RPW Column: Every Racer Owes A Debt Of Gratitude To Safety Pioneer Bill Simpson; Passes Away At Age 79

RPW Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Every driver who’s ever strapped into a racing machine owes a big debt of gratitude to safety pioneer Bill Simpson.

Speaking from experience, to wear a Simpson helmet or to wear any type of Simpson product was like owning a pair of sneakers bearing Michael Jordan’s name. You knew you had the best.

However, using Simpson products wasn’t just a status symbol. It was also a safety thing. The products exceeded the industry standards.

Simpson died Monday after suffering a stroke late last week. He was 79 years old.

Born March 14, 1940, Simpson spent most of his life involved in motorsports. A former racer himself, it was a tragedy during his career which led to his push for driver safety.

Way back in 1958, Simpson broke both of his arms during a drag racing crash in California. That started his quest.

What was a negative turned into a positive as Simpson developed rear-mounted parachutes to help slow down dragsters after their runs were complete. The first person to inquire about, and use, his parachute was NHRA legend, ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits.

How’s that for a first customer? This was the push that helped the California-native build his safety company, Simpson Performance Products.

He evolved his business into a number of other safety items, including gloves, helmets, restraints and shoes. Simpson designed NASA’s first umbilical cords and that is where he met astronaut Pete Conrad. Conrad introduced him to the product Nomex in 1967.

Simpson used the product to create the first fire suit to be used in racing, and the sport was forever changed. He took the suit to the Indianapolis 500 that year, and it was worn by 30 of the 33 starters. Almost the entire field could see its importance.

Simpson developed over 200 different safety products, including three generations of fire suits. However, it was the fact that Simpson put his body where his mouth was that made him a true pioneer in the sport.

Several times he would demonstrate his suit’s effectiveness…by being set on fire while wearing one.

How many of us can say we’d do that?

During his career behind the wheel, Simpson made 52 starts in the IndyCar Series between 1968 and 1977. He collected 11 top 10 finishes, taking home a career-best sixth at the Milwaukee 200 in 1970.

After leaving the seat, Simpson dedicated his life to building up his safety company. In July of 2001, Simpson left the company he founded in the aftermath of the crash at Daytona that took the life of Dale Earnhardt.

After a one-year non-compete with the new owners expired, he realized that he still had more to contribute to improving driver safety. He then started Impact! Racing Products in 2002, focusing on safety once again.

He sold that company to the owners of MasterCraft Safety in 2010.

For his accomplishments, both on and off the track, Simpson was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2003 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 2014.

Our thoughts go out to his family and friends, especially his son. From one racer, and countless others around the world who have worn, and been saved, by his products, I say thank you to Bill Simpson. You truly lived your life, and made it your purpose, so that thousands of racers could live as well…enjoying the sport we all love.

For that, we salute you and will remember you fondly.

Thank you Mr. Simpson.

Will forever be thankful of what Bill Simpson did for safety and the support he gave me as a young racer. No doubt the biggest personality in the room anywhere he went & a dear friend. RIP Bill!

— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) December 16, 2019

We lost a true racing pioneer today. Bill Simpson was a racer and innovator who made drivers and crew members safer. The safety equipment that bears his name saved me plenty of times. #RIPBillSimpson pic.twitter.com/afplJia33M

— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) December 16, 2019

Amen. Rest in peace, my friend. https://t.co/mmbVz5B6OH

— Mario Andretti (@MarioAndretti) December 16, 2019

Today the racing world lost a pioneer & an innovator, and I lost a friend. Everyone knows how important Bill Simpson was to racing, and how he famously would light himself on fire, but who knew that @GanassiChip supposedly lit that very first match? RIP Bill. We’ll miss you. pic.twitter.com/4pFdLeTLNr

— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) December 17, 2019

Bill Simpson had an incredible impact on motorsport safety. His commitment and dedication made the sport so much safer for all involved. He will be missed!!!!

— Jeff Burton (@JeffBurton) December 16, 2019

Bill Simpson was one of my best friends. He made a huge positive impact on racing and we should all be grateful for his contributions. Bill did things his own way and he was 100% committed to making racing safer. I'm not sure I'd be here today without Bill. I'll really miss him. https://t.co/AERNwArQG6

— Rusty Wallace (@RustyWallace) December 16, 2019