[1]After an absence of several years from the SEMA show, Simpson [2] is back, and they’ve been busy. The well-known safety equipment company had a lot to show off this year, including the Hybrid head and neck restraint system. Designed to be a low profile system that makes getting in and out of the car easier, the Hybrid joins the HANS and R3 restraints in the Simpson family.
[3]The M6 option puts the release hardware on the helmet instead of the ends of the tethers.
Designed by Trevor Ashline [4], the Hybrid system uses a combination of a patented seatbelt anchor system and side stabilizing gussets. It’s available in four versions, all of which are SFI 38.1 certified:
[5]The Hybrid Pro Carbon (left) and Hybrid Pro Rage Composite differ mainly in materials, weight, and cost. Both are designed to work with no seat modification.
Hybrid Pro Carbon
- High quality carbon fiber construction
- Compact size under 7 inches tall
- Side stabilizing gusset load path for angular protection
- Doesn’t require any seat modification.
Hybrid Pro Rage Composite
- Composite and carbon fiber construction
- Same features as Hybrid Pro Carbon at a lower price
[6]For those who prefer the original HANS device, Simpson is introducing a new design that allows the angle of the restraint to be adjusted to one of six different positions to accommodate seat angle changes between cars.
Hybrid
- The original Hybrid design
- Carbon fiber construction
- Ships with molded seat pad and installation manual
- FIA and NASCAR approved
Hybrid X
- Extreme protection Hybrid system
- Six tethers connecting to four points on the helmet
- Ships with protective rigid foam neck collar
- Designed specifically for drag racing
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Simpson was also showing off new, more comfortable SFI-rated fire resistant gloves and boots. We're thinking that they would also be good as the ultimate oven mitt.