Discussion
Can't find much information on these:-
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Motorsport/Head_&...
Are they worthwhile if you don't have a HANS or is it HANS or nothing?
Cheers,
Dunc.
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Motorsport/Head_&...
Are they worthwhile if you don't have a HANS or is it HANS or nothing?
Cheers,
Dunc.
Flipatron said:
I use one but haven't 'tested' it yet so no idea if they work or not. Comfy to wear though and I can't see why you wouldn't for the price. Yes HANS is probably safer but you won't see much change from 1k.
20 degree sport version available from about £470.http://www.gprdirect.com/helmets/race-hans-device/...
Dale Earnhardt would've probably survived if he wore HANS and quite a few open-wheel drivers including our very own Mike Conway wouldn't be in a good state without them, brilliant devices if you do have to use it! I was discussing it with my IO today and we agreed HANS really is essential.
andy97 said:
Flipatron said:
I use one but haven't 'tested' it yet so no idea if they work or not. Comfy to wear though and I can't see why you wouldn't for the price. Yes HANS is probably safer but you won't see much change from 1k.
20 degree sport version available from about £450.Been told by a few drivers who have crashed with a neck brace, it has help, so worth getting, but also worth saving for a HANS, I will be asking for donations for mine as Xmas presents.
Its fairly obvious that in most accidents a Hans would be far better, but I think the question was neck brace or no neck brace..
The answer to that one is again equally simple... get some form of neck brace. When i first started I didnt wear one, but after a fairly big off at croft and some very expensive physio bills I've always worn one, and I've had some bigger offs with no problem since..
I use the sparco jobby, and it has the added benifit that you can have a quick snooze in the car an nobody notices..
I even wear it if i go karting, it looks daft but neck damage seems cumulative so even a small shunt without a neck brace can give you problems later..
A Hans is expensive but a basic brace isnt. you can make excuses not to spend a grand on a hans and helmet, but I cant really see an excuse for not spending 65 quid on a foam neck brace.. after all thats less than 1 hour with most physios...
G
The answer to that one is again equally simple... get some form of neck brace. When i first started I didnt wear one, but after a fairly big off at croft and some very expensive physio bills I've always worn one, and I've had some bigger offs with no problem since..
I use the sparco jobby, and it has the added benifit that you can have a quick snooze in the car an nobody notices..
I even wear it if i go karting, it looks daft but neck damage seems cumulative so even a small shunt without a neck brace can give you problems later..
A Hans is expensive but a basic brace isnt. you can make excuses not to spend a grand on a hans and helmet, but I cant really see an excuse for not spending 65 quid on a foam neck brace.. after all thats less than 1 hour with most physios...
G
I agree with the above. I know someone who's crashed with and without a neck brace and they said a neck brace was the way forward. On the negative side they are somewhat restrictive, especially when turning your head, and they can clash with your seat in some cars. My Mum modified mine to take a little out of the back so it fitted the seat, and then to ensure that it stayed in that position we put velcro on it and my race suit. All it is is very hard foam covered with nomex based material. I now wear a HANS which I much prefer.
I've had a neck brace since I started racing but have only recently started using it all the time. This was due to me always having pins and needles and numbness down my right arm and hand after about 10 minutes racing. It wasn't until my wife commented after looking at some pictures of me racing that I always have my head tilted to one side. Since wearing the brace every time I race I've not had any problems. I have no problems with restricted movement apart from I have to leave it off until after I have done my belts up.
You've reminded me of something.. in some cars the cornering forces are such that I have to tilt my head into the bend slightly to manage. A neck brace doesn't allow this, and it feels very odd to corner with your head resting on something, because then it's tilting the "wrong" way. I think around 2-3g is when I start to get problems. One car I raced last year didn't have this issue at all, but another one I tried at the end of the season gave me no end of problems, even tilting my head. It's a consideration to think of 
RobM77 said:
You've reminded me of something.. in some cars the cornering forces are such that I have to tilt my head into the bend slightly to manage. A neck brace doesn't allow this, and it feels very odd to corner with your head resting on something, because then it's tilting the "wrong" way. I think around 2-3g is when I start to get problems. One car I raced last year didn't have this issue at all, but another one I tried at the end of the season gave me no end of problems, even tilting my head. It's a consideration to think of
Tilting into a corner has never been an issue with the brace on. Lets be honest it's not the be all and end all of safety and would never be a substitute for HANS which in itself seems to be only good for a forward impact. For this reason I don't think a HANS device would totally suit me for my neck problems.jagracer said:
RobM77 said:
You've reminded me of something.. in some cars the cornering forces are such that I have to tilt my head into the bend slightly to manage. A neck brace doesn't allow this, and it feels very odd to corner with your head resting on something, because then it's tilting the "wrong" way. I think around 2-3g is when I start to get problems. One car I raced last year didn't have this issue at all, but another one I tried at the end of the season gave me no end of problems, even tilting my head. It's a consideration to think of
Tilting into a corner has never been an issue with the brace on. Lets be honest it's not the be all and end all of safety and would never be a substitute for HANS which in itself seems to be only good for a forward impact. For this reason I don't think a HANS device would totally suit me for my neck problems.I was wearing a neck brace when I went into earth filled tyres, head on, at Anglesey, doing 50 plus MPH. Had a stiff neck for a couple of days but couldn't say how it would have been if I wasn't wearing one. I always wear a hans device these days though.
I also always remember to slow down and turn left at rocket
I also always remember to slow down and turn left at rocket
jagracer said:
Al Weyman said:
I can use one in one of my cars but the other which has controls on centre console I cannot look down to see what I am doing so cannot use it.
You look down while you're driving? 
This was an issue for me with a neck brace. I couldn't see the switches in my car for the fan, starter motor, fuel pumps etc. The only way was to pull my helmet down with one hand and operate the switch with the other. I just trusted feel and memory whilst driving if I needed to use a switch...I like my Hans in my Sports GT car and modsports cars,thats because I have a tendency to keep my head facing more rigidly forward and using minor eye movement to the mirrors because of the cage etc.But if I am racing my Tintop then I have always preferred to use my softer neck support,which enables me to twist and turn my head during my races,as sometimes the mirrors dont see every attack made by the other competitors,especially using these big winged Evo seats.
I do think thou that the Hans support should be cheaper so the option can be made easier.
I do think thou that the Hans support should be cheaper so the option can be made easier.
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