What is a HANS-Type Crash?

What Is A HANS-Type Crash?
Atlanta, Ga. (Feb. 22, 2012) – The 2012 racing season is already having a major impact – the kind where cars are crumpled in accidents and drivers thankfully walk away. "We’re already seeing HANS-type crashes," said Jim Downing, president of HANS Performance Products.
What is a HANS-type crash? Two recent examples are Jeff Gordon’s Chevy barrel-rolling down the track at Daytona after hitting the wall during the Budweiser Shootout and Mike Austin’s Top Alcohol Dragster sailing over the wall in the NHRA’s Winternationals before suffering multiple impacts. Each driver was thankful to be wearing a HANS Device.
"Any crash where a car suffers an impact – or a series of impacts – is a HANS-type accident," said Downing. "The most often overlooked aspect of the HANS Device is its ability to keep on working in a crash with multiple impacts from different directions. It’s not just about hitting the wall head-on."
Downing is quick to point out that the HANS Device works as part of a safety system required by sanctioning bodies like NASCAR and the NHRA. "In these type of incidents, a driver needs to have a good seat, a good harness and proper head surrounds in addition to a head and neck restraint," said Downing, a five-time IMSA champion and former class winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Four-time Sprint Cup champion Gordon is thankful for the changes in NASCAR safety since Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed in a crash on the last lap at the Daytona 500 in 2001. Gordon said walking away from his recent accident "is a true testament to the safer barrier and the HANS Device and the structure of the cars and the seatbelts that we’re running."
Drag racer Austin said he installed every piece of safety equipment available in the cockpit of his Top Alcohol Dragster, which was destroyed after it hit a concrete retaining barrier. That included a high quality seat, a head surround and the HANS Device. "There was a lot of different impacts and a lot of different angles," said Austin, who was bruised and battered but suffered no injuries. "I’m still here with no sore neck. I’m fortunate to walk away."
Michael McDowell, a driver who will walk to his car in Thursday’s Gatorade Duels to attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500, is the classic example of a driver able to walk away from multiple impacts. In 2008, McDowell’s Toyota hit the wall at Texas Motor Speedway in qualifying and then suffered another major impact before it flipped and rolled several times. McDowell’s only injury? Some bruises to his forehead that indicated the HANS Device had done its job.
"We get testimonials each week from competitors in all types of vehicles all over the world in many different types of accidents with a lot of different angles," said Downing. "That explains why the HANS Device is relied on by over 130,000 racers around the world."
Contact: Gary Milgrom Vice President, HANS Performance ProductsTel: 1-888-HANS-999 or 770-457-1046

NASA Completes First Test for Space-Age HANS

NASA Completes First Test for Space-Age HANS
Atlanta, Ga. (Dec. 21, 2010) – What do HANS Device inventor Dr. Robert Hubbard, NASA and NASCAR have in common? All three are collaborating in an effort to improve crash restraints for astronauts.
The first series of crash sled tests was recently undertaken at Wright Patterson Air Force Base using a dummy fitted with a prototype restraint for use during NASA launches and landings. Dustin Gohmert of the Crew and Thermal Systems Division of NASA directed the tests.
The new head restraint resulted from a collaboration first undertaken in 2008 at the Texas Motor Speedway, where officials from NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Hubbard met with NASCAR officials to discuss the use of the sanctioning body’s data base for assessing crash injury dynamics. NASCAR subsequently provided data taken from recorders in race vehicles, which facilitates the development of injury criteria for astronauts by using computer modeling in conjunction with the real world experience from NASCAR competition.
The prototype HANS-type head restraint for astronauts is comprised of a round collar and yoke made from carbon fiber. The helmet and neck ring of the space suit fit to the round collar and yoke, a single unit to be held in place by an astronaut’s shoulder belts.
The testing was the first of more to follow. “The issue is to understand crew safety well enough to optimize crash injury reduction with the many, many other considerations such as weight and the unique environment of space and other threats to crew safety like emergency egress,” said Hubbard, who has been a consultant to NASA since 2007.
The new prototype was built by Jerry “Rabbitt” Lambert of Downing/Atlanta Composites. Lambert has worked as a fabricator for the race team of Jim Downing since 1986. He has participated in four IMSA championships by Downing’s team and the LMP2 class victory at the Le Mans 24-hour scored by Downing’s Kudzu-Mazda. Lambert has been instrumental in the development of the HANS Device, first introduced to the market in 1990 by HANS Performance Products.

Counterfeit HANS Pro Series Anchors

Received from the Hans folks - FYI...

August 18, 2009
To: All Authorized HANS Device Dealers
Subject: Counterfeit HANS Device Pro Series Post Anchors

All authorized HANS Device dealers need to be aware we have discovered counterfeit Pro Series post anchors on a helmet purchased direct from Impact Racing Products. Preliminary investigations suggest that counterfeit parts may have been supplied with other helmets provided by Impact. We are seeking to find out the source of the counterfeit anchors and to establish how widely they may have been distributed. It is possible that counterfeits may have been installed on other helmets, either factory-fitted by a helmet manufacturer or by racers installing replacement parts during equipment changes. To ensure all racers have confidence in their safety equipment, HANS is implementing a program to replace any counterfeit post anchors free of charge. We will replace any set of Pro Series post anchors that we suspect of being counterfeit at no charge to the racer. The replaced post anchors in question will have to be returned to HANS for inspection. HANS will cover mailing costs in both directions. We are taking this action and notifying you because we have serious concerns as to their safety and functionality. At this time, there is no indication that the Sport Series post anchors with the black plastic base or earlier post anchor designs with the round head have been counterfeited. If racers want to check their Pro Series post anchors, one quick test is to touch a magnet to the post. The posts used in all our designs since July 2005 are magnetic. The posts on the counterfeits we have seen are not magnetic. Our earlier designs used a non-magnetic material for the post, so a non-magnetic post is not necessarily a counterfeit, but it is a reason why a racer should contact us for more information.We have a special website link, www.hansdevice.com/anchor-replacement, set up for racers to go to determine if there is cause to suspect the anchors installed on their helmet. The racer will be required to answer a few questions to determine if they should suspect the post anchors they are using. They will also be required to supply us with information such as brand and model of helmet, from where and when they purchased the anchors/helmet with anchors. We will also need the serial number of the device they use. The suspect anchors will be required to be returned to HANS for further inspection. If your customers have any questions, please direct them to the website link above or direct to HANS at (888) HANS-999 (426-7999) or (770) 457-1046. If you have any questions, please contact us immediately. Thanks.Howard BennettDirector of Sales and Technical Services

LOEB DECLARES HANS DEVICE SUPPORT – WRECKS SOLIDIFY TESTIMONIAL

LOEB DECLARES HANS DEVICE SUPPORT – WRECKS SOLIDIFY TESTIMONIAL Atlanta, Georgia (April 22, 2009) – World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb says the HANS Device has been the most significant safety feature introduced in WRC during the past 10 years. Speaking recently, Loeb stated that out of all the safety improvements that have been made in WRC, the HANS Device was his favorite innovation. “The most important safety improvement to me is HANS.” He added, “Nowadays I don’t think about wearing it but if I drive without it I feel strange – I feel loose.”FIA WRC racer, Bernardo Sousa, validated the truth of Loeb’s position when he walked away from a 75 mph (120 kph) crash that destroyed his FIAT Abarth Grande Punto during April’s Rally Portugal.Vojtecha Stajf also paid testament to the safety a HANS Device can provide when he survived a 90+mph (150 kph) crash that shredded his Subaru Impreza WRX STi during this month’s European Rally Cups Race in the Czech Republic. Stajf said that his HANS Device and the rigidity of the roll cage saved him from serious or fatal injury. Video Footage of both wrecks is available via http://www.youtube.com/user/HansDevice. The HANS Device is the best selling head and neck restraint as proven by more than 75,000 racers worldwide and continues to be #1 for performance, #1 for vision and #1 for winners.

HANS CONGRATULATES JIM DOWNING ON BOB AKIN AWARD

HANS CONGRATULATES JIM DOWNING ON BOB AKIN AWARD
Atlanta, Georgia (February 5th, 2009) – Jim Downing, a driving force behind the HANS Device, has been honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club with the 2008 Bob Akin Award. The Bob Akin Award is given to those who have an exceptional history of success in motor sport. Jim Downing is a five time IMSA champion. He is known to most racers as a developer of the HANS Device. “When you talk about contributions to the sport, Jim is a guy who played a major role,” said Archie Urciuoli as he presented the award. “Jim, thank you for your great contributions.” The company that Jim Downing helped create is certainly behind Jim’s efforts. “HANS Performance Products congratulates Jim on his award,” said CEO Mark Stiles. “After all that he’s accomplished, it never ceases to amaze us that he still continues to be acknowledged for his dedication to motor sport. The racing safety industry continues to benefit from his experience and owes Jim a huge debt.”

The HANS Device is worn by more than 75,000 racers worldwide and continues to be the #1 choice for performance, #1 for vision and #1 for winners.

Details and information about HANS Performance Products are available at www.hansdevice.com or by calling 1-888-HANS-999 or 770-457-1046.HANS, the Safetyform shape and their derivative styles are trademarks of HANS Performance Products

HANS SLIDING TETHER GAINS MORE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

Atlanta, Georgia (January 22, 2009) - Australian, German, French and Mexican patent offices have formally registered HANS Performance Products' sliding tether design. Known as Vision Advantage PLUS™, the system gives HANS Device users an unrivalled range of unlimited vision. Registration formally recognizes the uniqueness of the design.CEO Mark Stiles said, "We knew the Vision Advantage PLUS sliding tether system was special. It is very gratifying that more and more patent offices around the world are validating our design. "The Vision Advantage PLUS sliding tether system permits improvements in left and right visibility by allowing easy but controlled rotation of a racer's helmet. The result is over four times the field of view versus competing head and neck restraints. Since being introduced over a year ago, more and more HANS Devices have been specified with Vision Advantage PLUS. Circle track and drag racers alike have recognized that they can get class leading head and neck restraint performance without compromising on lateral vision. Mark Stiles added, "Bracket racers in particular like the results they get from the combination of proven HANS Device performance and unrestricted side-to-side vision. It helps them win." The HANS Device is worn by more than 75,000 racers worldwide and continues to be the #1 choice for performance, #1 for vision and #1 for winners.

HANS devices can be sourced through Apex Performance.net, Premier Racing Outfitters. http://www.apexperformance.net/cartgenie/subcategory.asp?category=29