Seat harness

[CB762]

Anyone has a thought on the 5/6 point seat harness?
I think it should be first mod for the track (or at least I want it before anything else).

[FT-86 SpeedFactory]

Originally Posted by CB762

Anyone has a thought on the 5/6 point seat harness?
I think it should be first mod for the track (or at least I want it before anything else).

Are you looking at aftermarket seats? You won't be getting a 5/6 point harness to work with the stock seats.

[FT-86GOD]

yes 5 point takata with bride seats but sadly it means losing rear seats and i dont wanna do that for a while....

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by CB762

Anyone has a thought on the 5/6 point seat harness?
I think it should be first mod for the track (or at least I want it before anything else).

A 5/6 point harness is part of a safety SYSTEM

That system includes a fixed back seat, a rollbar, and a place for your seatbelt to attach to.

Most will attach the seatbelts to a horizontal section of the rollbar but some are so anal that they install a separate bar, independent of the roll/cage design so that in the event of a serious crash a cage/bar failure will not affect you seatbelt mounting.



Having said that, if this is a typical autocross I wouldn't worry as the speeds are barely high enough to make rollovers dangerous.

As for "first mod for the track"

Your first mod for the track should be a HELMET, brakes, and tires.

Then consider a rollbar

Then everything else.

Modern cars are safe, chances are that even a serious crash on a racetrack will not even come close to killing you. It will destroy your wallet though.

[YoKeutla]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

A 5/6 point harness is part of a safety SYSTEM

That system includes a fixed back seat, a rollbar, and a place for your seatbelt to attach to.

Most will attach the seatbelts to a horizontal section of the rollbar but some are so anal that they install a separate bar, independent of the roll/cage design so that in the event of a serious crash a cage/bar failure will not affect you seatbelt mounting.



Having said that, if this is a typical autocross I wouldn't worry as the speeds are barely high enough to make rollovers dangerous.

As for "first mod for the track"

Your first mod for the track should be a HELMET, brakes, and tires.

Then consider a rollbar

Then everything else.

Modern cars are safe, chances are that even a serious crash on a racetrack will not even come close to killing you. It will destroy your wallet though.

Nicely put. You should really be concentrating on your driving more than anything else for the track at this point.

If you are really set on using a harness for your car without the roll bar and aftermarket seats, you could look into something like this:
http://jbautosports.com/sparco/sparc...n/g-51280.aspx


I see autocrossers and track day drivers utilizing this setup alot. Although, I would not recommend it for use on the street.

Also, I see you(OP) are in the Des Moines area! If you are looking for some autocrossing to do get in contact with me. Our next event is at Wells fargo arena on August 5th! Would love to see another FR-S there

[CB762]

Thank for everyone for the replies.
I look at that 4-point, looks like an easy setup.

Safety is just one function of the seat harness. Other, equally important one, is to keep the driver firmly in the seat during cornering. Stock belts do very poor at that. Actually, on well governed non-competitive track days driver's safety is usually much less concern.
Race tires are very desirable but not really required. Race brake pads are very desirable. Helmet? I have two

And I've been to the track quite a few times so I know something I did autocross once and wasn't too excited but I may try it again.

Thanks again!

[CB762]

BTW, 5-point harness works with stock, non-race seats. Most likely it's inadequate safety device but good retainer at corners.

[FT-86 SpeedFactory]

Hands down the safest set-up in a car without a cage is going to be the stock 3 points. or a Universal 4 point Schroth with ASM system.

A 5 point system; safety wise will only work with the stock seats if you cut a hole in the middle and install a cage.

There is nothing more/equally important than safety.

1. Safety
2. Safety
3. ?????
4. Profit

[track_warrior]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

A 5/6 point harness is part of a safety SYSTEM

That system includes a fixed back seat, a rollbar, and a place for your seatbelt to attach to.

Most will attach the seatbelts to a horizontal section of the rollbar but some are so anal that they install a separate bar, independent of the roll/cage design so that in the event of a serious crash a cage/bar failure will not affect you seatbelt mounting.



Having said that, if this is a typical autocross I wouldn't worry as the speeds are barely high enough to make rollovers dangerous.

As for "first mod for the track"

Your first mod for the track should be a HELMET, brakes, and tires.

Then consider a rollbar

Then everything else.

Modern cars are safe, chances are that even a serious crash on a racetrack will not even come close to killing you. It will destroy your wallet though.

This ^

i have my seats and harnesses sitting at home right now i am about to install the seats but not the harnesses until my cusco roll bar gets here. In the unlikely event of a roll over your spine would be crushed if you have 6 points and no cage or roll bar since your body would remain in an upright position because the harnesses wont allow for any movement and if the roof fails well you get the picture and its not pretty.

[CB762]

Originally Posted by pcasso87

This ^

i have my seats and harnesses sitting at home right now i am about to install the seats but not the harnesses until my cusco roll bar gets here. In the unlikely event of a roll over your spine would be crushed if you have 6 points and no cage or roll bar since your body would remain in an upright position because the harnesses wont allow for any movement and if the roof fails well you get the picture and its not pretty.

Safety wise, add-on roll bar is next to a joke (rephrasing disclaimer on those products). Only roll cage will give some protection in the unlikely event of some serious crash. But everyone makes their own mind.

[track_warrior]

Originally Posted by CB762

Safety wise, add-on roll bar is next to a joke (rephrasing disclaimer on those products). Only roll cage will give some protection in the unlikely event of some serious crash. But everyone makes their own mind.

Typo i ordered a cusco steel cage 9 points. Dont know why i typed roll bar

[CB762]

Originally Posted by pcasso87

Typo i ordered a cusco steel cage 9 points. Dont know why i typed roll bar

That is quite different, isn't?

[Black Tire]

Originally Posted by CB762

Anyone has a thought on the 5/6 point seat harness?
I think it should be first mod for the track (or at least I want it before anything else).

I have thought about a 4-point harness as I do not currently have the money for an after market seat and roll cage to complement the 5 or 6 point harness. I think it is possible to use the anchor points in the back seat that are meant for child safety seats to attach a 4-point harness. Also, if you are going to go all out for the roll cage etc., you really need to also include a good HANS device. My car is a daily driver and the roll cage etc. would be extremely annoying.

What is your experience on the track and what type of driving do you want to be able to do? You can get firmer hold from the stock belts if you feel the need by locking the inertia reel:

1. Lean the seat back a little from your normal driving position.
2. Pull the seat belt tight across you lap, and as much as you can across the shoulder.
3. Quickly pull the belt at the shoulder. This should engage the inertia reel that is meant to hold you in a collision. Hold the belt in that position while you move the back of the seat back to your normal preferred position. You will probably need to use the steering wheel for leverage and/or contort you body a bit to get it to hold.
4. If you did the procedure right, you should now have a locked seat belt holding you tightly to the seat. This does not always work easily, and sometimes comes undone as you drive, so it is not a perfect solution. Usually it works best for autocross situations where you only need it to hold for a minute.

I drove on Saturday and did not feel there was much of a need to lock the belt as the seat fabric is quite grippy and holds reasonable well. See my comments on this post:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13139

Helmets are required on many tracks/schools, so this is a mandatory purchase. Make sure you buy one rated SA2010 and not a motorcycle helmet (M2010) as some tracks/schools require this. If you are going the whole safety cage/seat/6-point route make sure the helmet has posts or at least holes to work with a HANS device. A brake pad upgrade would be next, but if you are new to the track you will probably not need them for the first few track weekends.

If you want some instruction, drive up to Minnesota for our school on Aug. 11.

[simpleisbest]

If you are going to keep the stock seats, then why not just consider a CG-Lock?
http://www.cg-lock.com/

Works like a charm and keeps your butt planted in the seat.