Simpson FIA Hybrid Head And Neck Restraint

Most of my time in cars is instructing at HPDEs. Other instructors use them. I'm planning on picking up one soon, along with a new helmet. Will be selling my HANS Sport II to offset costs. Very versatile. Also, random information, Simpson acquired Stilo back in December.

If you don't have a dealer in the area, I'll suggest: Bob at www.teamdi.com and the folks over at Winding Road Racing www.windingroadracing.com

BTW, I'm flying to your neck of the woods tomorrow and driving back a car with a friend. Anything going on in the Tampa/Central Florida area that I should know about besides the cold air?

 

I go back 2 decades using HNR. My research was the reason for HNR is to prevent fatal basilar skull fracture. That is a very real threat in the racecar environment and more as driver containment increased. BSF is rare in the oem 3pt safety system because of the dynamics of how it works. R3 was the 1st HNR to champion the idea of anti-BSF with 3pt belts. I think it is more marketing than anything else. In 2016 the HANS still has the most data to prove reliable function with black box recordings of professional crashes at over 100g's. HANS is the 800lb gorilla while everyone else trys for market share. There is no compelling reason to use any other HNR in the properly designed racecar safety system.

 

3 point seatbelts is the issue, which is not going to work for a HANS.

 

No basilar skull fracture with 3pt belts. So wearing a simpson hybrid with 3pts is like carrying a flashlight outside in a bright sunny day. If your research finds that BSF is a concern with 3pt belts please point us to those papers so I don't spout false stuff. Thanks!

 

FBB, With speeds getting up there in over the shelf/non-build race cars, it seems the data would be lacking at this point. I'm not arguing one way or another, but Paul wishes to have that piece of mind in safety gear. With airbags and a 3 point, I don't doubt your claim.

As someone with a major closed head injury in their past, I'd take that flashlight just for the extra assurance, even if that is .000001% better than without.

 

That is the problem if there is no data. Sometimes doing something that sounds like a good idea has unintended consequences. For example what if the hard shouldered simpson does not deform and trap the belt like the shoulder/clavicle/neck interface and instead encourages dumping of the shoulder belt? We just don't know when we have no data. Who has crash tested a HNR with 3pts? Certainly there is no black box data with real people. Under your situation of a stock car I would consider a 4pt ASM (that acts like a 3pt do the research) which is HANS compatible. But again if the 4pt ASM acts like 3pts BSF it is not an issue.

There is nothing more difficult to design than a dual use trackcar. This is a primary reason that so many track organizers allow modern stock OEM safety systems for HPDE. We know what we get with stock OEM and we know what we get with true race safety systems. The in between is very gray and possibly more dangerous than first glance would suggest. This game is chess not checkers.

 

I'm on this road too of getting a Hybrid for hpde's.

Check out Pegasus for info as well........

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/2015/016.pdf

 

I have one FS if anyone is interested send me a PM. Thanks

I purchased it to use in the 16M when I used to track it. The device is comfortable and easy to use with a 3 point system. I only used mine several times.

The reason I don't use it anymore? Because I don't track that car anymore. I realized that the speeds seen in that car are just not the smartest thing in a street car. I moved into a proper race car with cage, harness, fire suppression, and nets.

 

a few thoughts to add...

I'm a 15 year+ HANS user, and a HALO seat user for about 5 years. Really won't go hard on a track without all that (plus seat, cage, et al).

HANS has a lot of data to support that it works, plus there it fits within a "system" that has no evolved, including harnesses, seats, cage/harness bar location, etc. A HANS is great, but it's part of a co-developed overall system (or, it's evolved that way, which is good).

With a HANS, the "design requirement" for lateral restraint has been sort of increasingly replaced by the use of HALO seats, or of head surround padding in prototypes and formula cars.

The HANS literally works by fixing itself to the car....via your belts.

The Hybrids work by being fixed to your body. I have not seen much data on their design/testing/use, but maybe it's out there. Your body is obviously not as rigid, fixed, et al as the car is. I've seen people using these systems wearing them loosely, and I could easily displace the tethers by pulling. Fitment and proper adjustment is key to any protection. They do offer some lateral support/restraint, but again, it's anchored to your body (and human bodies can contort in an impact).

However, I'd speculate that wearing a hybrid, vs. wearing nothing, in a street car is probably worth considering.

 

Hans vs No Hans - Rennlist Discussion Forums

Interesting discussion here. I stopped riding a long time ago, and drive with some significant margin in any car not equipped with full gear, per Entropy's list.

 

Sorry for the poor pic quality of the catalog when I Visited Pegasus Racing. Got some good info as well as got sized for a hybrid. Didn't purchase it yet but I'm leaning towards this.
I know most of you guys don't ride shotgun anymore and/or in fully prepared cars, but I do ride in he passenger seat of street cars on track
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