Ray S

This model has been out for a little while now and I'm considering purchasing one.

http://www.defnderneckbrace.com/index.html

I'm interested in hearing what people that have used one think about it.

- I assume since it is SFI 38.1 certified it is legal for PCA club racing?
- Will this work with Porsche GT3 seats?


Has anyone here tried it?

DanR

hey ray, there were a few poosts recently on this. Try a search as from memory circuit motorsport had some good feedback on it

Circuit Motorsports

I'll wait for others to chime in before I say anything but if you have any questions, want up close pictures give me a heads up and I'll post em up for you.

Ray S

I searched, but the most recent post seemed to be from March and not many people had tried it yet. I was posting to see if there were any new users or if I'd have any trouble using them with GT3 seats.

Ray S

Will they work fine with GT3 seats?

ltc

Difficult to say, since it depends a bit on driver size and corresponding harness geometries, along with harness terminations.
In this regard, the defender is no different than a HANS.

I'm afraid I sort of lost track of the current status of this device and its lawsuits.

GT3CAR

I have used it for four weekends now and I like it a lot. I recently repainted the green part of it to black and it looks very good. I used it in GT3 seats and it works fine.

Marc Shaw

I had one for a few days and sent it back to exchange for a HANS.

Problems:
1. release tabs on helmet are very hard to install
2. green pull tabs on helmet make your helmet look like crap
3. hard to adjust strap lengths
4. back of my helmet hit the neck support
5. pads dug in my shoulders
6. the lime green looks like crap
7. awkward to get harnesses over wings

That being said, I just installed it and sat in my car so I don't know how well it works at speed.

I am very happy with the M20 Sport HANS.

I also still have an Isaac mounted on a different helmet but I now prefer the HANS to that too.

YMMV - Marc

Circuit Motorsports

With the exception of one person with a short neck and large chin area on a helmet I have had no fit issues for someone in a seat like the GT3 seats.

rlm328

I have had mine now for a couple of months. Once you get the straps adjusted it is fairly easy to put on. It is basically a modified HANS and if your seat is HANS friendly it should also be Defnder friendly.

gbaker

The suit was dropped.

Ray S

Were the suits brought over patent issues, or product problems?

gbaker

Hubbard Downing sued for patent infringement.

95m3racer

Its a losing battle, there is not enough revenue or money behind these companies to warrant a lengthy and expensive lawsuit.

I'm glad to see the Hubbard suit was dropped, but what about the other suits from the former employer of the Defnder founders? Is that still going on?

gbaker

IIRC, Leatt Corp. got a restraining order preventing former employees from using Leatt trade secrets in DefNder product designs. I don't believe they sued, but I think that order came from a foreign court, so there's no telling what's going on.

There may be something more in Leatt's year-end statements released last month.