Head and neck restraints

[eastcoastbumps]

I injured my neck during a crash at Mosport. Next event I had a HANS and a seat that protected my head in a side impact (Recaro SPG Pro Racer). I know many people are familiar with the HANS device, but I just wanted some of you to know that you have other options.

I read about the Issac when I was shopping for the HANS. Its about the same price ($725 for the Issac vs. $695 for the HANS) and works in a similar way. Issac has introduced a new less expensive version, called the Issac Link. Its much more affordable at $295. At this price, cost should no longer be an excuse not to own one.

Just the other day I came across a third device, the Leatt-Brace Moto-R ($695). The Leatt Brace does not require harnesses to work. This is ideal for instructors who have students in a street car without harnesses.

http://www.isaacdirect.com/


http://www.leatt-brace.com/


http://hansdevice.com/site/index.html

[StephanAlfa]

Pete:
So which is the "link" one?
The notion of drilling screws into a helmet scares me: Produting pieces of metal, drilling that could weaken the helmet... what are your thoughts on that? Why don't they use the helmets side inserts? refer to the picture below, the shinny portion by the bottom of the blue line:

[eastcoastbumps]

Pete:
So which is the "link" one?
The notion of drilling screws into a helmet scares me: Produting pieces of metal, drilling that could weaken the helmet... what are your thoughts on that? Why don't they use the helmets side inserts? refer to the picture below, the shinny portion by the bottom of the blue line:

Sorry Stephan, the first picture is the regular Issac. This is the Issac Link:



Some helmets are now coming HANS ready. No drilling required. I know thats how all new Arai helmets are. Is it possible that thats what those are there for on your helmet?

The notion of drilling into a helmet is a bit unnerving. When I purchased (or I should say 'we', since Paddy and I share one) the HANS you didn't have a choice. Thats how it installed. No other way around it. To me, having the HANS with bolts through the helmet was safer than no HANS at all. But the bolts are very shallow and have a base that is very wide. They're also under the foam padding and are retained on the outside shell with large washers. Its not something that I worry about.

The Issac now comes with an aerospace polymer to attach to the helmet as well as traditional nuts and bolts.

[Dave_G]

Thanks for posting this info, Pete. I hadn't heard of the Isaac Link before, and after spending some time searching around on the web, it is looking like a very good product. I will most likely be sporting one of those next season.

As much as I would like to say that the question "how much is your head worth?" should lead me to spend an infinite amount of $$ on a restraint, the reality of it is that price DOES make a difference. I think the much lower price of this unit will actually lead me (and others, I'm sure), to actually start wearing one.

[91rs13]

I guess there is another new one on the market too.

The Defender.
http://www.defnder.com/index.htm


Does anyone have any experience or comment on the G Force SRS-1
http://www.saferacer.com/g-force-srs-1- ... ductid=984

I have a G force helmet with mounts made to use it. I was planning on buying something this winter ( helmet is an SA2000 but only a year old) and am torn between the HANS and saving some cash (business is slow)

[Dave_G]

Does anyone have any experience or comment on the G Force SRS-1
http://www.saferacer.com/g-force-srs-1- ... ductid=984

No personal experience, but just what I've found through research on the web. Take a look at the test results on the Isaac web site. Of course, Isaac wants to sell their own products, but the test was done by an independent lab at Wayne State University. The results there show the G-Force as coming up far short of the HANS and Isaac devices.

There's another more detailed compilation of test results here: http://www.am-rennsport.com/HNR.html. Those show the DefNder as being even a little better than the HANS and Isaac. Just looking at it, though, it looks expensive.

The big drawback of the Isaac is that it does not meet the SFI 38.1 spec, because to release it in an emergency you need to pull two pins in addition to releasing the harness. Personally, that means little to me, as long as it protects my neck in an impact, which by all accounts it does extremely well, and in side impacts even better than a HANS.

[WillM]

Hey Pete,

Sorry to hear about your injury, hope all is well. I had no idea that happened, was it this year?

Thanks for posting the info, especially the mention of the seat with side-impact provisions. This is a key safety feature and often overlooked. My seat doesn't have side helmet supports so I run a right-side net. I got the Safety Solutions C5R kevlar right-side net from the guys at Driver Supply.

[ChrisS]

There's another more detailed compilation of test results here: http://www.am-rennsport.com/HNR.html. Those show the DefNder as being even a little better than the HANS and Isaac. Just looking at it, though, it looks expensive.

The MSRP on the Defnder is going to be $549 so it is competitively priced with the Hans Sport and Rage R3.

[Mario Fallas]

I guess there is another new one on the market too.

The Defender.
http://www.defnder.com/index.htm


Does anyone have any experience or comment on the G Force SRS-1
http://www.saferacer.com/g-force-srs-1- ... ductid=984

I have a G force helmet with mounts made to use it. I was planning on buying something this winter ( helmet is an SA2000 but only a year old) and am torn between the HANS and saving some cash (business is slow)

i've used the SRS-1 for over 3-4 years now, i also hit the tire wall head on at LRP at about 40-50 mph while wearing it , it worked as it was supposed to, i'll keep using it till my helmet becomes outdated, after that i'll probably buy a Hans to go with my new helmet
M

[mossaidis]

Does anyone have any experience or comment on the G Force SRS-1
http://www.saferacer.com/g-force-srs-1- ... ductid=984

Does anyone know if the SRS-1 meets SFI 38.1 certification?

Edit: Nope...

[ChrisS]

No it is not and from what I've read it won't be. If you look at the design and think about the reaction forces the back of the helmet gets pulled down and tilts the head back exposing the chin. Better than nothing but seems deficient to the SFI spec.

[Dave_G]

Better than nothing but seems deficient to the SFI spec.

I'm not familiar with the G-Force device, although the data I've seen show it to be not as effective as the HANS, Isaac, or DefNder products. (For example, see http://www.isaacdirect.com/html/chart.html at the Isacc web site.)

However, that's different than saying it's deficient because it's not SFI certified. The Isaac device is not SFI certified either, but by every test that I've seen it is one of the most effective devices available, and superior to the HANS in lateral impacts. However, because the emergency release mechanism requires pulling two pins, it does not meet the SFI spec, regardless of its effectiveness in a crash. You can read more info on this on the (understandably biased) Isaac site: http://www.isaacdirect.com/SFI.html.

I will most likely be wearing an Isaac Link next season. Fortunately I don't run with a group that requires SFI certified restraints.

[eastcoastbumps]

Hey Pete,

Sorry to hear about your injury, hope all is well. I had no idea that happened, was it this year?

Thanks for posting the info, especially the mention of the seat with side-impact provisions. This is a key safety feature and often overlooked. My seat doesn't have side helmet supports so I run a right-side net. I got the Safety Solutions C5R kevlar right-side net from the guys at Driver Supply.

No, it was Mosport 1 in '06. It bothered me for a few days, but it wasn't anything serious. There was more emotional and financial pain and suffering than anything else. Next event I did I was in the RX7 at Tremblant. I had trouble keeping up with Miata's and ran a blistering 2:10 in time trials.

[CP]

Thanks for posting the info, especially the mention of the seat with side-impact provisions. This is a key safety feature and often overlooked. My seat doesn't have side helmet supports so I run a right-side net. I got the Safety Solutions C5R kevlar right-side net from the guys at Driver Supply.

I've got the same net on the right as well as a halo built into my Ultra Shield aluminum seat. I never knew how much the halo reduced neck stress until I took several rides with you guys later in the season as a passenger. My neck would get tired after half a session riding as a passenger without a halo to lean my helmet on. I think a halo would be a great asset for endurance racing, and even for short sessions. I attended several open track events at the Glen last season and never had any neck fatigue issues to contend with. Halo FTW.

[91rs13]

Isaac has come up with an even less expensive version of the Isaac Link system.

No drilling or glue needed.
Check this page for crash data ( post 312)
and some photos. (post 324)

http://www.roadraceautox.com/showthread ... 133&page=7

$99 OR buy the HANS posts and straps and add another $100 or so.