Simpson Performance Products

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Simpson Performance Products is an American motorsports parts supplier. It supplies gloves, helmets, restraints, driver's suites, HANS devices, and shoes to racers at local tracks to international teams. It was started by Bill Simpson as Simpson Drag Chutes.

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[edit] History

In 1958, the 18 year old Simpson broke both arms in a drag racing crash.[1] Simpson later said, "Until then, I was like most drivers. The only time I thought about safety was after I'd been hurt. This time, I was hurt bad enough to do a lot of thinking." [1]

Simpson's uncle owned a military surplus store, and suggested that he use a cross-form parachute to slow down the drag car. Simpson rented a sewing machine to create a prototype. Simpson got together with his friend dragster driver Mike Sorokin to test the prototype. They tested it by attaching it to a tow hitch, and dumping it from the back of the Chevy wagon while Sorokin drove down a street at 100 mph. The chute was too big for car, and the car went airborne and crashed into a tree nursery. Both racers were jailed for the incident, but Simpson Drag Chutes was founded. [2]

The first person to inquire about and use his parachute was "Big Daddy" Don Garlits.[3] He evolved his business into a number of other safety items, such as gloves, helmets, restraints and shoes. Simpson designed NASA's first umbilical cords, where he met Pete Conrad. [3] Conrad introduced Simpson to DuPont product Nomex in 1967. Simpson used the product to create the first fire suit to be used in racing. [1][3] He took the suit to the 1967 Indianapolis 500 where it was worn by 30 of 33 drivers. [1] Simpson had developed over 200 racing safety products, including three generations of fire suits. Simpson demonstrated the suit's effectiveness in 1987, when he was set on fire while wearing a suit. [4]

[edit] Usage

Simpson Performance Products have been used in many major motorsport genres, including IndyCars, NASCAR, and National Hot Rod Association. All International Race of Champions (IROC) cars were fitted with Simpson belts and window nets until the sanctioning body closed.[5] As of 2006, Simpson Performance Products was the only company to supply all of the safety items used in racing.[5] 850 NASCAR officials used Simpson products as of 2006.[5]

[edit] Earnhardt controversy

Main article: Death of Dale Earnhardt

Simpson Performance Products was involved in a great deal of controversy in the February 2001 death of Dale Earnhardt. There was a great deal of controversy regarding whether or not a seat belt manufactured by the company had malfunctioned.[4] NASCAR's investigation into the crash in part blamed seat belt failure.[4] Simpson received death threats and bullets into his house, which led to his resignation in July 2001.[4] Simpson sued NASCAR for $8.5 million defamation of character suit.[4] Simpson withdrew his lawsuit with an undisclosed settlement.[3]

Simpson Performance Products now uses polyester fabric instead of nylon.[5] Bill Simpson does not own Simpson Performance Racing and he has founded a competitor.[5] He had left Simpson Performance Products before Earnhardt's fatal crash.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Biography at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, Retrieved January 8, 2007
  2. ^ [1] Jim Donnelly, Muscle Machines 1203 Hot Rod Hero: Bill Simpson
  3. ^ a b c d [2] Lori Lovely, "Nuvo Safety Spelled S-i-m-p-s-o-n"
  4. ^ a b c d e [3] Joanne Korth; "Bill Simpson is glad to be back"; August 21, 2002 St. Petersburg Times
  5. ^ a b c d e f Safety vs. marketing: Which comes first?; Marty Smith; NASCAR; March 25, 2006; Retrieved May 13, 2008

[edit] External links