trinityprof

My daughter and I entered our first open road race last week (BBORR) and have been bitten hard. We had the good fortune of placing second in our class and we want to do more. . .probably moving up in speed. We entered the target speed class of 95 and our top speed was 120. At the Bash today, I was talking to a HPDE instructor who tells me how I should reconsider road racing and stick to HPDE or at least get head/neck restraints. I don't plan on using a five point harness, so I need something that works with seat belts. He recommended Safety Solutions. Looks like that has been bought out by Simpson and product changed. I saw Hans devices on the racers running unlimited speeds, but I don't have aspirations to do that. Any thoughts/recommendations?

Jet Vet

If you're gonna race you really need HANS and a 5 or 6 pt harness. JMHO.

JV

LIStingray

In road racing, accidents do happen - would not road race without a 5 or 6 point harness and HANS.
I assume you are budgeting for the very real possibility whatever you race will be damaged or totaled. Competitive racing gets expensive.

RC000E

I have a bit of different perspective on HANS, when in a car with an equipped airbag. The HANS sled tests are for occupants secured in harnesses, etc. In those sled tests the body does not move, only the head moves forward. In a car with a shoulder belt and an airbag, at frontal impact the driver impacts the airbag and the entire body moves forward with the head, then the head impacts the airbag.

Point is, with safety, I see it as a "system" not as individual units. That said, if you use harnesses and a harness bar, your body WILL stay secure and all momentum will transfer to your head/neck...you need HANS.

If you only run shoulder belts and air bags though, I think buying the lightest helmet you can, and running a neck pad would be better. Keep in mind, this type of testing isn't done. You'd need the OEM car crash tested with occupants wearing helmets to really know, so the zone of helmet with airbag/shoulder belt really isn't known.

In my opinion though, with airbags on, shoulder belts on, a carbon helmet and neck pad is sufficient. The class you're in has risk, but not the same level of risk of an unlimited, so a reasonable amount of safety is good. I don't think you need to go full blown race-car driver though.

RapidC84B

R3 used to make a head and neck restraint that used a torso/shoulder strap setup so you could use it w/o 5-point belts. Great option for HPDE instructors who are jumping in the passenger seat of street cars often.