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Safety 1st Advance EX 65 Air + Review

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Liz Tan  

 

When our friends at Safety 1st asked us what our readers might think about the idea of a convertible car seat with a 50 pound rear facing weight limit, we were thrilled to pose the question on our Facebook page. The comments were clear —  such a seat would be a welcome addition to the marketplace.  Safety 1st responded with the release of the Advance EX 65 Air + and we couldn’t wait for our seat to arrive!

Safety 1st Advance EX Air +

CSFTL Quick Stats

• Rear facing weight range: 5-50 lbs.
• Rear facing height range: 19-49″
• Forward facing minimum age: 2 years
• Forward facing weight range: 22-65 lbs.
• Forward facing height range: 29-49″
• Shell height: 28″
• Lowest harness position: 7.5″
• Highest harness position: 18″
• Expiration: 8 years
• Lower anchor weight limit: 40 lbs.

Features

• 3 crotch buckle positions
• No re-thread harness
• 3 recline positions
• Integrated cup holder
• Air Protect + GCell HX foam

For all intents and purposes, the Advance EX Air + is quite similar to the Safety 1st Advance SE  Air +, but there are a few key differences.

1. The 50 pound rear facing weight limit
2. 2 year minimum age for forward facing
3. 18″ top harness slot instead of 17″
4. 49″ rear facing height limit for rear and forward facing

Advance EX 65 Air + installed rear facing

Make no mistake, this is a very large car seat.  It’s not a good option for tight spaces where you’d need an upright seat (front-to-back, it measures 34 inches when installed at the most reclined level in my 2009 Mazda 5), nor is it likely to be any kind of option for a three across situation.

It’s also not particularly lightweight, though it does have a handle on the back that makes carrying it around pretty easy.
But.
And this is a big but.
This is a reasonably priced, plush seat that is likely to fit most children until they’re ready for a booster.  The 50 pound rear facing weight limit means that following best practice of rear facing for as long as possible is truly an option for many families.  Children who would have maxed out the rear facing capabilities of most other convertible seats on the market could remain rear facing for much longer in the Advance EX Air + than almost any other seat on the market.

Professional Race Car Seat Manufacturers Announce Indianapolis Motor Speedway Edition Child Car Seat

(Indianapolis, IN) Bald Spot Sports, makers of customized professional race car seats, introduces an exclusive Indianapolis Motor Speedway line of child car seats.

Bald Spot Sports (“BSS”) is known nationwide within the professional racing industry for their patented race car seat technology. Custom made to order for IndyCar, NASCAR and NHRA drivers, these seats have been proven to keep drivers safe in even the most horrific crashes.

Because of their long-standing association with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (“IMS”) and their reputation for the safest race car seats in the industry, the IMS was proud to lend its logo and stamp of approval on this line of child car seats.

BSS has a partnership with Dorel Juvenile, a major manufacturer of child car seats, to imple-ment their patented technology into certain car seat models. “We are excited to be able to bring our technology to this industry,” says Cameron Cobb, Co-Founder of Bald Spot Sports. “The thought of playing a role in protecting children every day is a project we take very seriously.”

Shown here with the official IMS Wing, Wheel and Flag logo is the Dorel manufactured Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 & 85 seat, suitable for children weighing 9-40 pounds when used in the rear-facing position, and 22-70 pounds when used in the forward-facing position.

It’s FlexTech™ system allows for multi-directional energy management, and the seat includes revolutionary side impact protection. The Wing, Wheel and Flag logo may also be placed on the Maxi-Cosi Pria 85, suitable for children weighing 14-40 pounds when used in the rear-facing position, and 22-85 pounds when used in the forward-facing position. These highly rated seats, which retail for $299.95 & $349.95 may be pre-ordered by contacting BSS.

For more information, contact Bald Spot Sports at 1.877.BSS.SEAT. Also, visit http://www.thisbuiltamerica.com/indiana#15 and see “Chapter 2, Racing to a Better Seat” to learn more about the Dorel/BSS partnership.

Babble Blogger Favorites: The Best Car Seats of 2013!

By Katie | September 10th, 2013 at 11:54 am

I’ve made no secret of my passion for car seat safety in the past few months, but I wasn’t always as much of a fanatic as I am now. We chose Eli’s infant seat basically at random, without almost any research, because I liked that it had high height/weight limits and a good gender-neutral pattern, but that was it. Not even a Google search to speak of before making such an important decision.
When it came time to choose a convertible car seat, I did tons of research, but I still felt so confused about what seat was best for my child and for my car. So when I was asked to test as many car seats as I could get my hands on, I jumped at the chance. This was a dream project for us, and it was one that really opened my eyes to car seat safety and the incredible number of options available on the market today.

Over the past 2 months, we have tried 15 different convertible car seats. All but 2 of these were sent to us by the companies to test, and we tried each one of them for between 10 days and 2 weeks (the total number of hours in use was roughly the same for all the seats), in at least two different vehicles with both the seatbelt and the LATCH, the system of lower anchors and tethers for children. Virtually all cars made after  2002 have a LATCH system that consists of small metal hooks in the lower part of the back seat (usually identified with a tag or a button picturing a child in a car seat) and tether hooks on the top or back of the back seat, to allow car seats to be installed with a special belt with hooks (which comes with your car seat!) instead of a seatbelt. Both LATCH and the seat belt are equally safe when used correctly, but often LATCH is an easier way to install the seat.

We also installed each seat both rear- and forward-facing to check the fit. However, we only had Eli and my niece ride rear-facing, meaning his car seat faces the back of my car, which is in line with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation to keep children rear-facing until age 2 and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommendation to continue rear-facing as close to age 4 as possible, within the height and weight limits of the car seat. After the experiment, we passed each seat along to my sister, who tried them out with my niece, who is about 5 months younger than Eli.

One quick note before we get into the list: All these seats, from the least to the most expensive, passed the same crash testing. There is no evidence that any brand or specific seat is “safer” than any other. The safest car seat is whichever seat you can install in your car, fits your child well, and that you can use correctly every single time.

Without further ado, here are the best car seats of 2013!

RUNNER-UP, BEST SIDE-IMPACT TECHNOLOGY | Safety First Advanced Air 70+

This seat was another one that caught me completely off guard in a great way. It was a breeze to install, fit beautifully in my small car, has an awesome air side-impact protection system, and, most of all, Eli was incredibly happy and comfortable in the seat. It doesn’t have a ton of frills like some of the other seats, but it nails the important stuff.

Pros: It has top-notch side-impact protection via GCell HX technology along the sides and headrest; it offers multiple recline options for both rear- and forward-facing, depending upon the child's weight; and it has a no-rethread harness.

Cons: It doesn't have strap covers, so you'll have to pull clothing up if your child has sensitive skin/is prone to red marks; its wide design means passengers likely won't be able to fit comfortably next to it; there's no anti-rebound bar or rear-facing tethering; and it has old-style latch hooks instead of the seatbelt-like hooks with easy-to-release buttons, meaning that they're easy enough to hook on but a pain to unhook.

Rear-facing limits: 5-40 pounds or 40 inches.
Forward-facing limits: 22-70 pounds or 52 inches.

Get it at Amazon for $189.99 

Safety 1st Advance 70 Air

Safety 1st Advance 70 Air

• Convertible car seat
• Rear-facing 5-40 pounds (preferably until age 2)
• Forward-facing 22-70 pounds
• $189.99

The Safety 1st Advance 70 Air convertible car seat offers advanced side-impact protection using the company's G-Cell HX and Air Protect technologies. G-Cell HX is specialized rebounding foam with hexagonal shapes that lines the entire car seat shell. Safety 1st developed G-Cell HX with Bald Spot Sports, a company that uses solid G-Cell foam in customized cockpits for Indianapolis 500 professional racecar drivers.

"G-Cell HX absorbs energy as it makes contact with the occupant to mitigate crash forces much like a bumper does on cars," says David Amirault, director of product marketing, design and brand management for Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG), the Safety 1st manufacturer, in Columbus, Indiana. Air Protect is impact foam in the seat's headrest with an air chamber that dissipates the energy of a crash away from a child, Amirault says.

DJG has tested the Advance 70 Air with its own side-impact sled tests. "We've seen sizable improvement in the dissipated energy," Amirault says. DJG is also working with Kettering University in Flint, Michigan, to develop a side-impact test that it hopes NHTSA will adopt as a safety standard for all car seats sold in the U.S.

In addition to the Safety 1st Advanced 70 convertible car seat, DJG plans to use G-Cell HX and Air Protect in more of its car seats down the road. To spot these seats in stores, look for a tag with a big orange plus, which indicates the car seat features both Air Protect and G-Cell HX.

Child Safety Technology

Updated: Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 11:35 AM EDT Published : Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 11:35 AM EDT Greater Indianapolis car seat manufacturer Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) has partnered with race car engineers at Bald Spot Sports and INDY Car Driver Scott Dixon to better understand the energy dynamics a high performance driver faces in the event of a crash-- and used this knowledge to build a car seat fit for the INDY 500. The Air Protect®+ G-Cell HX Technology combines an advanced air cushion system to protect your child’s head with a patented foam design to protect your child’s body—providing superior full body side impact protection. With Memorial Day and the kick-off of the summer travel session approaching, Safety 1st is hosting one nation’s largest car seat checks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 22nd. Are you interested in this new advanced technology in child restraint systems, and partnership with driver Scott Dixon and father of two young daughters? Please let me know if I can coordinate an interview with an engineer from Dorel, or Bald Spot Sports regarding this advanced technology. Scott Dixon all will also be available at the Safety 1st car seat check at the Speedway. More background on Air Protect®+ G-Cell HX Technology is below. We can provide B-roll of crash test footage or arrange for you to visit the R & D facility in Columbus, IN. Sarah Pariseau SPariseau@360pr.com 617-585-5767

SAFETY 1st LAUNCHES NATIONAL CAR SEAT SAFETY CAMPAIGN WITH THE WORLD’S LARGEST CAR SEAT CHECK AT 500 FESTIVAL COMMUNITY DAY

Fit for INDY Cars, Local Manufacturer Launches Air Protect®+ the Most Advanced Car Seat Technology on the Market Columbus, IN, May 21, 2013 -- Dorel Juvenile, a segment of Dorel Industries (TSX: DII.B, DII.A), and the world's largest juvenile products manufacturer announced today that Safety 1St is hosting the World’s Largest Car Seat Check on May 22nd as part of the 500 Festival Community Day. With Memorial Day right around the corner, as the unofficial kick-off to summer travel, more than 50 certified car seat technicians will be on hand ensuring families in the Greater Indianapolis Area are traveling safely. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 75 percent of car seats on the road are installed incorrectly. It is the mission of Safety 1st to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of correct installation and usage, and ultimately lower that percentage of misuse. “Safety is more than something we talk about. Making sure children on the road are as safe as possible is at the heart of everything we do,” said Julie Vallese, Consumer Safety Expert for Safety 1st. “As the world’s largest car seat manufacturer we’re committed to providing the best in safety from research and design to production and ultimately, to the family car’s back seat.” World’s Largest Car Seat Check Details: WHERE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway 21 Virginia Ave Entry at Gate #2 or Gate #10 WHEN: May 22, 2013 10:00 am - 2:00 pm At the World’s Largest Car Seat Check, Dorel Juvenile will also showcase its’ latest innovation Safety 1st Advance 70 Air + convertible car seat, the first Safety 1st car seat available with Air Protect and GCell HX™. GCell HX™ is patented foam designed for superior protection around the child's body. Developed in partnership with Bald Spot Sports, creators of safety technology used in Indy Car racing seats, GCell HX™ combined with Air Protect lessens the impact in a crash and provides superior head to toe protection for children. Those unable to attend the World’s Largest Car Seat Check can visit Dorel Juvenile’s permanent USA Car Seat Inspection Station at its campus in Columbus, Indiana. The Car Seat Inspection Station is open to the public Monday through Friday by appointment and is located at the Dorel Technical Center for Child Safety. On-site certified car seat technicians inspect and assist parents and caregivers in properly installing all car seats, regardless of the brand and model. About Dorel Industries Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) is a world class juvenile products and bicycle company. Dorel creates style and excitement in equal measure to safety, quality and value. The Company's lifestyle leadership position is pronounced in both its Juvenile and Bicycle categories with an array of trend-setting products. Dorel's powerfully branded products include Safety 1st, Quinny, Cosco, Maxi-Cosi and Bebe Confort in Juvenile, as well as Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, IronHorse and SUGOI in Recreational/Leisure. Dorel's Home Furnishings segment markets a wide assortment of both domestically produced and imported furniture products, principally within North America. Dorel has annual sales of US$2.5 billion and employs 5,400 people in facilities located in twenty-four countries worldwide. ###

Safety 1st Announces The First Convertible Car Seat On The Market To Feature GCell HX™, Superior Full Body Side Impact Protection The Safety 1st Advance 70 Air + Convertible Car Seat now with the same safety technology as professional race cars

COLUMBUS, Ind., May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dorel Juvenile, a segment of Dorel Industries (TSX: DII.B, DII.A), and the world's largest juvenile products manufacturer, today announced the launch of the innovative Safety 1st Advance 70 Air + convertible car seat which incorporates both Air Protect and GCell HX™. GCell HX™ is patented foam designed for superior protection around the child's body. Developed in partnership with Bald Spot Sports, creators of safety technology used in Indy Car racing seats, GCell HX™ combined with Air Protect lessens the impact of forces in a crash and provides superior head to toe side impact protection for children. How Air Protect with GCell HX™ Works GCell HX™ hexagonal rebounding foam is used in the body of the car seat to protect the child from the multiple hits that occur in crashes. Coupled with this is the placement of Air Protect® Technology which takes crash forces away from a child's head. "Our engineers and product managers have worked diligently with Bald Spot Sports to create a best-in-class car seat which adds the plus into our Safety 1st Air Protect + car seats," explained Bill Forbes , Dorel Juvenile Group USA Executive Vice President for Child Restraints. "We've listened to our consumers and know their first priority is for their children to be safe. We are confident that Air Protect+ is positively the safest choice for parents and caregivers to use for their child." In addition to being tested rigorously using the Dorel/Kettering method, the Safety 1st Advance 70 Air + features color coded belt paths to ensure that the child restraint is installed and used properly to provide optimal safety. A convertible car seat that can be used rear facing for children five-40 lbs. and forward facing for children 22 to 70 lbs., the Safety 1st Advance 70 Air + also includes a 10-position headrest, LATCH installation system for faster and easier installation when moving between vehicles, and an integrated cup holder. "This latest car seat innovation is yet another example of Dorel Juvenile's commitment to design the ultimate in protection for our children," concluded Mr. Forbes. The Safety 1st Advance 70 Air + will be initially available exclusively through Target later this week. About Dorel Industries Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) is a world class juvenile products and bicycle company. Dorel creates style and excitement in equal measure to safety, quality and value. The Company's lifestyle leadership position is pronounced in both its Juvenile and Bicycle categories with an array of trend-setting products. Dorel's powerfully branded products include Safety 1st, Quinny, Cosco, Maxi-Cosi and Bebe Confort in Juvenile, as well as Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, IronHorse and SUGOI in Recreational/Leisure. Dorel's Home Furnishings segment markets a wide assortment of both domestically produced and imported furniture products, principally within North America. Dorel has annual sales of US$2.5 billion and employs 5,400 people in facilities located in twenty-four countries worldwide. SOURCE Dorel Juvenile

Creating Custom-Fit Car Seats

Creating Custom-Fit Car Seats Using Creafoam Published by Naseem Muaddi on December 19th, 2012 Follow Bald Spot Sports (BSS) as they fabricate a one-off race-car seat shaped specifically for the driver. Using a product called Creafoam, BSS is able to create single-impact racing seats designed to hold drivers in place during a crash. Because the seat is custom molded to fit perfectly around the driver, movement during an accident is limited relative to the vehicle itself, drastically reducing the risk of injury. Although BSS uses Creafoam for safety purposes, this video has me wondering about its potential for comfort upgrades to regular passenger vehicles. If you’re interested in experimenting with Creafoam, purchase a Creafoam Seat Kit from BSS and give it a go. Don’t forget to loop us in on how your project turns out! www.baldspotsports.com Toll Free: 877.BSS.SEAT

Antron Brown & DSR on the Today Show

Great to see Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) and Antron Brown getting some recognition for their accomplishments on the Today Show. TODAY | Aired on February 08, 2013 Antron Brown: First black drag racing champion The first African-American to win an auto racing title in the United States is Antron Brown, and he tells NBC’s Craig Melvin that taking home the championship not only brought tears to his eyes, but also evoked emotion in his father and uncle, who have dreamed of the same accomplishment.

Dorel Juvenile Group Recognized For Advancing Innovation In The Juvenile Products Industry With Two JPMA Innovation Awards

By PR Newswire 10/15/12 - 08:54 AM EDT LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc. (DJG), a division of Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) and the nation's largest juvenile products manufacturer, today unveiled a comprehensive line-up of the latest in child safety and innovation at the ABC Kids Expo ( October 14-17, 2012) in Louisville, KY. A juvenile industry leader, Dorel Juvenile Group, was recognized by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association with two 2012 JPMA Innovation Awards for the Maxi-Cosi Prezi and the Safety 1 st® BOOSTAPAK. Internationally recognized, the JPMA Innovation Awards highlight the most exciting and innovative new products in the juvenile marketplace today. Entries are evaluated by a selection committee of trade media representatives and industry retail buyers, and judged on their innovation, marketability, trend-setting potential, appeal and usefulness. Investing Solutions "We are honored that the JPMA has recognized our products for their trusted and industry leading innovation in the parenting space," said Dave Taylor, President and CEO of Dorel Juvenile Group. "Dorel continues to strive to develop quality products to address the everyday needs of parents and to ensure the safety of children." Continuing its pursuit of advancing the category, Dorel Juvenile Group had products across multiple categories honored as winners and finalists for the awards. 2012 JPMA Innovation Award winning products included: Maxi-Cosi Prezi: Combining industry-leading safety features without sacrificing style or convenience, the Maxi-Cosi Prezi "only does everything". Innovative technologies, like G-Cell HX™, a patented rebounding foam technology developed in conjunction with Bald Spot Sports (a leader in safety innovation for Indy Racing), and Air Protect ® have raised the bar industry wide on car seat safety. A five-point, Easy-Out Harness with center front adjuster makes it easier to properly secure your infant. Safety 1 st® BOOSTAPAK: The Safety 1 st BOOSTAPAK easily converts from a belt-positioning-booster to backpack with spacious capacity to provide on-the-go convenience and safety. The BOOSTAPAK fits children 40-80lbs and 43"-57" with an easy to wipe clean cover. For more information Dorel Juvenile Groups products, visit booth #100 and #300 at the ABC Kids Expo in Louisville, KY or go to www.djgusa.com. About Dorel Juvenile GroupDorel Juvenile Group is a division of Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A,) a world class juvenile products and bicycle company. Now in its 50th year, Dorel creates style and excitement in equal measure to safety, quality and value. The Company's lifestyle leadership position is pronounced in both its Juvenile and Bicycle categories with an array of trend-setting products. Dorel's powerfully branded products include Safety 1st, Quinny, Cosco, Maxi-Cosi and Bebe Confort in Juvenile, as well as Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, IronHorse and SUGOI in Recreational/Leisure. Dorel's Home Furnishings segment markets a wide assortment of both domestically produced and imported furniture products, principally within North America. Dorel has annual sales of US$2.4 billion and employs 5,000 people in facilities located in twenty-two countries worldwide.

Maxi-Cosi’s New Prezi Infant Car Seat Offers Sleek European Design & Advanced Safety Features by Nadia Carriere on September 4, 2012

Dorel announced the launch of their new Maxi-Cosi Prezi Infant Car Seat today. The Prezi offers the most innovative technology available in car seats today with advanced safety features, style and safety. What’s so special about this car seat you ask? Well, the Prezi was actually developed with advanced side impact protection featuring revolutionary G-Cell HX™ and Air Protect® technologies. G-Cell HX™ is an advanced, patented, rebounding foam technology with hexagonal shapes that mitigates first impact energy while Air Protect® dispels remaining crash forces. These technologies were developed in conjunction with Bald Spot Sports (BSS) a leading company in the world of professional car racing technologies. In addition, the car seat has several convenience features like a stay-in-car five-position adjustable base with built in rebound control, Easy-Out 5 point harness and headrest can be easily and quickly adjusted for a proper fit. The seat is compatible with Quinny and Maxi-Cosi strollers and accommodates infants 4-30 pounds and up to 29 inches. The Prezi is available in 6 bright and beautiful colors, available through retailers nationwide for $289.00.

A Super Safe Car Seat Designed By Racecar Engineers

A Super Safe Car Seat Designed By Racecar Engineers - That's Us!!! By Barry Mahal, as told to Stephanie Schomer | June 18, 2012 What happens when racecar engineers help create a car seat? Barry Mahal, EVP of car-seat design for Dorel Juvenile Group, recalls how the Maxi-Cosi Prezi came to be. "Our industry is full of similar products with the same goal: safety. So to truly innovate, we felt we needed to speak to people who think more broadly about danger. We partnered with one of the largest providers of seats for racecars, which protect drivers in 200-mile-per-hour crashes. They introduced us to a variety of foam compositions, and explained that proximity is key--no matter how good a material is, it's no benefit if it's too far from the driver's body. From there, we created a foam with hexagonal cells, which force the energy created in a crash to collapse in on itself, keeping it and the associated impacts away from the child. And the foam, from head to toe, is as close to the child as possible without reducing comfort." ($289, maxi-cosi.com/us)

A version of this article appears in the July/August 2012 issue of Fast Company.

Bald Spot Sports Takes Front Row at Indianapolis 500

Bald Spot Sports Takes Front Row at Indianapolis 500 Announces Qualifiers Racing in BSS Custom Race Seats Brownsburg, Indiana – May 2012 – Bald Spot Sports, LLC, [BSS] announced that all 33 drivers who qualified for the 96th Indianapolis 500 will be driving in BSS custom foam bead race seats when they start their engines Sunday. BSS manufactures two different custom seat products to absorb impact forces before they act on the body of a racecar driver during a collision. Seats are manufactured using technology exclusive to BSS and molded from two new specialty foams, Creafoam and ARPRO. CreafoamTM seats, which offer greater proven force deadening properties than a standard generic expanded polystyrene seat offered by many of the competitors, are designed to absorb the forces acting on the driver during a single impact. ARPRO foam seats, which have greater elasticity, absorb impact and return to the initial shape with greater integrity. Areas can be carved out of the neck and back areas of the elastic seat to create room for foam stability plugs to be inserted. The Creafoam plugs, when inserted, are designed to offer maximum stability and force deadening during a single impact. These seats can offer greater support for the driver during secondary impacts continuing to act on the car after the primary collision. The entire front row of the 96th Indianapolis 500 owns ARPRO multi-impact race seats. About Bald Spot Sports Bald Spot Sports [BSS] is headquartered in the suburbs of the racing capital of Indianapolis, Indiana. BSS is actively engaged in the production of technologically superior racing seats, head surrounds and helmet liners for professional auto racers and private enthusiasts and continually works with independent labs to test innovative foam products.

Simpson Tackles NFL Safety

Simpson Tackles NFL Safety InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report Motor sports safety equipment pioneer Bill Simpson says his helmet designed for the National Football League is continuing to gain acceptance by players. He is partnering with IndyCar team owner Chip Ganassi on a company that he says could generate around 250 employees, if it secures just 10 percent of the market. Simpson discusses the venture with Gerry Dick on this weekend's special edition of Inside INdiana Business from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Simpson says he got the idea after becoming friends with Tom Moore, when he was a coach with the Colts. The safety expert adds his first NFL style helmet tested 50 percent better than football headgear at the time when it came to impact. Simpson and Ganassi's company, HGH Components, is certified with the NFL and NCAA. The two are also hoping to reach into high schools and are working on a helmet for lacrosse players. Source: Inside INdiana Business Report

NEW PRODUCT REVIEW: KartingParts.biz (SME Motorsports) Develops Seat Inserts and Steering Column Padding

KartingParts.biz, a division of SME Motorsports in Brownsburg, Ind., has created two new products to improve karting safety. The new SME Steering Wheel Bumper reduces the risk of injury from a hard frontal impact and the new SME Seat Inserts are designed to reduce injuries suffered in an accident and over a long karting career. “Not too long ago, my daughter had an accident in her kid kart that inspired me to create the steering column bumpers,” stated SME President Steve Eppard. “My goal was to slow the body and/or head down and distribute the G-forces out and away from the body to significantly reduce the risk of injury to a driver, in this case, my daughter.” SME Steering Wheel Bumpers allow for a series of force reducing impacts before the body’s inertia would cause it to make contact with a stationary steering column. The Bald Spot Sports foam plug in the core helps reduce the severity of injury by transferring the forces of impact to create less of a recoil effect back into the seat. The steering column bumper currently attaches to any 3-hole steering wheel/hub connection and will soon be available for the 6-hole wheel/hub configurations. All bumpers come covered in fabric with a felt backing. Standard color is black, custom colors and embroidery are available at an extra cost. For the maximum possible safety for young karters’ chest and internal organ’s safety, combine the Steering Column Karting Bumper with an SFI 20.1/1 or 20.1/2 karting chest protector SME Seat Inserts are made with the same BaldSpotSports foam and come in a variety of kit options designed to upgrade all popular karting seats. These foam inserts support the tailbone and spine, hips, and ribs against the various hits a kart driver may experience.. Like the steering column bumper, the Seat Inserts distribute and absorb the forces of impact in an accident, thus lessening the chances of injury to each of the areas of the seat/body where they’re installed. These inserts can also help a kart racer avoid long-term “compression style” injuries to the lower lumbar of the spine that result from the repetitive ‘bumps’ a back can take going over curbs or when bottoming out. Standard SME Seat Insert pads are all 3/8” thick and covered in black fabric with a felt backing. Custom thicknesses are available and can increase lower lumbar support. Custom fabric colors and embroidery are also available. Add Velcro™ to the back of the inserts and position in kart seat to maximize comfort and protection. Some drivers choose to use a seat one-size larger than they would need without inserts and add 1/2" to 3/4” thick inserts to maximize comfort and protection. Mike Burrell, 20-year karting veteran and former NKN writer said, “I visited a chiropractor for lower back pains. The Doctor said my L5 vertebra was compressed and a bit askew, and I had broken my tailbone at some point. He asked what I possibly could have done to cause that and it was determined karting was probably the cause. Steve built me a seat back insert and it’s significantly reduced my pain on days after I race.” The Bald Spot Sports material used in both the steering column bumper and seat inserts is SFI 45.2 certified impact padding approved for use in all professional racing (for more information visit http://www.sfifoundation.com). This is the same material used to make the seats and custom padding in Indycar™, NHRA and NASCAR™ seats. However, most karts don’t allow for the foam to be used in a format as thick as “the pros” seats. After impacting this material 15 times at 70 G’s of force, Indycar™ committed to using this material for the interior parts in the new DW12 because the material consistently maintains its strength and integrity! For more information on SME Motorsports karting products visit www.kartingparts.biz or call 317-709-0770.

Celebrate Pi Day!

Celebrate Pi Day - March 14th

Mmmm. Pi Day! The nerdy holiday celebrated by math geeks worldwide. This is the day we gather around to celebrate that amazing little (long) number, pi.

Pi, approximately 3.14159, is the mysterious mathematical constant (number) that represents the ratio of any circle's circumference to its diameter.

Pi has its day, appropriately, on March 14 (3/14). Often a Pi Day celebration will have an extra special event set for pi minute (at 1:59pm). In the UK, Pi Approximation Day is often celebrated on July 22 (22/7) as 22 divided by 7 is an approximation for pi.

This day brings more fun to math classes around the world then anything else (second only to Math League). I wish you a very Happy Pi Day 2012!

Happy Leap Day!

Once every four years Leap Year comes…but why? It turns out ancient Egyptians discovered it takes the Earth a little longer than a year to travel around the Sun—365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds to be exact.

So, what will you do with the extra day?

Bald Spot Sports Busy with New Dallara IndyCar

Updated: Dec 14, 2011 10:59 PM EST
By Richard Essex - bio

New Indy car means local jobs

INDIANAPOLIS - Travis Cobb is one of the owners of Bald Spot Sports. He also helps load trucks, works the assembly line, operates most of the machinery and does design work.

"Some last minute modifications to some designs," Cobb said. "It will be a late night, so it will be fun and exciting. That is why we are in the business."

Cobb is busy building seats for race cars, Indianapolis-made cars for the IndyCar series with design changes said to be safer for drivers. Cobb's business is one of 70 vendors building parts for the new Dallara cars, a project which is also creating jobs for central Indiana

"We've probably doubled our sales 2 to 3 times," said Cobb.

Race car parts are a staple for the company. The company is also making impact liners for football helmets, several of which are already being used by NFL players. Recently, the company has been asked to help develop a new line of child safety seats.