Race Harnesses

[stephen low]

Am toying with the idea of adding race harnesses to the car to better limit body movement but have noted quite a few comments in the US forum regarding age.

I assume under racing requirements these harnesses have a life span before needing to be replaced. Anyone know what this time frame is?

For our low level of track time and just for street use would the age issue come into it at all?

Look forward to the feedback.

Cheers

Steve

[besso]

how many times around around about ?

[stephen low]

What's that great balls of fire-man??

How's your car?

[sideshow]

99% of harnesses are illegal for street use
they dont meet the seat belt adrs

if u want them to be street legal ring revolution racegear as they may sell a sreet legal adr approved harness
i looked at some many years ago but ,ost guys back then just used the non aproved ones but made them removable

i once used to run a set of harnesses from a helicopter which actually were rectractable
so made it easy to get in and out
the info i found with these is that if u crash in a chopper the g forces are much much greater so these harnesses stretch abit as u crash hehehehe

4 Point 2 Inch | Sabelt | Revolution Racegear
think these are closest u get to street appproved

[Modena]

slowy, the harnesses have expiration dates on them (not best before like all food seems to these days!).

I believe the expiration dates vary by manufacturer.

As sideshow recommended, I'd be talking to RR.

[suthol]

Expiry date is mandated by FIA & in our case CAMS for racing so check the latest regs.

There is no expiry for road but the majority of harnesses are not ADR compliant because they don't retract and therefore one size doesn't fit all. Retractable harnesses do exist.

From memory there is no expiry time for harnesses used in sprint events, just scruited for obvious wear but once again check current regs.

My harnesses in Nemo are current so I haven't been checking of late.

[stephen low]

Thanks guys and yes I knew the harnesses were generally illegal for street use but didn't know about a legal version.

Will investigate the ADR 4 belt option when the time comes.

Of course you could wear both belts in the car to cover the legality but thats messy and heaven knows how that would pan out in an accident - not that I am planning any more of those!!

Thanks guys.

[FWB]

for what its worth, belts for racing here in the U.S. have a 2 year date life span. IE: Simpson, G-Force. as per SFI regulations. At one time you could get them re-certed, but from what i hear that program has been gone from most manufacturers.
I have never heard of any race approved retractable belts here.

[*Cobber*]

Go to the CAMS website, they have all the information there. You will then need to apply for an exemption to run harnesses. They generally ask why you want to run harnesses and may you also need the mounting points checked. There are guidelines on the CAMS website for mounting points and plate size etc.

There are various standards for harnesses and as above check out the cams website this will also let you know what harnesses are suitable for what events.

Buying the harnesses from the US will be less than half price to buying the same harness here.

Do your own homework and make sure what you buy fits what you want to do.

[RODA]

Steve,

Go up to Meridian Motor Sport in Moorabbin they will be able to point you in the right direction, they carry a full range.

Rod

[cjsammut]

RPM Harnesses are ADR compliant and about the cheapest available. Revolution is the place to get them.

[Merv and Sharon]

Originally Posted by cjsammut

RPM Harnesses are ADR compliant and about the cheapest available. Revolution is the place to get them.

Has anyone actually managed to do this? There seems to be a lot of variation in opinion on various forums-most say it can't be done. To meet ADR compliance would they have to mount to the existing points from the lap/sash? There is also the insurance angle to consider, I guess.

[letsboogie351]

Schroth Racing Harnesses

[Thor maine]

Not that you would want to ,but if your car was registed as a model year before 1968(like a1966 shelby cobra). You technically don't need to have seat belts as per the revised 1968 highway safety act that required all cars to safety belts. So if the harness is street certified or not is not relevant.But tell that to a state trooper and you get a blank look and your insurance agent you get the I have to call the company on that.

[boxhead]

Originally Posted by Thor maine

Not that you would want to ,but if your car was registed as a model year before 1968(like a1966 shelby cobra). You technically don't need to have seat belts as per the revised 1968 highway safety act that required all cars to safety belts. So if the harness is street certified or not is not relevant.But tell that to a state trooper and you get a blank look and your insurance agent you get the I have to call the company on that.

Different rules in Australia, all cars are registered as a year model that coincides with when vehicle first presented for rego or approved by engineer.

[Merv and Sharon]

Originally Posted by letsboogie351

Schroth Racing Harnesses

That looks good but has it been declared ADR complaint?

[Wazza]

Not sure....
But I've driven a few Cobras in Queensland that used "Race Harnesses" as their normal seat belts...
and they were an absolute pain in the backside.......
You only realize how much trouble they are when you have to buckle up everytime you jumped in and out of the car.

Find the ends....lift yourself back out of the seat to get the one belt that you can't pull out from under your backside...gather all the ends....clip them in....then adjust the belts down on your chest...and you're away.

Stop for a coffee...or forget something inside the house...etc. etc., and you go through the whole lot again.

My 2c worth !

Cheers,
Warren.

[Merv and Sharon]

Yes I think you are probably right Warren. Also the one above, although it looks reasonably simple, it would seem to be a problem with head restraints fitted, as required.

[boxhead]

I have ADR compliant 4 point harness in my car, but the engineer would not approve them as they did not self adjust.
I questioned the NT MVR, they said at the time if I could find a car that has been passed by an engineer in Australia with the same belts fitted, they would allow.
In the end I just fitted 3 point lap sash aswell and tucked the 4 points behind the seat.
I since did find cars in WA that had been approved with non self adjusting, this would have then allowed mine to be ok as a "precedent" had been set.

But to be honest, for everyday driving I prefer the lap sash.

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by letsboogie351

Schroth Racing Harnesses

Dito, Schroth racing harness