Co-inventor of the HANS Device, Dr. Robert Hubbard died yesterday. Anyone who'd been in a serious racing shunt should offer a silent nod and thanks to Dr. Hubbard and Jim Downing for their life saving innovation in motorsports. For anybody out there who hasn't worn a HANS, it really is pretty easy to adjust to once you get belted in. Over the past 15 years, I can't say I've given it much thought when racing.

I can still recall why I started using one of the original HANS, before it was mandated by SCCA, FIA, etc. Racing at Phoenix International Raceway back in the Winternational days, there was a fatality from a BMW driver who hit the outside wall outside the banked T4. The centrifugal force actually caused his helmet out through the window net and into the concrete wall. I was campaigning a Nissan GT5 car at the time, and could foresee hitting that wall if anything broke! Same thing could happen at Pocono, Daytona, Pikes Peak International or other high banked tracks around the country. but the reality is that basal skull fractures and spinal fractures can occur at any high speed venue. Although I never met Dr. Hubbard, I thank him for his contribution to motorsports safety.

 

Along with rollbars, multi-point restraints and of course, the helmet itself (and the ongoing improvements along with sanctioning body mandates), I'd give the HANS device a top-5 place in the relative safety of motorsports today (as compared to my days on track nearly 40 years ago). A true pioneer, he will be missed. Thanks for passing that along, David.

 

The Dr. will be saving lives long after his passing.