Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Restored Humvee by Warfighter Made, Features A FluidLogic Hydration System
Warfighter Made's M998 Humvee they call "Beefy," is equipped with a FluidLogic hydration system that flows through the vehicle's fresh air helmet system and Maglock Air magnetic coupler. Watch the video above to learn more about this amazing vehicle.
SCORE Journal Magazine Reports On A New Hydration Study Affecting Off-Road Racers And Their Performance
El Segundo, CA - SCORE Journal Magazine, the official publication of SCORE International off-road racing, published an article in the August 2021 digital issue, on the hydration study done by Dr. David Ferguson. Read the full story here:
FORMER NASCAR DRIVER TEACHES TODAY’S STAR THE BENEFITS OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL PREPARATION ALONG WITH PROPER HYDRATION
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| Josh Wise former NASCAR racer shares his fitness knowledge as Driver Performance Manager for current Chevrolet teams |
“As a driver, I was always looking at how I could improve myself and my performance,” said Wise. “My conditioning was a serious part of that, as that led me to become a triathlete during my racing career, participating in the Ironman competition and half-marathons. The things that I learned competing as a triathlete I tried to incorporate into my auto racing preparation.
“Conditioning is not optional for today’s athlete—it is a must,” said Wise. “Strength training, endurance, cardio, along with proper nutrition and hydration are critical. That’s the price of admission. My team and I work with drivers to ensure that they follow a conditioning regimen that allows them to perform in the race car at the highest levels. All athletic performance has both a mental and a physical component. Once a driver meets basic fitness requirements, we work on the mental aspects of performance. Then, we introduce situations into their workout regimen that help them also deal with mental stress.”
It’s talked about frequently, but it is hard for people to fathom how incredibly taxing it is on a driver to sit in a hot environment for three to four hours and stay focused on the task at hand. If a driver is not in excellent condition and properly hydrated, it can negatively impact both mental and physical performance, affecting their reaction time and ability to focus.
The preliminary results of a recently released study showed a connection between dehydration and driver performance errors. Conducted by Dr. David Ferguson, associate professor at Michigan State University, the study reinforces that the key to proper hydration is consistency—small amounts of fluids on a consistent basis.
“The topic of hydration has been well-researched, but not in motorsports,” said Wise. “Dr. Ferguson’s study addresses a problem that needed to be solved.”
It’s not simply about taking in fluids but absorbing those fluids that are the key. It’s the drinking pattern where most drivers get into trouble, going long periods without drinking, and then drinking too much at once.
“As a triathlete, I learned the importance of proper hydration,” noted Wise. “During an Ironman event, I would program myself to drink every three minutes. I took that philosophy into the race car and would monitor temperature, my weight pre-and post-race, fluid consumed, and take copious notes after each race. Hydration was something of which I was very aware, and it became somewhat intuitive to know when I needed to drink—provided I was not in the middle of a long stretch of green-flag laps. FluidLogic now has a system that takes a lot of the thinking out of it for the driver, so they can stay properly hydrated but stay focus more on driving.”
A constant level of optimal hydration, as provided by the FluidLogic™ system, can keep a driver well-hydrated, resulting in better reaction time and fewer driver errors, as the study shows. In the study, the drivers using the FluidLogic system delivered a 1-second faster late-race lap times in simulated racing conditions.
The FluidLogic™ “smart” hydration system is an automatic hydration system that precisely measures and delivers the right amount of fluids right when they are needed to achieve optimal performance. The frequency and amount of fluid can be pre-programmed through the FluidLogic app. The computer alerts the driver that it is time to hydrate with an LED light on the steering wheel. When the light flashes, the driver pushes the button and the “instant-on” pump delivers the perfect amount of water to keep them hydrated during the race through a 4-mil hydration hose that runs through the center of their MagLock® fresh-air hose to a mouthpiece designed to attach to their radio mic.
Monday, August 23, 2021
NHRA Jr. Dragster Racer Parker Howe Uses FluidLogic To Stay Hydrated And Focused Between Rounds
El Segundo, CA- While it takes only seconds for an NHRA drag race to be over, racers often have to wait for a long time in their vehicles before coming up to the starting line. For the Howe family, the benefit of being properly hydrated before and during an NHRA racing event was a revealing fact with their eight-year-old NHRA Jr. Dragster racer Parker Howe. “We incorporated the FluidLogic Flush 360 system into Parker’s helmet and found that he drinks 16-20 oz of fluid before each pass,” says Jesse Howe, Parker's father. “It’s hot out there, and keeping Parker healthy and alert is key to his overall performance.”
“Between rounds, he is usually wrenching, running around with friends, and working up a sweat. When it’s time to race, he gets into the race suit and hops into the car. We push him out to the staging lanes, where he sits and waits under the hot sun. I put the umbrella over the dragster’s cockpit, but he can also take a drink by pressing the button on the steering wheel to keep hydrated.”
The FluidLogic Flush 360 system feeds fluid from the Fluid Containment bottle and up through the Maglock® magnetic connector located on the side of Parker’s helmet. “We integrated the system just fine,” said Jesse. “The entire unit is flexible when finding a place to mount it. Since most cars are using batteries for lights and fans, powering the in-car system wasn't difficult. It doesn’t draw much power, so the same battery runs all weekend. It was easy.”
The Fluid Containment bottle is insulated to keep fluids cool and can be easily detached from its mount to refill or swap out. “The bottle and quick-release mount are huge for us,” said Jesse. “For the weight of the dragster to be correct, the bottle must be exactly full each time he goes out. The Maglock® connector on the helmet also makes it easy for Parker to enter and exit the car. Before we used the system, we had no idea how dehydrated he was until we saw how much he drinks. We refill the bottle seven to eight times a day! Now that he’s been drinking more to stay hydrated, we feel he has a competitive edge and tends to make good decisions when speeding up to 60 mph down the track.”
The Howe family competes in 12 events from January thru June and at the end of the 2021 season, Parker took third overall in points. “This was a huge accomplishment for us,” said Jesse. “I had no idea how much it would help Parker be at the top of his game at all times. For me as a parent, it’s also great knowing my child is healthy and safe, pass after pass.” For more information on the FluidLogic system by RSI Inc. visit www.fluidlogic.com.
Saturday, August 14, 2021
Ryan Arciero Wins The 2021 Vegas To Reno Off-Road Race, With A New Truck Equipped With The FluidLogic Hydration System
The new truck comes after his #32 Levis race truck burned to the ground at the 2020 Vegas To Reno race, ending what would have been a great season for the team. “With this win, I feel like the Phoenix rising,” said Arciero. “It was also the first time I used the FluidLogic hydration system in an actual race, and along with the new truck, it also performed flawlessly.”
Arciero knows about proper hydration from his training riding road bikes long distances. “When it comes to hydration, I know my body and when to drink while I’m riding,” he said. “The fact that I can program the FluidLogic system was a big advantage for me. I found the flexibility to be a huge benefit. I can set the pressure, the amount of fluid, and the frequency, based on what I know my body needs. This race was probably the worst environment with triple-digit heat and a dusty environment. I programmed the FluidLogic system to give me short quick drinks more often, and when I got to the finish line, I felt great.”
The results of a preliminary study on motorsports hydration conducted by Dr. David Ferguson Ph.D. ASCM-CEP, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University (MSU), demonstrated a large difference in a race driver’s core temperature, overall performance, and improved focus leading to faster lap-times when hydrated with an optimized drinking pattern. “Using the system, I was pleasantly shocked. I usually think I needed more water less often, but with the FluidLogic system, it was the exact opposite. By hydrating more often, there was no fade-off towards the end of the race, and not having a third line off my helmet was huge.”
The FluidLogic Coaxial system feeds fluid through the fresh-air inlet hose connected to Arciero’s helmet via the Maglock Air magnet coupler. Liquid then flows into the Aquacom, a silicone nozzle that slips over and around the driver’s in-helmet microphone without any interruption to communication. Arciero will be racing at the 2nd SCORE Baja 400 in September, a race he won in 2019, and hopes to utilize his new race truck and the FluidLogic system to his advantage. For more information on the Fluidlogic system by RSI Inc. visit www.fluidlogic.com.
Friday, August 6, 2021
University Of Michigan Preliminary Study Shows Hydration Patterns In Race Drivers Can Improve Lap-Times And Braking Ability, While Reducing Driving Errors
The study found that those drivers using the Fluidlogic pre-programmed hydration system increased the drinking patterns that subsequently lowered core body temperatures, preserved braking ability, and reduced driving errors. “Those drivers who were drinking more water and staying hydrated saw favorable physiological and performance indicators that were associated with a one-second improve in lap times with the Fluidlogic system, compared to those drinking with a water bottle during times when it was convenient, such as before the race, during pit stops, and after the race,” said Dr. Ferguson.
“The results from this preliminary study prove what the design, logic, and capabilities of a pre-programmed hydration system like Fluidlogic can do for a race driver and team,” says Fluidlogic CEO Ed Jaeger. “After five years of testing and development, it’s great to see more academic proof of our concept, and with many racers in NASCAR, IndyCar, Sportscar, and off-road racing already using our systems, we are excited to see the results in real-time. It’s a performance and safety system that is proven, reliable, and takes away the ‘effort’ of proper hydration from the driver and making it seamless with the vehicle.”
More information on Dr. Ferguson’s study will be released soon, offering more insight into how proper hydration can benefit motorsports athletes by improving their performance and recovery times. For more information on the Fluidlogic system by RSI Inc., and other products like the Maglock Air magnetic coupling device, visit www.fluidlogic.com and www.maglockair.com.
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