TECH TIPS
(25 January 2012)
A Head and Neck Support (HANS) is now mandated by most auto racing sanctioning bodies in the U.S. and Europe. These sanctioning bodies include: NASCAR, F-1, ALMS, WRC, GP2, IRL, Grand-Am, SCCA and many others.
The HANS is a safety device which will protect the neck and head of a driver in an impact. It has been used for years in racing both in the U.S. and Europe. Because it has proven to save lives it has become mandatory in most racing sanctioning bodies. In order to use a HANS, the driver needs a helmet which has been fitted with HANS attachment posts so the HANS tethers can be attached to the helmet. Most helmet manufacturers have had their helmets certified for use with a HANS device. However, make sure you have your HANS posts installed in your helmet by a HANS Factory Trained Distributor. Northstar Motorsports is not only the largest distributor of HANS devices in the central U.S., but we have been Factory Trained in the proper installation of HANS posts to all types of helmets. If your HANS posts are installed by a Factory Trained Technician it will be done correctly so the SNELL certification of your helmet will remain valid. Many helmet manufacturers are now producing helmets with provisions made for the HANS post installation (i.e. either predrilled or fitted with threads for a HANS post at the time of manufacture). Other helmets can safely be retrofitted with HANS posts by Factory Trained Technicians. Don't be misled by those who indicate it is unsafe to retrofit HANS posts to a helmet which was not predrilled at the time of manufacture - this is simply not true provided the installation is done by a HANS Factory Trained Technician. It is also not true that it is necessary to remove the helmet liner to install HANS posts in a helmet. The helmet liner is NEVER removed in the installation of HANS posts by a Factory Trained Technician.
All current helmets (SA2005 and SA2010) are either predrilled by the manufacturer or their helmets have been pre-approved by the SNELL Foundation for use with a HANS device provided the HANS posts are installed by HANS Factory Trained Technicians. In either case, Northstar Motorsports is fully trained to make sure you purchase the correct HANS device for your application and to properly install your HANS posts in your helmet.
Please see the HANS device section on our website for selecting the proper model and size of HANS device for your specific application. The HANS Sport Series Device starts at $545. The HANS Sport II Series Device is $695 and the HANS Professional Series Device is $995. These prices include the HANS Devices, attachment posts, tethers and installation of posts to your helmet. The primary difference between these devices is the material they are made of and the weight. The Sport Series Device is constructed from Injected Molded Carbon Fiber and it weighs approximately 2 lbs. 8 oz. The Sport II Series is also constructed from Injected Molded Carbon fiber with a smaller collar and DuPont polymer for reduced weight. The Sport II weighs approximately 1 lb. 11 oz. The Professional Series is made from Hand Laid Carbon Fiber and weighs approximately 1 lb. 3 oz.
Recently, HANS has developed a "sliding tether" system, which virtually eliminates the blind spots that frequently occurred with the original "fixed tethers". At Northstar all of our HANS are ordered with this new and improved sliding tether system.
Hyperlinks
HANS
Sport Series HANS
Sport Series II HANS
Professional Series HANS
Tech Tips Archive
Driver Cooling and Hydration (30 Jan 2012)
HANS Devices and Proper Fitting of Helmet Anchors (25 Jan 2012)
New Helmets Required by Most Sanctioning Bodies (16 Aug 2010)
All Driver's Suits Are Not Created Equal (25 Jan 2012)
Toe in or Toe out (4 Apr 1998)
Understanding Tire Temperatures (11 Nov 1997)
Create your own unfair advantage, develop and use a Log Book! (26 Jun 2004)
Unauthorized reproduction prohibited by law.
