| sickmint79 |
08-12-2015 03:06 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by mike2100
(Post 452750)
OP are you planning on keeping the harness bar in or only for track days? Are you doing autocross or HPDE?
Assuming it's a permanent install for HPDE purposes:
If you have a harness bar it's safe to assume you're running harnesses.
If you're running harnesses I hope you're using a fixed back racing bucket.
If you're using a fixed back racing bucket and get into a roll over, your body is forced to remain perfectly up right while the roof above you is subjected to crushing forces. Not a good day for your spine. This is why it's smart to add a roll bar when doing seats/harnesses, not just a harness bar. A roll bar also makes for good attachment points for a harness bar.
A full cage is not necessary, nor desired for any car driven on the street. You can bang your unhelmeted head on one of the overhead bars and it's lights out.
A stock vehicle is designed to soften the blows of impact during a crash. Your body is allowed to conform around the 3 point belt, because you're expected to be cushioned by air bags.
Oh and I wouldn't run harnesses without a head and neck restraint. If you fix your body in an upright position the only remaining part that is free to move forward in a frontal impact is your head and neck, subjecting you to a basilar skull fracture. Head and neck restraints are now required in I think both SCCA and NASA racing.
This all may seem like overkill to someone not familiar. It certainly did to me, before I researched it.
Here are the configurations I would consider safe:
1) Beginner to Intermediate HPDE: Stock, wear a helmet
2) Intermediate to Advanced HPDE: Roll bar, 5/6 point harness, fixed back racing bucket, head and neck restraint, helmet (swap in the seat only for track days)
3) Wheel to wheel racing: Full cage, 5/6 point, fixed back, head and neck, helmet, fire suppression, fire suit/gloves (all required for w2w racing anyway)
Personally, I don't think I'd be this cautious for autocross because of the lower speed and zero traffic. I hear there have been rollovers in autocross before though!
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i'm doing #1. what are my options for additional safety? i don't use anything for neck currently. i'm tall and used to turn around the top part of the seat to give my head some more freedom, until i determined it was way way too much freedom if i hit something. it seems like i should at least add some kind of neck collar if i keep doing #1?
as far as #2 is concerned, or options available for a track/street car, i like this advice - although why the seat swap? if the concern for fixed back seat is a roll cage, it is provided in this example right? i thought the greater problem would be hitting head on cage (even padded) in the event of an accident. (??)
is there no great solution to just put in the car and leave alone for street and track driving? |
