mjg

It's a 360 anyway. Track looks dry (as does the weather report)...

John McM

He's just confirmed it wasn't him as well. Matt, you have a Hans, right?

mjg

I have a forward head restraint, but it's not a HANS. It's a Necksgen Rev. $899 inc at Chicane.

Macca

Ive been looking at HANs for the GT3 as it had 6 point harness and cage. The 5-6s a lap that car will have on the 993 around HD has made me wary! I see some good options offshore for around $600 NZD (Stand 21 Club series) landed.

Research has led me to believe a HANs device isnt such a good idea in a car without a harness (i.e. 993).

Matt, the Necksgen looks very similar to the HANs and appears reasonably priced ($600 USD offshore). Any particular reason you chose it over a HANs?

John McM

Sadly the driver injuries were fatal.

Kiwi Carguy

Some more details here http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/n...253631&ref=rss

Kiwi Carguy

Purely speculation but interesting that the impact appears to be on the passengers side and the driver was the one that died. The drivers door looks relatively unscathed. Goes to show the impact forces the body is subject too and the importance of having the "right" safety equipment. I said speculation as I obviously have no idea what actually caused him to die i.e. impact, heart attack etc. Thoughts go out to the family

mjg

5-6s/lap is irrelevant, you can suffer a basal skull fracture in low speed impacts.

They're not necessary with three-point belts as your torso moves with your head during an impact. With harnesses, only your head has freedom of movement, and this is when the risk of basal skull fractures becomes an issue.

Also, they simply don't work with three-point belts as you need the shoulder belts to hold the device in place. There are other designs such as the Simpson Hybrid systems that don't rely on the harness and can be used with three-points, etc.

Comfort (shape and weight), ease of egress due to the low design at the back, and it provides some lateral protection which is important if you don't have a halo seat.

You need to try them on before you buy one, correct fit and long term comfort is crucial otherwise you'll never use it.

Macca

Matt. Thanks for your insight on the subject. Ill look further into the different options available.

It certainly makes you think doesn't it when you see that relatively "lightly damaged" 360 and the fact the driver (sadly) died....

Kiwi Carguy

Duplicate post.

Kiwi Carguy

There's probably lots of clips like this but its a good one to give you an idea of the impact and forces...

mjharrisonnz

Hi all, this was a track day I usually attend but missed today. The car went in backwards at an angle (passenger side). I have spoken to a friend who was one of the first guys on the scene. There are some aspects of this accident that should not be posted on the internet though.

O2GO

I've just sent an email off to Targa NZ asking the question but, in the mean time, does any one know if there is any reason NOT to wear helmets on the Targa Tour? Paul and I were chatting about it after the one day Targa. Safety with fun should be one of our biggest concerns. No one on the tour had helmets and it felt like there were not permitted but I don't know.

I reckon we could hear each other perfectly well with our helmets on.... Just like with driver training.

Any comments appreciated.

RS ZWEI

Doug, the Tour is meant to be just that, a Tour. It seems to be getting out of hand to me. I think half of the Tour guys treat it as a competition which it clearly wasnt designed for, hence why safety equipment isnt aloud. Its meant to put guys off going more that "7/10ths".

Macca

All I can tell you for sure is that to the best of my knowledge they are 100% not allowed. Same goes for multi point harnesses. I think its due to the way the event is formatted (i.e. the tour is not sanctioned or administrated by MSNZ) but infact run as a totally separate "private" event. The tour is run for production cars in production trim and is not classified as a points race. You can wear overalls and helmet in the Targa but you have to pay twice the price, have a full cage and conform to all the other MSNZ sanctions for competition type.

Id be interested in hearing what Pete (Martin) has to say as Id also like to understand the formal reason...