Fobio
06-26-2012, 06:36 PM
So the title on the old thread seems to be pushing an old GB on the Sparco harness bar. However, fast forward to the present and we now have 2 successful installations of racing seats, which of course lends naturally to racing harnesses being installed.
Personally, I've been running a Sparco harness bar from an STi (we share the same distance between b-pillars) and a set of cheapie MOMO 4-pt harness. As a skinny guy this setup helps "lock" me into the seat and my body wouldn't flop around the stock seat as much. The benefits of a harness is further multiplied by a proper racing seat that holds one in place and allow more information from the car to be transmitted to the driver...vs. the stock seat (and it's constantly deforming foam padding). This is something I'm looking into.
I've started this thread in hopes to share more info about racing harnesses and how they can benefit lap times.
I have 3 pieces of info to share so far:
1. Proper usage of a racing harness by Schroth: http://www.schrothracing.com/sdocs/2009_Competition_Instructions.pdf
2. Racing harnesses, are really meant to be used with roll-over protection...ie. rollcage or rollbar. That is the official safety stance: if you car flips, your roof will be pressed in and your harness will maintain your torso in an upright position and forcing your head and neck to absorb the impact of a roll-over.
3. A racing harness and a racing seat is likely good for 1-second on DDT...maybe 2-seconds for TMP and Mosport Big Track.
#2 is something one must deal with as a calculated risk of running a harness with a harness bar (or without rollover protection). Because of this, the Regional sanctioning body will not allow you to run a racing harness without proper roll-over protection like a full or 1/2 cage. Other series are more lax about the calculated risk, but be cognizant of this before going in. Having said that, it appears that the installation of the 2 racing seats are accompanied by more modern solutions to this issue. Whether the Regional sanctioning body accepts them or not is up to the organization...and the risks are real. But I hope the others will chime in with their solutions so that YOU can ultimately decide for yourself, with the best information.
Personally, I've been running a Sparco harness bar from an STi (we share the same distance between b-pillars) and a set of cheapie MOMO 4-pt harness. As a skinny guy this setup helps "lock" me into the seat and my body wouldn't flop around the stock seat as much. The benefits of a harness is further multiplied by a proper racing seat that holds one in place and allow more information from the car to be transmitted to the driver...vs. the stock seat (and it's constantly deforming foam padding). This is something I'm looking into.
I've started this thread in hopes to share more info about racing harnesses and how they can benefit lap times.
I have 3 pieces of info to share so far:
1. Proper usage of a racing harness by Schroth: http://www.schrothracing.com/sdocs/2009_Competition_Instructions.pdf
2. Racing harnesses, are really meant to be used with roll-over protection...ie. rollcage or rollbar. That is the official safety stance: if you car flips, your roof will be pressed in and your harness will maintain your torso in an upright position and forcing your head and neck to absorb the impact of a roll-over.
3. A racing harness and a racing seat is likely good for 1-second on DDT...maybe 2-seconds for TMP and Mosport Big Track.
#2 is something one must deal with as a calculated risk of running a harness with a harness bar (or without rollover protection). Because of this, the Regional sanctioning body will not allow you to run a racing harness without proper roll-over protection like a full or 1/2 cage. Other series are more lax about the calculated risk, but be cognizant of this before going in. Having said that, it appears that the installation of the 2 racing seats are accompanied by more modern solutions to this issue. Whether the Regional sanctioning body accepts them or not is up to the organization...and the risks are real. But I hope the others will chime in with their solutions so that YOU can ultimately decide for yourself, with the best information.