HANS Device

[MVZ944T]

If any of you out there have been considering purchasing a HANS device, and have been sitting on the fence thinking it might be too restrictive to wear. I purchased mine about 3 months ago and while it is a bit harder to get in or out of the car with it on, and does take a bit more time to get set for a run, it is not at all restrictive to wear while driving. In fact, I was surprised how little it does restrict movement. Considering it is less than a set of tires; well, how much is your neck worth? If your thinking about it, I would say do it.

Mike VZ

[gulf911]

Hi Mike,
where did you purchase yours?

Dan

[MVZ944T]

I bought mine from the Racers Shop in Redondo Beach. Kerry had tried to sell them but I don't think he has been able to get any co-operation from them. You might check with him first though. If you need contact numbers, send me an email. If you get one, the first time you try it on it might feel like there is not enough space between the HANS device and the sides of your neck. It is supposed to be fairly tight, about enough space to put your finger tip between it and your neck. I was a bit concerned when I first tried mine on, but it is fine. You need to send your helmet to them and let them install the mounting tabs. They can do it without removing any of the padding.

Mike

[Pete Millikin]

Given the Carrera GT crash of Friday, my mind was definitely on safety at Buttonwillow this weekend. I will definitely invest in a H&N restaint system very soon.

There has been quite a bit of discussion of Hans and other H&N restaint devices. While the Hans device is clearly the standard it appears the Issac system is a good alternative and is $300 for their Link model. Here is a thread from the Pelican BBS about the subject. No endorsement of either system just bringing forth some information.

http://www.isaacdirect.com

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthre ... ans+device

[mnettles]

Does anyone reading use an Isaac? I have questions.....

thanks

mj

[RickK]

The GForce SRS-1 also looks very interesting. Not a lot of talk about it online. What bugs me is that all of the H&N companies publish data that makes their device look good (obviously) but none of them publish results from the same test conditions, meaning impact force and angleof impact. So from their data you really can't make an apples to apples comparison.

That said I would lean towards the Isaac Link but I really don't like the idea of my head by attached to the car and requiring a separate release by a corner/rescue worker. Eventually, once popular enough they all will know about the Isaac but for the next couple of years it could be touch and go.

One last concern, given the way the Isaac connects to the harnesses it is not really easy to move from car to car, something that should be important to instructors.

[kary]

There are some great threads on Rennlist about the Issac. The owner, knowledgable person, speaks in these threads about forces and the dynamics behind the Isaac. I have been on the fence about the Hans and the Isaac, though the Isaac guy says you should not stay on the fence as both devices reduce your risk of injury dramatically!!

Search rennlist for details on these threads.

[MikeD]

Well, I'm not sure about the merits of Issac vs. HANS vs. whatever. I got a HANS because it didn't seem like something I wanted to cheap out on.

A couple drivers have a quick release for their HANS. Not sure if it can be retro fitted to one you have, but it's worth a look.

I used my HANS for the first time this past weekend. It took a little getting used to. I noticed it in the pits mostly. But once on track I had other things to be thinking about. I think the only real thing I had to get used to was the fact that I could not turn my head as much as I was previous able. Made it a little more difficult to back out of my parking spot.

My $0.02

[TheStig]

Rennlist seems to also be raving about the Hans Device. The G-Force looks like a very safe neck restraint system as well. I wonder if anyone has done a comparison on both restraint systems yet.

[MVZ944T]

When I purchased my HANS, I had not seen or heard of the ISAAC unit. However, taking a look at it earlier today, I would have still purchased the HANS. I would agree with Mike D that it does limit your side movement of your head, and you kind of have to feel your way to clip your shoulder harness in, but as far comfort on the track, it is much better (and cooler) than my doughnut type restraint, that most likely would have done little in an accident. As far as the G-Force unit, personally it looks a bit on the cheasy side and it also looks to me like you might have trouble getting the back portion sitting corretly without someone helping you. It would be nice to see some actual comparison tests doen by the same lab with all the various units included and not favoratism shown. And include ease of ingress / eagress from the vehicle, time and trouble to put it on, etc. If nothing else, if the G-Force and the ISAAC unit start selling, maybe it will bring the cost of the HANS down a bit. It is pretty pricey all things considered.

Mike D, you can get the quick release "D-ring" as an add on option. I think they are $100 or so.

Mike VZ

[kary]

Here is a poll about H&N popularity within Rennlist readers:

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/s ... p?t=208122

[gbaker]

It would be nice to see some actual comparison tests doen by the same lab with all the various units included and not favoratism shown....

http://www.isaacdirect.com/html/chart.html

[RickK]

It would be nice to see some actual comparison tests doen by the same lab with all the various units included and not favoratism shown....

http://www.isaacdirect.com/html/chart.html

Yep, but that is for a 45g impact at a 30 degree frontal offset. How about other orientation and magnitude data to match up with what other mfgr's publish?

[kary]

It would be nice to see some actual comparison tests doen by the same lab with all the various units included and not favoratism shown....

http://www.isaacdirect.com/html/chart.html

Yep, but that is for a 45g impact at a 30 degree frontal offset. How about other orientation and magnitude data to match up with what other mfgr's publish?

That is about the worst it can get. How many folks crash striaght on? Same with street accidents, those are always on angles as well.

I would use the angle tests for sure.

[David Ray]

I'm amazed at the rhetoric surrounding "safety". Not only here, but at the other forums. "when did a life cost less than 1000 dollars”? When did we think our mortal selves became immortal in a race car? Have you ever seen a professional football player go on the field WITHOUT a helmet? Have you ever seen a “professional” race car driver get into a car for a race without a HANS device or fire suppression? I really don’t care what system you invest in, but invest in one!

It’s amazing how we spend out discretionary money. Springs, shocks, roll bars, tyres, bigger engines, but when it comes to safety we always argue the point of “why”?

I remember at the last DE in SD I was waiting in the inspection line, a participant, in the other line was getting inspected and didn’t have a fire extinguisher, he said it was waived because he was a “new” student. Long story short as I recall he was allowed to run the DE without a safety device that is clearly marked as a necessity(not an option in the rules). The short story is” we have to show a valid membership card to clear inspection”, but not have the minimum amount of safety devices required in our cars? I’m puzzled?

I’m not pointing out the loopholes in our rules, but the fact that we’d let someone go on a track unprepared. There’s a lot of push back on safety devices and their costs on our site.

IMO This should be paramount at any costs. Safety should come first and foremost in our cars, before upgrades to a car, yet it seems what happen at CA will never happen to us. At a minimum the Club and it’ drivers “could” be prepared. My2Cents