Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices - UPDATED!

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (WIDEMR)

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 22:01:23 GMT

Good little video /documentary on a bit of the history http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wt3b34BDR8

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (-Totenkopf-)

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 20:01:14 GMT

necksgen, hybrid (think simpson make them) are a couple of alternatives.

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (mister2)

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 14:10:54 GMT

Here's one alternative that's a little cheaper.

http://necksgen.com/necksgenproducts.html

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (Domma_aw11)

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 13:33:58 GMT

Ah thats good news :) hopfuly lakeside will follow suite.. but would also be interested to know what the other devices are other than the HANS...

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (Knightrous)

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 21:21:04 GMT

Crysis adverted, Queensland Raceways have confirmed this is only for Racing events.

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (dennis the menace)

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 15:46:26 GMT

I don't think it's a knee-jerk reaction to the recent fatalities, more the result of long term vision and planning on the part of the Motorsport organisers. It is more than likely that in the very near future Octagon tarmac rallies will move to compulsory HANS-type devices, and also wrap around seats. As Walter said, it's about risk management.

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (tralfaz)

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 14:53:05 GMT

I agree with Dennis and Dom (who is Dom by the way? bit of a stranger around these parts)" />.

It seems to me that if you are seriously into real competition then you have sold your children to pay for all the proper safety gear and had it fitted, you have done the relevant training or been mentored by someone who knows what they are doing, the car has been scrutineered, plus the events you go in are properly organised and there is medical support readily available.

Conversely you have suddenly realised how much real competition costs after burning through a couple of credit cards and having a car (or cars) that you never get the pleasure of driving because they are always in bits, and then decided that maybe being poor and on foot for the rest of your life isn't worth it." />

Making these sorts of decisions can loosely fit under the overall subject of risk management which is not a complicated process, and I hope the various organisations involved in the "HANS" decision have conducted a full and thorough risk assessment, and this is not just a knee-jerk reaction to some recent fatal events.

Safety in motor sport competitions is not something you should pick and choose with, although, as a survivability analogy, when you see people riding motorbikes anywhere with a $400.00 helmet, but wearing shorts, singlet and thongs, you have to wonder if they have really thought about what might happen to them if they did come off.

The same goes for cars doing track work, just having a fire extinguisher and wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants plus a helmet, and then in situations as described by Knightrous getting out amongst 40 or so other cars with drivers who have similar competitive intentions seem to me about as useful in helping you to survive a crash as a pocket in a singlet.

As Dennis and Dom-who " /> have said its horses for courses, and just wearing a HANS-type device won't help if the other risk treatments like car crashworthiness, driver training, proper safety briefings, and event supervision are also not in place.

My challenge to anyone is how much do they really think about safety before going on track for any reason? Its not just about wearing a HANS device.

Walter

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (Domma_aw11)

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 20:06:50 GMT

The best way to know for sure, is to ring up and they can tell you, what you can and cant have so you can buy somthing else and not get turned away, aswell as you may inturpret the rules different from them??

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (dennis the menace)

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 11:01:42 GMT

My take on the wording is that they are using HANS device as a generic term. My DefNder has never been queried at the events I've run in - and this includes a full-on scrutineering session for Rally Australia where others were being pinged for labels not being fully sewn on their socks!

I would expect that any device that has FIA homologation would be a "suitable neck restraint".

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (Knightrous)

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:05:17 GMT

dennis the menace
The press release from Queensland Raceways states in part that :
". . . HANS devices or other suitable neck restraints will be compulsory . . . " (the highlighting is mine)
The full announcement can be read here - http://www.qldraceways.com.au/files/HANS%20Device%20Announcement.pdf

I'm keen to get some clarification on this too, because in the paragraph before it, they outlined:

In an unprecedented move in Australian Motorsport, Queensland Raceways has today announced that all drivers competing in any race events at Queensland Raceway or Lakeside Park in 2014 will be required to wear a HANS Device, in the latest move to further improve the excellent safety record between the two venues.

I'd hate to buy another form of protection gear and get turned down at the first track day over a technicality of wording and paper work.

Fredhoon: I believe you are correct on the non-race events* not requiring it, events like DownShift Circuit & Coffee and Stokell training days would be free. However, any timed track day is essentially a race event, as places and general competition is generated. You have multiple cars on track (some times door to door), people pushing their cars to the limit and all the inherit dangers of full racing are there. I'm going to make a phone call to Queensland Raceways shortly to see if I can get some clarification on this :)

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (fredhoon)

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 01:28:50 GMT

The details in the article above are a little light, however I assume it means that non-race events (those which do not require a CAMS licence to attend) and practice days will be exempt from the HANS device requirements. Would this imply public non-competitive events held by the likes of Downshift, Track Attack and Stokell Motorsport would not require a HANS device?

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (dennis the menace)

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:33:25 GMT

The press release from Queensland Raceways states in part that :

". . . HANS devices or other suitable neck restraints will be compulsory . . . " (the highlighting is mine)

The full announcement can be read here - http://www.qldraceways.com.au/files/HANS%20Device%20Announcement.pdf

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (tralfaz)

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:25:17 GMT

Knightrous, is it the use of a HANS device that has been made mandatory, or is it a requirement for a certified head and neck restraint?

There are a number of different types of devices that do the same things as a HANS, so it seems restrictive to make one particular approach to the problem of these injuries the mandated solution. The analogy here is helmets, the type and brand of helmets is not specified, but be they open face, closed face, lift up, etc. they all have to meet the ASO/ISO rating standard to be accepted for use.

The WIKIPEDIA article referenced states that: "Starting in July 2007, many sanctioning bodies have approved any head-and-neck restraint which passes the SFI Foundation Specification 38.1 standard. They are the HANS, Moto-R Sport, R3, Hutch-II, Hutchens Hybrid, or Hybrid X." I know that the latter are American requirements but where did the information come from about the HANS at LR and QR?

As Dennis said we should all be for safety in these cars and I would certainly support anything that reduced the risk of injury. It's just handy to know exactly what will be required, and under what conditions.

Walter

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (WIDEMR)

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 20:30:24 GMT

For all 'Race Events'

I think its great, altho obviously they will only work with properly installed harnesses (correct angle ect)

I have one and think its a good of them, im realy passionate about Motorsport safety.

Do a youtube search on HANS, there lots of good videos.

Also http://aimss.com.au/you-really-do-need-hans-full-story/

Re: Motorsport QLD - Mandatory HANS Devices (dennis the menace)

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 17:10:33 GMT

And by way of an example . . .

http://youtu.be/Uxueb0hGKC8

trimmed from a longer clip, posted some time ago.