don't speak to soon! further regs to follow from what I can understand.
I hope so too, as it looks like at the moment its only FIA standard restraints. I use necksgen which is SFi!
There are older cars around that will be impossible to get out of in under ten seconds with a Hans & even some modern cars I know of. How can one rule be overlooked in order to enforce another?
CAMS press release state. "From 1 July, 2014 all international and national circuit races, road events and off road events, except where specifically exempted due to the type of vehicle.
Maybe the older type vehicles that Stingray 2212 refers to will be exempt.
As usual Brett, big on confusion & short on detail. Some are now saying it will be compulsory for ALL off road events, clubbys included.
Yes that was me, that's the way I read it. Why is a multi club safer than state. Try mine one day Daryl, you will be surprised how good they are even without a crash.
As sure as night follows day, once compulsory they will have a use by date.
This change would be a good time to allow all classes of off road vehicles to be one or two seat. Most guys I know don't have permanent navigators these days & often have difficulty finding one. It is a big call to expect a car owner to buy two Hans devices with suitable helmets as well as now having to supply a driving suit simply to allow a navi to get in the car.
-- Edited by Stingray 2212 on Thursday 13th of March 2014 05:27:24 AM
I'm on record over the seat belts just a dumb rule, I don't have a problem with implementing neck restraints I purchased two HANS devices for us while racing at Parker, Amanda wore her's I didn't, we got hit in the rear pretty hard by a TT it cracked my neck Amanda was fine she normally wears a doughnut she thinks the devise works, as for the cost, imagine a Broken neck or death, this is way overdue for our type of racing.
A page that might be helpful. I didn't realise there were so many different sizes & angles to chose from. They seem to be something that is quite specific to an individual. Going to make it very difficult for a car owner to buy one to cover different navigators.
The other obvious thing is they just a piece of injection moulded plastic, I guess their price is based on supply & demand. It would seem like if someone was to get them manufactured in China that the price would be reduced a lot. Golden opportunity for someone there given there are currently only three manufacturers of them in the world. To be totally honest, $600 for a piece of plastic is a joke. I am sure that it could be made & sold with exactly the same quality for much less than half that. Time will tell.
I have a couple of questions about the new rule No1 How many off road racers have suffered servere neck injuries or basal skull factures in the last couple of years ???? I have been around this sport or a little while now and I can only think of a couple . No 2 Where did the rule come from ??? and when are we going to be asked our opinion of the rule ???? I am not against sensible safety rules as one injury is to many. In the last few years the sport has made some gains with regards car numbers and new people in the sport , I am worried the extra expense of the new rules will make prospective new off roaders shy away from the sport . From my stand point it will cost 2 x head and neck restriants 2 x seat belts to suit the restraints and 2 x helments to suit and I will be left with seat belts that are new 2 races old , 2 new helmets an expense I really dont need . I also have concerns that the restraint system will make it hard to exit car quickly thus endangering competitors as we dont have an official behind every tree to assist us get out of the car like circuit racers and speed way people do. Regards Scott
If anyone from HVORRA wants to discuss this issue, there is a meeting tonight (26.3.14) at Singleton Diggers in York St Singleton at 7.30pm.
From Marion: "If anyone has any input on the new rules being brought in by CAMS regarding only allowing FIA Neck restraints, please come to the meeting or let us know your thoughts on this rule by emailing them to me. Some of our members already use these devices but with an SFI certification. I want to take this to the State Executive and further".
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95% of the money I ever earned I spent on drugs, alcohol and hookers. The rest I wasted.
I can offer only my opinion on these devices... They are great. I have worn a hans device for about 3 years now and whilst the first race was uncomfy, now it just feels like second nature and I wont get in a car without them anymore.
Couple of things I have found as well... They work with either 3" or 2" belts (I use 2") and they dont just help with your neck on the accident side of things, it is amazing how many times you can feel the tethers being pulled tight during just normal racing conditions. I get out of a car now with zero neck pain, its great.
As far as getting out of the car fast, not an issue. We have two cars, 1 with a lift roof and 1 with a side enterance. In both cars you can get out as fast as you can without a hans. It isn't as tho you take your helmet off before you get out of a rolled car anyway. I put my hans/helmet on before getting into the car... much easier.
Also, it was mentioned about 4 years ago that they were going to one day be made mandatory so it isn't a real suprise. Whilst mid year is a pain in the bum, it was always going to happen.
Thats my opinion anyway... I think its way overdue and Im all for it. It doesnt matter to me how many neck injuries there have been in the past... Lets try and stop the neck injures in the future hey.
Spot on Luke. Reduce the injury chance. I love the sport but i don't want it to be the reason my quality of live may change. I want to race and feel I have done all I can to stay safe. I'm only disappointed I haven't done anything about this until I now have to.People that have them notice the difference and that means they do something we may not even notice or realise.
Serious question, is it possible to put them on once you are in the car? Again serious, can you see your seatbelts to do them up with a Hans or do you need a mirror or someone to help do it?
Yeah mate its easy as pie to put on in the car. It is all very easy to do by feel. I dont have anyone help me with mine when I do it and dont look in the mirror. I just choose to do it outside the car because I feel it is easier.
Cheers
Hi guys I agree totally with Luke. When I first got my Hans It felt uncomfortable and I fought against the straps a bit when turning my head but this was only for one race. Now if I get in the car without it it doesn't feel right and I cannot even do recon without it. They are an investment but probably quarter the price of a cheap wheel chair.
We use the 2 inch belts with the rotary locks with ours and have no dramas, but you do need to do up you belts before clipping on your Hans which takes a bit to get the hang of but I can do it very quickly now. I used to have a sore neck after every race but have no problems now and you can feel the Hans tethers take up every time we are under heavy braking.
The device has no effect on your ability to get out of the car quickly and I certainly have no problem with wearing one.
Cheers Mat Ryan
You dont loose efficiency (not that I know of anyway). I just find it easy to have it all set up with the 2" belts because you can feel that "Yep, they are definitly in the groove". If you feel that you are struggling with them, you can buy these little stick on hooks that help locate the 3" belts (yes off Cameron). We didn't use them though.
Cheers!
Luke
We run 3" belts with a HANS Device with no problems or efficiency loss. I get in the car without my helmet or hans on, I then do my belts up with the shoulder straps loose. I then put my hans on and pull the belts over it and do the belts up tight enough just to hold them there. I then put my heltmet on, with a helmet skirt, and connect up all associated equip, Ie Intercom, Helmet blower etc. I can do all of this by my self by feel where necessary ie hans tethers. I know this is opposite to every one else. (Not need to comment on that). Dad does it the same as every one else, so either method works. I do get out of the car with all my gear on, just easier to find places to put your helmet etc when you are out of the car.
For the first race you notice it until the first corner, you have to learn to work / live with it. Now I don't notice it at all.
I am not sure how people can say it slows them down getting out of the car slowly or in a hurry. Once the belts are off hans it has no really effect or restriction of your movement. It is smaller than your shoulders or helmet for that matter just have to make sure a bar doesn't go between your helmet and your hans.
Once we started wearing a hans I was amassed how often you actually use it. At a race like Sea Lake you would feel the tethers pull tight once every 2 laps. Not sure how many time they pull tight without you feeling it. would be interesting to put a gopro they to see.
I feel they are a great safety item and it is one of the better rule changes.
Travis Conrad
-- Edited by Trav 206 on Thursday 27th of March 2014 08:19:37 PM