To HANS or not to HANS...

[Mmagus]

That is the question...


I'll refrain from continuing a parody of the Shakespeare though it's floating around in my head. I have outfited Tuffy with good race seats, proper harnesses, a race roll bar, and have a new SA 2010 Helmet. But after seeing this video on another site I have to admit its got me considering a HANS. The crash is right near the end of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eprQ4YK5kNU&feature=youtube_gdata_player


The driver was in a Porsche 951 and suffered broken ribs and "a nasty whiplash". I know I will get the "how much is your spine worth" comments, (which is admittedly a great point) but beyond that what was your reasoning, thought process, etc Before buying one. OR if you don't wear one currently, why not? Are they comfortable? Inhibit view?

If you do have one, did you go with the HANS brand, the Defender, or something else?

lastly, does anyone have a spare they might like to let go of?

Thanks in advance for your considered thoughts.

M

[pdy]

Hmmm...

I'm not sure if HANS (or similar) would have prevented the whiplash (which was lateral) in this particular crash.
HANS and other similar devices are really for head-on impacts, like this;


I truly believe that a seat with wings around the helmet (like I have in both 911s) would have helped though,
so perhaps upgrading your seat should be considered too.

Regarding specific devices, as you know I have the HANS branded device, and I use it on all tracks.
Mine has the sliding tether, which allows me to turn my head from side to side. I don't find the quick releases useful.
These considerations, plus brand and style are a matter of preference. All forms of club and pro racing require some
sort of device that is SFI-38 or FIA certified. I do not find it to be at all restrictive, and that took only an event or
two for me to get used to it. It's completely transparent to my driving.

To me it's just another piece of equipment, and certainly not the most difficult to use, but one of the more expensive.
If you do get one, the specific brand and features will be a personal choice, and I understand you are trying to build
up a knowledge base to make that choice. If you decide to get one, I do recommend that you make sure it has the
proper certifications for PCA, POC or other racing organizations that you might possibly go racing with in the future.

And of course, you can try mine out at Chuckwalla (either use my helmet - I have two set up for HANS), or have yours
modified with the hardware anchors.

[Mike]

I am not sure how well a hans helps in a side impact...
In addition to the a hans something like this on a Kirky style chair could help.
Link to Kirkey Head & Neck Restraint, Tubular Style
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Kirkey-Head-and-Shoulder-Restraint-Tubular-Style,9576.html?brandName=KIRKEY&page=1

I have an R3 style hans for sale you are welcome to check it out.
This style works in a seat with 3 point belts...I got it for PCA instructing in street cars.
I currently use my 5 point belts with the Necksgen made in El Cajon.
http://www.necksgen.com/
As far as visability once I'm on the track the side mirrors and large windshield mirror cover the blind spots.

[c4s4pcs]

I got mine for Fontana. I looked at the wall, entry speeds in excess of 140 mph, the weight of my helmet + head vs. the strength of my neck, the fact that I use race seats and harness for track days, and the fact that all racers now need them, and asked myself "Who am I kidding? I need a device for track days". I started a thread on the topic, and recieved some great advice here. I ended up with the sport model HANS with the quick release and sliding tearhers. It does further restrict my range of sideways vision - most noticable in the pits -, makes it more interesting to put the helmet on, and causes some slight discomfort where it contacts me, but I feel much better with it on.

The only change I am making is I will be replacing the quick releases with the post mounts (due in any day now at C2) as I don't like the dangly orange QR straps.

I made the decision that if I'm going to be going fast, a device was really not an option - the same justification for roll bar, harness, and seats.

Hope that this helps.

Phil

[ChuckS]

Talk to me this weekend at the PDS. I can go over everything.

[pecivil]

Chuck,
I want to get in on that conversation at PDS. I need to get one.

[mrondeau]

I've had a Hans Pro with the sliding tethers since 2008. It's a required piece of safety equipment by almost every race organization. Mine does not interfere with my driving and I don't even notice it when I'm on the track. It also has the side benefit of keeping the harness straps from rubbing my neck raw. I recommend using one. It's about the cost of a set of tires. I think I'm worth at least a set of tires. Some may disagree.

[c4s4pcs]

New tires or Chuck Sharp leftovers?

[mrondeau]

New tires or Chuck Sharp leftovers?

New tires. YMMV depending on your tire choice and size.

[ChuckS]

Monte - no problem. Find me and Mark and we can discuss.

Phil - that was a low blow!!!

Mark - Even used tires are worth more than my leftovers!

By the way - DO NOT get one without the sliding tethers! Limitations without them make the HANS really a pain. You cannot move your head to see anything on the sides.

I will bring mine to the PDS.

[LUCKY DAVE]

+1 on the sliding tethers, the only way to go.

[Jad]

It is one of those things were it is really hard to imagine really regretting getting it, easy to REALLY regret not getting it

With the sliding tethers, you should not notice it at all on the track. I find it even helps hold me in the seat better, so it helps on the track.

[rshon]

If you were driving a newer street car with airbags and factory three-points at a moderate pace, a HANS device is not considered as essential for incidental (low to medium speed) frontal impacts. But if you are wearing a racing harness, driving at higher speeds, driving at the limit, and/or there are any stationary objects that you may possibly hit in a frontal impact (like walls or trees), a HANS device is a really good idea.

The reason is a racing harness will restrain your TORSO in an impact, but in a frontal impact, your helmeted head will continue accelerating forward after the harness has done its job restraining your body. In a severe enough impact, this could result in a cervical fracture and possible spinal trauma (or failure). The most (in)famous incident was when Dale Earnhardt Sr. got turned at speed and hit the wall at Daytona, resulting in sufficient spinal trauma to cause almost instant death. Only after this incident did NASCAR mandate/require the use of the HANS device for all its drivers.

And once you buy it, you should get in the habit of wearing it all the time (at least at the track). It's easier than trying to explain to your family why you left it in the pits on the one occasion when you needed it most...

p.s. I now can also HIGHLY recommend Halon fire extinguishers. When you look over at the corners workers and they're not running towards you soon enough, and your car is on FIRE, you will be glad you have something on hand to put the fire out with...

[Sawfish]

+1 me too dont know that I need one but would love to learn.

Chuck,
I want to get in on that conversation at PDS. .