Dr John Melvin, 1938-2014 a consultant to CART, IRL, NASCAR
Melvin's career started as a Research Engineer and Associate Professor at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, from 1968 to 1985. He was involved in the planning and implementation of research projects dealing with the mechanical properties of biological tissues; injury mechanisms of the organs and structures in the head, neck, chest, abdomen, and lower extremities; development of test dummy components; and the development and evaluation of advanced restraint systems for children and adults.
From 1985 to 1998 he was a Senior Staff Research Engineer at the General Motors Research Laboratories where he conducted research on head and neck injury, and, most recently, racing car crashes for the purpose of improving both racing car and advanced passenger car crash protection. He retired from General Motors in September 1998 and became an independent consultant on the biomechanics of crash injury and racing car driver crash protection.
Melvin went on to serve as a consultant to many racing organizations such as CART, IRL, NASCAR and the SFI Foundation, as well as the FIA Institute as a member of both the Open and Closed Cockpit Research Groups.
He was hugely admired and respected by his peers. Robert Hubbard, inventor of the HANS device, said: "John Melvin was the first person I went to for assurance that my concept for head support was sound – my approach to reducing head motions relative to the torso would be biomechanically correct. John's encyclopedic knowledge of crash injury biomechanics, his sound practical judgment, and his masterful teaching has been the cornerstone of the revolution in racing safety.
"I met John in 1969 when I started working at the Highway Safety Research Institute, University of Michigan. He became the leading expert in the biomechanics of human injury in auto crashes. The Hybrid III crash dummy was developed by G.M. in the mid-1970's to provide the U.S. federal safety rule-makers with a dummy that incorporated the best technologies for injury assessment according to the group that John led.
"John and I shared an interest in sports cars and racing. We both had Porsche 911's and chased around the back roads of Michigan and had a couple scary moments that we did not talk to our wives about. John kept his 911 and made several safety and performance improvements. Over the years, John drove his 911 in track events and was a driving instructor at many of these events. He practiced what he preached."
Thomas Gideon, NASCAR Director of Safety, Research and Development, who worked with and succeeded John as Safety Manager at GM Racing, said: "John was the driving force in placing crash recorders in Indy Cars starting in 1992. John employed all the folks in the Safety trailer at the Indy Car track, including his wife Doris, in changing out the batteries every race, and there were over 300 batteries, since each recorder required eight.
"The data from those recorders and the injuries, or lack of injury, led directly to the reinforced driver seats in stock cars and the foam head surrounds that are paramount to driver safety.
"John solved many problems that had existed for years in racing cars with respect to reinforced seats, head restraints, drivers' nets, and belt restraints. He took the time to report his findings and share with the racing community. He has been an indispensable part of the NASCAR Safety effort for over 13 years.
"John's legacy will be that he found solutions, and it is left to us to make sure that we get his message to those who have not learned."
Melvin laid the foundation stones of the science of motor sport safety, upon which the FIA and FIA Institute has been building for the last 20 years. His wisdom and deep experience will be sorely missed. No longer will it be possible to solve a problem of analysis or understanding by simply saying: "Ask John Melvin."
Dr John Melvin died unexpectedly on 17 July, aged 76.