"MINI COOPER POWAH!" (ajdaboss64)
08/19/2014 at 20:52 • Filed to: None
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"MINI COOPER POWAH!" (ajdaboss64)
08/19/2014 at 20:52 • Filed to: None | 4
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Hey all, Welcome back to my series where I discuss Track day and racecar safety.
Today lets talk about Seat belts and harnesses. There are a couple different options when it comes to belts, and I frequently notice that people are confused as to what might be the safest.
Standard "3 point" Safety belts:
You've seen these, Your Grandmom's 1990 Crown Vic has a set of these. You might have also heard that they aren't safe for track use too. I'm here to tell you that isn't always correct. Let me ask a few questions to see if they are for you:
a) Does your car have stock seats? (if yes then the 3 point belt isn't a bad option. most stock seats ARE'NT designed to work with 5/6 point harnesses)
b) Does your car have a harness bar? (if no then stick with 3 points, improperly installed harnesses are not safe)
c) Does your car have rollover protection? (No, you don't you say? In a roll over crash, harnesses leave you stuck upright. without rollover protection the roof can collapse onto you.)
3 point belts, with the cars designed safety system (air bags, etc) can do their job correctly and work.
5 point "Latch and Link" harnesses ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )
5 point harnesses, when used with a proper seat, rollover protection and Head/neck restraint, "lock you into place" so that you don not move among-st the cockpit in a crash. Latch and link is less expensive then camlock, and popular with dirt track and other drivers, as it is less complicated then a cam. i do not know of any FIA rated L&L belts though. (I'll discuss sfi/FIA belts in a bit)
6 point belts ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )
6 point belts, do the same as 5, with a split submarine belt to be more tender on the lower areas, and give another mounting point to the chassis.
hans belts/non hans belts
MR MCP, I wear a hans device, dont i need 2 inch shoulder belts?
Nope, the hans is tested with 3 inch belts, 2 inch belts may be more comfortable, but 3 inch shoulder belts work fine.
WHAT ABOUT 4 POINTS? THEY ARE SAFER THEN STOCK BELTS, RIGHT?
Depends, they look good on show cars, but I don't like them for track use, without a sub belt, the lap belt can get pulled up into your stomach, and hurt your soft areas in a crash.
BUT WAIT MR. MINI COOPAH POWAHHH, WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SFI AND FIA RATED BELTS?
simple, SFI belts are tested by SFI ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) and FIA belts are tested by the FIA. FIA belts are always camlock (to my knowledge). GENERALLY FIA belts are legal for 5 years, and SFI belts are legalized for two. (not always)
WHAT ABOUT MY EXPIRED BELTS? AREN'T THEY SAFE?!?!?!?!
Maybe, but I don't know, the webbing could be compromised. they could be decaying, if the date is expired, change them.
as always, you don't need a racecar to do a track day, don't go 155% and you can be safe with your daily driver. If you have any question on this or any other safety item, feel free to contact me as I keep polished on this subject.
uofime
> MINI COOPER POWAH!
08/19/2014 at 22:27 |
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you should do a whole post on how to properly mount belts. every time I'm at a car show I see someone with their shoulder belts set up to decapitate and or crush spines
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MINI COOPER POWAH!
> uofime
08/19/2014 at 22:59 |
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ill plan on that in the future!
Do-Rif-To
> MINI COOPER POWAH!
08/20/2014 at 11:11 |
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How safe are 5/6 point harnesses with a proper roll cage(padded) for use on a street car without a helmet? I'm talking about more of a "drive your vaguely road legal racecar to the stores" scenerio, not "Race your car without a helmet" by the way.
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MINI COOPER POWAH!
> Do-Rif-To
08/20/2014 at 11:39 |
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When well padded (id recommend the dual density padding, like this: http://www.ogracing.com/bsci-dual-duro… ) i dont think its any more unsafe, HOWEVER check your local laws. some places require 3 point belts and frown upon harnesses.