Formula Race Car Club of America

I have a friend who will be doing some DE's in his street car this year.

Looking for recomendations on non-HANS. Prefer to hear from people who wear non-HANS and why they like"em and chose the one they have.

Thanks,

6

I tried on  a Defender and compared it to my HANS as my HANS was interfering with my ability to see gauges and I had issues with belt slippage. 

Likes:

• Belts less likely to slip off on the defender in a non head on incident
• Adjustable angle-wise for use in multiple cars (20-40 degree)
• One Size fits all
• Quick release & sliding tethers at no extra charge (I Did not see this, it was a coming soon feature, that I thought I'd find very appealing)
• Damaged/worn components can be changed/replaced 
• Cheaper then Downings lowest  cost offering at the time
• Supposedly works well with both 3" and 2" belts, where HANS defiantly is better suited to 2" wide belts
• 30 Day Return policy

Dislikes:

• Seemed heavier then my HANS (I did not put them on the scale)
• A little more bulky and complex than HANS
• Obnoxious green color (Although that may of changed)

If I had to do it over again, I would get the Defender, but only after doing some research to verify that they are accepted and approved by all race organizations where participation was possible. 

I would not want to buy a unit and have it deemed illegal later (Problem with the ISAACS H&N that I also considered.  I believe that option was in conflict with the single  release rule).

Assumptions:  Street car = street belts & regular car seats

If my assumption is correct (remember, never assume!), the R3 (http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection3.asp?Product=9570) may be the only viable option.  It is not dependent on other belts to hold it in place.  I've never used it and am a firm believer in the Hans but I have heard comments that the R3 is comfortable, even in true racing seats.  There is the "Hutchens", both old and new versions, but their approval changes like the wind with various sanctioning bodies - even NASCAR waffles on them.

If your friend has racing belts, then there are a few more options but the choices are still pretty limited.

Good luck,  John Bachmann

John has a great point, if you don't have airbags.

I am planning on offering our club members the Defender, it is one size fully adjustable.  You can run it in your Ford, hand it to your son and adjust it for him to run, then take it to the track day in your sportscar, the savings alone with one system offers you the difference of putting good belts in your street car, which should be a consideration if you feel your going to need head and neck protection.  Anyone who is looking for them let me know.

aerobach at March 18, 2011 at 5:45 PM

Assumptions:  Street car = street belts & regular car seats

If my assumption is correct (remember, never assume!), the R3 (http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection3.asp?Product=9570) may be the only viable option.  It is not dependent on other belts to hold it in place.  I've never used it and am a firm believer in the Hans but I have heard comments that the R3 is comfortable, even in true racing seats.  There is the "Hutchens", both old and new versions, but their approval changes like the wind with various sanctioning bodies - even NASCAR waffles on them.

If your friend has racing belts, then there are a few more options but the choices are still pretty limited.

Good luck,  John Bachmann

John, Correct.

I would never wear anything other thans HANS but his car only has street belts at this point.

I wish Honeycutt would reply, not sure what he wore before the HANS but he really liked it. Yes I have sent private message.

Greg used to wear the G-Force restraint system - I think John Heckman wears/wore it too - but it's still dependent on using 2 shoulder restraints to encapsulate the rod that holds your head back as it trys to move forward in an impact.

The R3 and Hutchens are the only HNR's I'm aware of that work independent of a vehicle's restraint system(s).

x's & o's, jb