Using Sparco Sprint V and Hans anyone?

[forcedfive]

Hi,
Is anyone using the sparco sprint V with a HANS device? I am looking at a seat that will fit in the MX5 but have been told that the design of some seats are not great when using a HANS as they are a but upright and can be a little restrictive for room.

Any feedback would be appreciated and also any advice on other seats that HANS users have fitted to their MX5. I am 5'9" but pretty broad across the back.

Cheers.

[plohl]

I have. The hann itself takes a little getting used to. I found it was harder using 3" shoulder straps, I got a new harness with 2" hans specific shoulder straps and found that much more comfortable.

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[david_syd_au]

I have a Sprint V in my car and used a Hans (20deg, medium size) for the first time at the MRA meeting at Wakefield on 29/6.

However, the seat is mounted on Sparco rails which are bolted onto the front seat mounts but the rear seat mounts have been removed and the rear of the rails are attached directly to the floor. This was to improve headroom (I am 6'2") but will probably also give the seat slightly more recline than using a Sprint V on the standard MX-5 rails. I was also worried about having my head pushed too far forward, but it turned out to be fine.

My harness has 3" straps and I found that they had to be carefully positioned on the Hans, but once that was done and the straps were tightened, it felt fine.

I suggest you borrow a Hans from someone and try it on in your car with your helmet, although you need to be careful of first impressions as mine was awkward when I first sat in the car, but once I was on the track I totally forgot about it, and by the end of the day it was comfortable.

[forcedfive]

Hi David,

Thanks for the feedback. Very useful. I used my Hans for the first time last Friday and it is the same specs as yours and I also have a 3" harness. I an currently used it as a 4 point with the standard NB8A seat and found the HANS fine with no discomfort or seat clearance issues once I strapped myself in.

I am looking at some seats and will take my helmet and HANS but obviously the seat is unlikely to be on the same angle as it will be bolted into the car so thanks for the heads up. Maybe I can get my mounting to also recline the seat a little if I fit in the seat OK.

Cheers

[Magpie]

I have a 20deg, medium size HANS with Sparo Spint % attached to stock seat rails. I have to agree with the previous posts regarding using a 3" harness. It does take a bit of time getting to ingress/egress as well as unclipping the HANS, just do some practice at home

Plan is to swap out the harness to one with 2" shoulder straps as I never plan to use the car on the track without the HANS.

[greenMachine]

I have used the Sprint V and a HANS for a year or so with a 3in harness. Takes a bit of getting used to and the harness is a bit fiddling to use but I don't think that I will be changing any time soon.

[forcedfive]

Thanks Guys. Really helpful. So there does not seem to be issues with the shape of the sprint seat and the position the HANS sits in which is good. I had been told some seats can push you forward a little into an uncomfortable position when using the HANS.

While I can see that the 2 inch Hans specific harness would be easier and better suited to the HANS I did not have much trouble with the 3 inch if I used the rear view mirror to see what I was doing. I got the 3 inch in case I get the chance to so some motorkhana etc where I would prefer not to wear the HANS and the 3 inch will be more comfortable.

Thank for the feedback. Appreciated.

Cheers

[davekmoore]

Harness without HANS can kill you even at low speeds. Better off with standard belt so your upper body and especially neck can give. My Sprint is on standard rails and I've added a seatbelt receiver for trips to the servo.

3" shoulder harness is too wide and tries to fall off the side of my HANS device. The manufacturers won't sell me just the 2" shoulder harnesses which would solve the issue. Grrr!

Sprint V with 6 point harness and HANS otherwise ok as long as you always remember to fasten everything!

[sailaholic]

Harness without HANS can kill you even at low speeds. Better off with standard belt so your upper body and especially neck can give.

I think this is being overdone. Yes you can die due to head injuries with a harness but they ran harness and no HANS for a BLOODY long time with out the harness jumping up and snapping people's head off.


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[mazmad]

Google it and look at the vids with / without Hans.

[mazmad]

This is the one that blows me away with the effectivness of the safety gear. Obviously it is the combination of gear being used. But the Hans is one of these.

[davekmoore]

Harness without HANS can kill you even at low speeds. Better off with standard belt so your upper body and especially neck can give.

I think this is being overdone. Yes you can die due to head injuries with a harness but they ran harness and no HANS for a BLOODY long time with out the harness jumping up and snapping people's head off.

HANS device is designed to stop over-rotation of the head thus avoiding a broken neck, not to stop your harness attacking your head (although it might help avoid that).

[frog_a_lot]

Harness without HANS can kill you even at low speeds. Better off with standard belt so your upper body and especially neck can give.

I think this is being overdone. Yes you can die due to head injuries with a harness but they ran harness and no HANS for a BLOODY long time with out the harness jumping up and snapping people's head off.

HANS device is designed to stop over-rotation of the head thus avoiding a broken neck, not to stop your harness attacking your head (although it might help avoid that).

The point is more that they ran cars with harness and no HANS for decades and it wasn't like every person snapped their neck every time there was an incident. No doubt HANS is safer.. but I agree with the point that the HANS v Harness alone argument is a bit over done.

Harness without HANS can kill you even at low speeds

Can you point me towards any documented cases of a Harness causing deaths at low speeds?

[M1474]

Dave, are you saying that, without a HANS, a lap/sash is safer than a harness?

[Trackphotos]

Can you point me towards any documented cases of a Harness causing deaths at low speeds?

I dunno about documented, but I can tell you with certainty that the last fatality at Lakeside was specifically because of the driver using a full harness without a HANS device. His throttle jammed open heading into eastern loop. He jumped on the brakes, but unfortunately as soon as the track surface ends, there is a downhill bit into the tyre wall. He was too late on the brakes/clutch, the car left the track and went nosefirst into the tyres at approx 80kmh. The impact opened the back of his neck a couple of inches. The car was reasonably undamaged, the harness and seat did exactly what they should do. He was just missing the one thing that you absolutely should have if you have all the others. In a low speed impact, you would be better off with your entire body moving around in the cabin than just your head, along with the weight of a helmet.

A seat is always good. A harness can do more harm than good if you don't have head restraints. Sure, cars have been fitted with harnesses without head restraints for a long time, but they've also been improving. They absorb more energy without stretching as much, and without breaking. Harnesses improve by limiting movement even further, which moves the 'weak point' in the safety chain to where ever there's no restraint.

Dave, are you saying that, without a HANS, a lap/sash is safer than a harness?

I would agree with that. You increase body movement in high speed crashes using a 3 point belt, but you massively decrease the amount of energy localised to your neck in all crashes. It's diffused across your entire body because everything can move freely.