Try it... you'll like it. Or maybe not.
The Grand Am series requires a HANS device, so I borrowed MacDod's. I wore it on the test day and in the race. The race found me in the car for nearly an hour and a half. The HANS was fine. No discomfort. Barely knew it was there.
So, I went to Laguna and decided to test the HANS in a Skippy car. I HATED it. I hated every minute of life strapped into a car with a HANS. I can't believe no one else has complained about this before.
At first, I cranked down on the harnesses so hard that the HANS really dug into my shoulders. It was brutal. So painful in fact, that my arms started to get numb. It was bad before I left the pits, but I figured that like so many other factors (cold, heat, hunger, an urge to pee, etc) it would go away while I was on the track. No such luck.
On the second stint, I tightened the belts just enough that the HANS didn't hurt. After a few laps, the belts slid off the device. Since this was as good as wearing nothing, I came in and had the mechanics strap me down again. The pain was back and I struggled to finish the session.
Next, someone told me the trick was to cross the shoulder harness buckles where they connect to the anti-submarine belt. Thinking this would help, I again tried to keep the belts "just tight enough". The damn things slipped off again.
1 last try... criss cross the harnesses and crank down. Ouch, I swear this was the most uncomfortable thing I have done to my body in a race car.
BTW... I tried pulling the "legs" all the way down in the front, pushing them all the way back, and one or two steps in between. None of this worked.
I raced in the D-cel. I still love it. Say what you like about the foolish looks. That isn't the point. Say that NASCAR has banned the D-cel... in actuality their press release said they just haven't approved it.... they plan to test it in the future. Besides, we don't do 200mph. HANS' own tests show the D-cel to reduce loads to below injury threshold.
Add to that, the stabilization of the neck during normal driving and side impacts, and you have a winner. A few posts above give the HANS credit for helping in side impacts. Sorry guys, ask HANS, they only protect you against front loading.
Will I try it again? Sure. Why not. But if it performs the same way... I'll stick with my D-cel.
In the meantime, I'd welcome advice or input from anyone that has suggestions. I'll also have both devices at VIR... I wouldn't mind continuing this "conversation" in person.
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Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get into this thing called life...
Last edited by MJAmok; 03-19-2005 at 10:02 PM.
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