigious awards, including a Red Dot Award, IDSA Design Excellence Silver Award, iF Design Award, Spark Silver Award, and IDA Bronze Award.