The HANS Device Carlene Whitlock

What Is It? Head and Neck Support Device Designed to reduce the chance of injury caused by unrestrained movement of the head during crashes Prevents the stretching of the vertebrae and prevents the driver’s head from hitting the steering wheel during a head on crash Consists of a semi- hard collar made of carbon fibre & Kevlar Held onto the upper body by a harness worn by the driver

Two flexible tethers on the collar are attached to the helmet to prevent the head from snapping forward or to the side during a wreck. The device weighs approximately 1.5 pounds

Invented by Jim Downing and his brother in-law, Dr Invented by Jim Downing and his brother in-law, Dr. Bob Hubbard almost 25 years ago. Jim Downing at his shop in Atlanta, with the original HANS device (1986).

Evolution Original HANS device’s collar was unsuited to single-seater series with narrow cockpits, like Formula One racing – fixed to better suit the needs of these drivers when safety issues were found. Original HANS was also made with straps that were not lenient or flexible, actually realized flexible tether straps were safer because they allow a bit of stretching room rather than having an abrupt pull on the helmet during a crash.

The device wasn’t completely successful right away, but for the past decade Downing has been better known as the principle driving force behind the HANS device. There was a time when the two men thought success was impossible. Within the first 10 years, Downing predicts he sold only 250 devices, which is the about the same number he sold in the week following Earnhardt’s death.

Crash test results showed the product worked well but Downing had a hard time convincing drivers to try it. Drivers resisted trying the new product or any similar devices, including Earnhardt Sr., as well as many other drivers, claiming them to be uncomfortable, more restrictive and fearing that it would cause more injuries and problems than it prevented. Some stated that the positioning of the device made the seat belts feel less secure or rubbed on the shoulders or collar bone. Earnhardt Sr. himself referred to the device as "that damn noose", claiming the tethers would sooner hang him than save him in the event of a crash

Since major leaps forward in racing safety are almost always a result of tragic circumstances, progression towards success for Downing and Hubbard was slow. However, when four NASCAR drivers were killed within an eight month span, including Earnhardt, suddenly everybody in the garage area was knocking down the doors to get one of Downing's devices. On the subject of these fatalities, Downing said, "When that string of deaths started in NASCAR with Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin, and then Tony Roper and then Earnhardt, we were ready with a device that would work, that was something the drivers were willing to try, so the push got going. I took orders for 250 in the first week after Earnhardt was killed. It was a very hectic start to a very hectic year."

For Downing, the HANS device is a never ending work in progress, he continuously checks quality control on the current model, as well as performing stress and load analysis on prototypes. This, along with the feedback from drivers is the key reason the HANS device continues to improve. The current configuration of the HANS device is a "one size fits most." However, some drivers -- because of their size, neck length and stature -- need a little extra tailoring. When the HANS first became popular, unique molds were made for certain star drivers. But Downing says that's no longer economically feasible.

Rules/ Regulations NASCAR permitted the use of the HANS device throughout the 1990’s as the device became better known However it was not required until 2005. More than 35 racing series now mandate the HANS device. The present HANS device used by race car drivers is the outcome of more than 100 different prototypes designed prior.

Dale Earnhardt Top driver for many years in NASCAR, seven time champion On February 18, 2001, Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed in the Daytona 500, the 4th death in NASCAR in an 8-month span due to basilar skull fractures. Although it is still debated whether his death was the result of a broken seat belt, or inadequate head and neck restraint, the fact remains that Earnhardt died of a Basilar skull fracture, which is prevented by the proper use of a head and neck restraint. This means that had Earnhardt been wearing a HANS device, it could have saved his life. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdf6m9_daytona-500-2001-dale-earnhardt-fat_auto