Hubbard had a list of qualifications that made him a great fit for Downing’s project. He was a professor of materials science and mechanics at Michigan State University, earned a PhD in the mechanical properties of skull bone, and had worked for General Motors researching injuries and testing crash dummies, all in the name of vehicle safety.

Advertisement

The HANS Device took years to catch on. Downing implemented the device successfully in his own car during his career, but they only sold 250 devices in the first ten years of its availability on the market. It was only after Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s fatal accident in 2001 that the racing community decided to regularly start implementing the device.

Advertisement
Advertisement

An article in a 2016 edition of the Journal of Neurosurgery noted that “before 2001, catastrophic craniovertebral junction (CVJ) injuries were the most common cause of death to drivers in the fast-paced sport of professional car racing.” Since the HANS Device was mandated in professional auto racing in the United States, no CVJ deaths had occurred in NASCAR or CART.

Advertisement

That’s one hell of a legacy to leave behind. Dr. Robert Hubbard’s contributions to the safety of motorsport have had an incredible benefit for the world of racing and will be remembered long after his passing.

H/t Paolo! Thanks!