HANS device video - with and without

Passed along by a friend. Here's a great real-world example of why you want a HANS device - a rally car crash. The navigator was wearing a HANS, the driver was not. Ouch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g40YatgE_CE

Both were OK though?

You know what I know. I can tell you I'd rather be the navigator in this, I suspect the driver had a little time-out there for a moment.

Going to share this. Thanks, Keith.

Ouch. That is the perfect case study. Same car, same crash. Thanks for posting.

Wow, that was very descriptive, thanks for posting

thanks for sharing!

Keith Tanner wrote: You know what I know. I can tell you I'd rather be the navigator in this, I suspect the driver had a little time-out there for a moment.

His seatbelt being too loose probably helped his neck from taking the brunt of the stretch but yeah... that is a good example of why we wear those uncomfortable hunks of money around our necks for sure.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: You know what I know. I can tell you I'd rather be the navigator in this, I suspect the driver had a little time-out there for a moment.

His seatbelt being too loose probably helped his neck from taking the brunt of the stretch but yeah... that is a good example of why we wear those uncomfortable hunks of money around our necks for sure.

I don't find my DefNDer (now Necksgen) uncomfortable at all.

amg_rx7 wrote: I don't find my DefNDer (now Necksgen) uncomfortable at all.

I've got an R3 now that is better than my HANS was but there is no way I'd call it comfortable. It's just a necessary evil that I hope someday we will look back on and say "Remember when we wore these bulky horse collars and big heavy helmets" while wearing some sort of almost invisible little detector that senses G loads and deploys counter measures so neither is necessary anylonger

My Hans doesn't bother me one bit.

In reply to DaveEstey:

FWIW, I don't like the helmet, balclava, firesuit, fire shoes, fire gloves, fire socks or the halo seat either... but I like to survive so... I deal with it. I bought all good stuff - but suiting up on a 90deg day is something I put off until last call for the grid.

The Coolshirt... I freakin' love that!

I don't notice my HANS once I'm driving, but it's a bit annoying at grid. The newer generations with the low neck brace would make vehicle egress better too. On track, it just goes away. I do like the way it spreads the load from the straps.

the only "problem" I've had with a HnN restraint was one time when I spun coming out of T5 at Road Atlanta … ended up perpendicular to the track (facing the track) on the left side of the straight … couldn't turn my head enough to see if the track was clear had to roll backwards towards the fence so I could then drive forward to parallel the track and use mirrors to re-enter

I didn't begin W2W racing until HANS was a given. I can't imagine going out without one. This is just scary. The driver is probably in his 20's and will feel fine in a day or so and then when he's 35 he'll wonder why his damn neck and back hurts every morning.

The in car video from Danica Patrick's wreck at Daytona made me wonder what would have happened if she was not wearing a HnN restraint. Dale Sr. all over again?

Holy E36 M3! Did his forehead touch his bellybutton?

I've only done autocross and hpde stuff but if I were doing wheel to wheel stuff I would definitely have one of those. GPS said it quite well, its not a comfort or fashion statement, I just like not dying or having burns that can be significantly negated by simply using these passive safety devices.

After the article by Charles Espenlaub, I've come to realize that there's not really that much difference between HPDE and wheel to wheel. I wear all my safety gear whenever I'm on the track.

Keith Tanner wrote: After the article by Charles Espenlaub, I've come to realize that there's not really that much difference between HPDE and wheel to wheel. I wear all my safety gear whenever I'm on the track.

Agreed. As I've said before, I'd feel really stupid burning to death in a crash because I'd left my nomex suit at home. Briefly.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

No doubt, I still use my suit, and all the nomex bits for hdpe. I would certainly have a HANS, if I were racing competitively. After hearing him on the GRM podcast totally reinforced it. As he put it, "No one is forcing you tnot wear it, so why not."

So what's the difference between hitting the wall at an HPDE and hitting the wall "competitively"?

What an illustrative video. Thanks for sharing. Wow!

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Absolutely none. Don't take my previously replies as naive, I only said that because the two tracks I go to on occasion have incredible amounts of run off room with no walls to the outsides of the exits and the car I have barely gets above freeway speeds. I completely understand what you are getting at though.

I really appreciate that you showed us that. I remember a couple of years ago when a Porsche slid into a wall at California speedway, breaking the necks of both occupants. If you discounted the snapped spines, the bodys were entirely undamaged. After seat belts and a good roll bar, this has to be next on my safety list.

edit: At Sears point a few years ago I was doing a track day, and there was a coolant spill right as cars were entering turn 10. A brand-new 350z and a Birkin went into the wall there at triple-digit speeds. The Birkin guy used to drive F2 in Europe. Point is, there are some things that even the best drivers can't avoid.