Hans for TDs

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Discussion

CABC

Original Poster:

5,731 posts

107 months

Friday 4th March 2022
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I know this has been done before, but not in last for years according to search.
I've become more aware of the issue getting a Caterham as you're obviously strapped in more tightly, which creates more risk for unfortunate head movement in a crash. but, my nice Bell lid has no Hans hooks. so, contemplating the cost and restriction of wearing this kit.

what's the 2022 view here? (avoiding cheap lid for cheap head tropes)

BertBert

19,513 posts

217 months

Friday 4th March 2022
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If your helmet is HANS compatible, it might not be the that expensive to get it upgraded (if that is the right term).

Whether you want a HANS for track days is another question only you can answer. I wouldn't in a Caterham as I think the risk is very low. But I'm quite laid back at track days.

However I had quite a hit at Quarry, Castle Combe many many years ago on a track day in a Caterham when a rear tyre deflated with a puncture, so maybe that says a HANS is a good idea.

One possible problem is making sure that the belts are positioned to make a HANS work. if the belt slips off, that's far worse than not wearing a HANS. Should be a reasonably well known quantity to make it work in a caterham, but it definitely wouldnt work in my LA Caterham with a bench seat!

Boggo

152 posts

60 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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I agree with what Bert said - with the addition of 'why wouldn't you wear one'.

I personally wear full safety kit on all track days - I have it, so why wouldn't I wear it.

Make sure you have the belts positioned correctly as he said. Also if you have the hans specific, narrower belts, then I wouldn't use them without a hans device personally.

BertBert

19,513 posts

217 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Boggo said:
I agree with what Bert said - with the addition of 'why wouldn't you wear one'.

I personally wear full safety kit on all track days - I have it, so why wouldn't I wear it.

Make sure you have the belts positioned correctly as he said. Also if you have the hans specific, narrower belts, then I wouldn't use them without a hans device personally.
I wouldn't expect any Caterhams to have the narrow ones unless they are track only as you really shouldn't use them without the HANS
I guess I agree with the if you can and have the gear why wouldn't you.

HustleRussell

25,143 posts

166 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Don’t forget the Simpson Hybrid. I am a HANS user but am curious to try the Simpson.

BertBert

19,513 posts

217 months

Monday 7th March 2022
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
Don’t forget the Simpson Hybrid. I am a HANS user but am curious to try the Simpson.
That looks like a right old faff James!

CABC

Original Poster:

5,731 posts

107 months

Monday 7th March 2022
quotequote all
BertBert said:
I wouldn't expect any Caterhams to have the narrow ones unless they are track only as you really shouldn't use them without the HANS
I guess I agree with the if you can and have the gear why wouldn't you.
my car is ex-Academy. it has an internal roll-cage (I *guess* the Caged cage?), Tilets and Caterham 4 point (which I guess were retro fitted after it's Academy time. I need to look into this!

agree, if you have it use it. I don't currently.

andy97

4,729 posts

228 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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I wouldn’t go on track without wearing a HANS device or the Simpson equivalent. The risks of a shunt that causes some form of whiplash or worse are still reasonably high imho.

I don’t find them uncomfortable or too restrictive withe the sliding tethers.

Mrs97 does accident investigations for a living. A few years ago she did one involving a young boy who sadly died in a ministox race - he was wearing a foam collar but that is not a head and neck safety system. The impact that killed him was approx 40 mph. And don’t think that, as an adult, your neck is strong enough to withstand that sort of impact. It probably isn’t. Or at least will give you severe whiplash.