20 replies to this topic

[OvDrone]

I wanted to pay respect and homage to a man that was instrumental in changing our beloved sport for the better. Dude saved a lotta lives and he owes praise.

 

Rob was a professor of biomechanical engineering at Michigan State University and after the death of a friend back in the 80's at Mid-Ohio while testing in IMSA, he got to work on the device we all know and love now.

 

https://www.autospor...ans-device-dies

 

I remember how vehemently drivers, especially from Nascar were against this design, but after the unfortunate demise of Earnhardt back in 2001, the whole sport started to come around.

 

 

 

I for one think the driver and helmet look WAY cooler with it then without it.

 

 

 

Cheers Robert; rest easy and see ya later.

 

[f1paul]

Beautiful words Ov.

 

They guy has done wonders for motorsport. R.I.P. 

[FordFiesta]

[...] look WAY cooler with it then without it.

Who knows, maybe one day (15 to 20 years later) people will say the same regarding HALO or the shield.

[PayasYouRace]

His legacy with that life saving "damn noose" should never be forgotten. We probably can't count all the racing drivers who are still with us because of his invention.

[Risil]

Who knows, maybe one day (15 to 20 years later) people will say the same regarding HALO or the shield.

Apples and oranges really.

[JHSingo]

Apples and oranges really.

 

I think it's clear the HANS device had more scientific evidence behind it meriting its use than the the Halo does. As I've said before, the HANS device was introduced to stop something that they knew was likely to happen in an accident. The Halo has been introduced to stop something that might happen.

 

Anyway, Robert Hubbard would definitely deserve his place in a motorsport hall of fame, if he's not there already. It would be impossible to really calculate how many lives the HANS device has saved, or serious injuries it has prevented, over the years, but surely it must be in the many hundreds. 

[Muppetmad]

I can't add anything that hasn't already been said, but I feel the need to verbalise my gratitude to Hubbard, whose device has saved so many lives over the years. Thank you, Robert.

[steferrari]

RIP.

[paulstevens56]

Lol initially thought the title was Ron Hubbard, and wondered why Scientology suddenly had made an appearance!!  Sorry to lower the tone

 

I do not not know much about the person who has sadly died, but his contribution to driver safety will surely not go un-noticed. Even formula's of racing that do not really get any coverage use HANS devices now, so he has made a massive contribution.

[Ben1445]

Who knows, maybe one day (15 to 20 years later) people will say the same regarding HALO or the shield.

Apples and oranges really.

Really? I don't think so. 
 
Completely feasible that Halo or it's successors could come to be viewed as 'looking way cooler than without' with time. HANS devices have become a cool, recognisable part of the visual identity because we got used to seeing them around and it is now a part of the 'racing driver look'. Repeated exposure and association with an activity you enjoy watching is what made it look cool from a visual standpoint. So it can absolutely happen to the Halo as well. 

 

But yes, with the HANS device having saved countless lives to date and now matured into being a cool visual identifier of the sport... Dr Hubbard has undoubtably made motorsport a better place. What a legacy. 

Edited by Ben1445, 06 February 2019 - 20:02.

[pdac]

Who knows, maybe one day (15 to 20 years later) people will say the same regarding HALO or the shield.

 

Why do you have to add your own agenda? This thread that was opened to pay respects to someone who has contributed greatly to the safety of those participating in motorsports. If you can't do that, then please start your own thread (or better still, just carry on in one of the many that already exist).

[GreenMachine]

This was a truly significant innovation, and as said above, one that produced life-saving results.  What I find interesting, and a testament to both the work of the inventor and the brilliance of the solution, is that so many racers have voluntarily adopted it without (or in advance of) regulations mandating it (at least in my jurisdiction).

 

Thanks Robert.

[pRy]

Ross wrote this Atlas F1 article about Hans back in 2001: http://www.atlasf1.c.../stonefeld.html . You know a good article title when you can remember it 18 years later. 

[loki]

Not to speak ill of the dead but Hubbard was as much about protecting his monopoly as he was about safety.  He bullied and threatened legal action against other less funded startups that weren't infringing on his patent.  The patent is fairly narrow and easily circumvented for a similar but not identical device.  It wasn't until bigger players started challenging him with legal threats of their own he backed off.  He was also instrumental in crafting the original SFI specs that kept some from the market.  If anything Hubbard's approach to keeping others out of the market led to less adoption particularly at first.  They were expensive and didn't have enough of a size variance for all drivers.  Once other similar designs were introduced to the market the price, particularly for club racers improved significantly while offering as good and in some cases better protection (with regards to lateral forces).  While it was a revolutionary invention for which he should be commended the process of trying to maintain a monopoly didn't serve motorsport safety well.

[OvDrone]

I think it's healthy to speak of the negatives as well from a transpersonal point of view, in times like these. It makes things more human.

[BuddyHolly]

Dear me, I must be dumb.  I read it and instantly assumed it was Rob Hubbard (80's music genius)

 

I'm sorry to read that, I'm sure his invention has saved many lives.  RIP Robert!

[JacnGille]

Sad news

[Jim Thurman]

 

I remember how vehemently drivers, especially from Nascar were against this design, but after the unfortunate demise of Earnhardt back in 2001, the whole sport started to come around.

 

The vehemence was mainly one driver, who was quite vocal when NASCAR required some sort of head and neck restraint after the Earnhardt accident. He wasn't the only NASCAR driver to complain, but he did so much more loudly and more aggressively than anyone else.

[nosecone]

RIP.

I think it is obvious that he saved many drivers from death or life-changing spinal injuries. If we look at some crashes these days and that the drivers can mostly walk away from them, we have to praise his work.

A simple system, relatively cheap and thus affordable even in feeder series is really a great achievment. He must have been a really smart guy.

Name that thing Hubbard Device from now on!

[loki]

A simple system, relatively cheap and thus affordable even in feeder series is really a great achievment. He must have been a really smart guy.

 

Hubbard isn't the reason for the affordability of the current devices.  He fought long and hard to keep the monopoly and the sustain the price.  At first it was prohibitively expensive except for the top levels of racing. It wasn't until others with deeper pockets could challenge his legal threats that more affordable versions were available which forced HANS to offer less expensive versions.  It's at a good price point now with several options from different vendors.  I wouldn't race a car without one.

Edited by loki, 07 February 2019 - 22:54.

[Spillage]

Sad to hear of his passing. He used his life to save many others. Quite a legacy.