| Author | Message | ||
| billy bob (Fatbillybob)
Member Username: Fatbillybob Post Number: 374 Registered: 8-2002 |
So Art, Without screwing up your case...What is your conclusion of the science of helmet restraints you see on the market. What are your comments about true utility? And sorry about fingering the wrong site...my bad. What are the experts telling you? Specifics mean very little you can die using any device. Where I see real issues with Helmet restraints are 1) not thinking out all the implications of "biomechanics of impact" 2) manufacturers not having standards for use, 3)user error, 4) manufacturers drawing conclusions from limited sled tests. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Advanced Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2661 Registered: 6-2001 |
Dan: I'm currently involved in litigation over the death of a driver at a track. The issue is the device used to restrain his head. These devices are currently available from a large group of manufacturers, and I'd be careful about which one you chose to use. Art | ||
| djmonk (Davem)
Member Username: Davem Post Number: 435 Registered: 1-2002 |
Thanks Mike. | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Intermediate Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 1067 Registered: 8-2002 |
www.isaacdirect.com | ||
| Will 575 (Willh)
Member Username: Willh Post Number: 262 Registered: 3-2003 |
Have been using a HANS for slightly over a year in formula cars and sports racers. No complaints at all, but you definitely need to take into account how the device will interact with your seat - I had to modify several seats. Hope I never need it. I had my helmet painted by one of the shops that paints helmets for top level pros - very nice, but a looooong wait, 6 months. Obviously they were not familiar with my racing credentials!  BillyBob, great post. | ||
| djmonk (Davem)
Member Username: Davem Post Number: 434 Registered: 1-2002 |
Billy Bob. The link you posted takes you to another site. | ||
| Mark Langfield (Ferrari_co_uk)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_co_uk Post Number: 95 Registered: 4-2003 |
There's some good info here: http://www.hansdevice.com/ Best Mark | ||
| billy bob (Fatbillybob)
Member Username: Fatbillybob Post Number: 370 Registered: 8-2002 |
Dan, I'm a new user to Helmet restraints. I have investigated this issue for 1 year. I decided to use the isaac. See www.isaac.com. For more answers contact Greeg Baker P.E. a very helpful engineer at Isaac. In fact he will come on this forum and answer ?s for all who are interested. He does this on many race forums. Anyway, HANS was high on my list. Here are some problems with HANS that I found or believe from my limited research. 1) I asked HANS questions and did not get answers. They are top dog in F-1 etc. and they don't have to give customer support. Isaac's Greeg Baker P.E. will take the time to answer all your questions and offers unmatched customer support. 2) HANS is tethered to the helmet to form a semi ridgid unit to your harness. Therfore upon impact it appears that you get a full 20g or whatever deceleration where your brain hits the back of your eyesockets. Isaac uses dampners I.E. shock absorbers to decelerate your head proportional to the g loads of the impact. So the bigger the hit the more the shocks work just like on your car. It ofers a wide range of movement and really is not restrictive in the car. There is minimal user error unlike sewing machine products like the hutchens or simpson device. 3) Isaac can be used upright or reclining so you can race reclined open wheel cars or sport cars with the same setup. HANS needs multiple devices. 4) If you are going to show up at a track event using someone elses car the Isaac packs inside your helmet. The HANS is like packing two helmets. 5) HANS restricts emegency exiting of your car. Isaac unclips in about 1 second with nothing tethered to your body to restrict you. 6)Isaac works on any helmet. If your helmet manufacturer gets his undies in a bunch because you drill holes to mount any tether anchors Isaac helmet anchors can be glued! I think Isaac is the best. I'm the kind of guy who uses 3 bolts when 2 will do. Isaac appears to be pretty overbuilt. | ||
| Johnny Bravo (Ben) (Johnny_bravo)
Junior Member Username: Johnny_bravo Post Number: 86 Registered: 7-2003 |
The HANS device was designed (at least in part I believe) by Jim Downing Racing in Atlanta. I have a friend who works there and was going to try to get a summer job there this year, but it didn't pan out. Anyway, they might be a good place to start looking, but I don't know exactly where info on the HANS stuff is offhand: www.downingatlanta.com Hope this was of some (albeit very little) help. | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Intermediate Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 1062 Registered: 8-2002 |
Dan... regarding that archived thread, you can see some more I've done at www.helmet-painting.com I'd be pleased to customize yours. -- Mike | ||
| Dan 360 (Dan360)
Junior Member Username: Dan360 Post Number: 125 Registered: 2-2003 |
Tazio, Thanks for the info - I figured there was some sort of interface to harnesses. I now need to decide whether to actively track my forthcoming 360CS or give in to the dark side of the force and buy the 355 challenge that I know I really want as well... | ||
| Tazio Nuvolari (Nuvolari)
Member Username: Nuvolari Post Number: 301 Registered: 9-2002 |
Dan, The HANS device is not particular to any helmet. When you purchase a HANS device you must retrofit your existing helmet with the tether pickups to use it. Remember that the HANS device only works with racing harnesses. If you have regular 3 point seatbelts in your car, it is impossible to make use of a HANS. With that said if you are thinking of putting racing seatbelts in your car, you should make sure to put a roll cage in the car. Wearing racing belts with no roll cage is very dangerous because if you roll and the roof collapses (a very common occurance), you will snap your neck whereas with 3 point belts, they allow you to displace sideways and give you a fighting chance. Just some info for you. | ||
| Dan 360 (Dan360)
Junior Member Username: Dan360 Post Number: 124 Registered: 2-2003 |
I'm thinking of getting a new helmet - to have painted etc. There's an F-Chat guy in the archives that does this -> http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/251280/288489.html But since I was going to buy a new Helmet I wondered whether anyone had any thoughts on the safety benefits and hassles of a HANS type helmet instead of a regular helmet. The fact that I read about a track day guy breaking his neck at Watkins Glen recently is why I'm thinking this might be a good idea... |