Practicality/Legality of using Racing Harnesses as Full-Time Safety Restraints???
you're only saying that cause you know exactly who I'd go to for the replacement seatbelt. *cough*fdnewbie.com*cough*
C'mon...can you blame me for trying? 
And you know I'd give you a good deal too, right? 
01-07-07, 09:57 PM
#27
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
As I mentioned to you earlier Riz, do not use Takata harnesses on the street, as they (much like most other racing harnesses) are illegal. They are not street legal for two reasons:
1) They are not lifetime belts and have an expiration date that you should find out about before you buy; some expire sooner than you think.
2) When properly tightened you WILL NOT be able to look over your shoulder to check your blind spot. This can get you into an accident. So it is highly recommended you only use them for sanctioned racing (drag/autox/road race).
I suspect that most of the ppl who claim to have used harnesses on the street had them loose enough for them to be wholly ineffective - in which case, it's as if you're driving around w/o a seatbelt. If you have an airbag, in THAT case, it can definitely kill or seriously injure you. And if you don't have an airbag, maybe you should drop by the local hospital to see what it looks like to crash without a seatbelt. It isn't pretty...
IMO, racing harnesses are just that: for racing (ie offroad use only). There is no real NEED to remove the stock seatbelt. Leave it on, use it for the street. When you're at a track event, use the harnesses. Problem solved
~Ramy
PS: I'll try and keep an eye on the thread, but gimme a head's up if you find out which steering wheel that is. I believe it was posted in this thread somewhere (but I'm too lazy to look through all of it ATM lol). https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-gen-general-discussion-322/post-pics-your-non-stock-steering-wheels-520375/
1) They are not lifetime belts and have an expiration date that you should find out about before you buy; some expire sooner than you think.
2) When properly tightened you WILL NOT be able to look over your shoulder to check your blind spot. This can get you into an accident. So it is highly recommended you only use them for sanctioned racing (drag/autox/road race).
I suspect that most of the ppl who claim to have used harnesses on the street had them loose enough for them to be wholly ineffective - in which case, it's as if you're driving around w/o a seatbelt. If you have an airbag, in THAT case, it can definitely kill or seriously injure you. And if you don't have an airbag, maybe you should drop by the local hospital to see what it looks like to crash without a seatbelt. It isn't pretty...
IMO, racing harnesses are just that: for racing (ie offroad use only). There is no real NEED to remove the stock seatbelt. Leave it on, use it for the street. When you're at a track event, use the harnesses. Problem solved
~Ramy
PS: I'll try and keep an eye on the thread, but gimme a head's up if you find out which steering wheel that is. I believe it was posted in this thread somewhere (but I'm too lazy to look through all of it ATM lol). https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-gen-general-discussion-322/post-pics-your-non-stock-steering-wheels-520375/
I use my sparco 5 points daily and I always pull them tight....everytime I drive, quick 2min drive to 7-11 and I pull them tight so I know that I'm doing my part and now its up to the harness to protect me incase of the unimaginable. They were mounted to a scca approved rollbar with the correct angle by a professional racing shop. My harnesses were purchased in may of 05, do not quote me on this rather correct me, but I believe two years is the expiration date for your harnesses to be legal in many racing organizations
With proper care taken to a street cars harnesses (ie. no sun damage, proper mounting angle/position, and regular cleaning, regular safety checks) What would be a reason that they would fail after the expiration date ? Another one, Is the two year expiration the same rule for a race car as a street car ?
Now I agree with you about the blindspots point, too many people over look this when purchasing harnesses for a street driven car, I have seem this with my own eyes as a number of times they have almost gotten me in big trouble but I have gotten lucky and not hit anything.
01-07-07, 11:15 PM
#28
Originally Posted by str8ryd
This is some very good information. I already knew about the angle and fastening the harnesses to a certified rollbar/cage. I'll be mounting my harnesses to the aftermarket harness bar that comes with my rollbar purchase. It's in the same location as stock and so I shouldn't have any problems with the angle the harnesses are mounted.
My question regarding your post is most concerned with the comment about the airbag. Are you agreeing that it's not a good idea to have an airbag in a car with a racing harnesses installed? This is exactly what I'm trying to figure out. Please explain a lil' further if possible. Thanks!
My question regarding your post is most concerned with the comment about the airbag. Are you agreeing that it's not a good idea to have an airbag in a car with a racing harnesses installed? This is exactly what I'm trying to figure out. Please explain a lil' further if possible. Thanks!
and about the airbag with the harness.... he said that it should be fine... your not going to have much of an advantage over not having a airbag USING A HARNESS. so you should be fine if you want to keep the airbag or get another streering wheel without one..... mine and my fathers main worry aobut harnesses are one you get into a collision since the harness has only about 4 inches of play, once your body reaches that 4 inches (give or take) that jolt is amplified and varied on the speed of impact and that jolt can basically crack your neck......... bascially imagine you strapped on to a bunjee jump harness and you thrown off a platform 20ft and the rope is a standard rope, once you get down to the point where theres not more rope left your going to have a sudden stop which is justl ike the jolt in a collision... and since the harness stop your body and not your head, your body will come to a sudden stop after the 4 inches but your head will keep going, and thats where youl crack your neck..... same thing if you getting hanged... the plates that are stacked up which make your spine will seperate.
yes i know that was a confusing and lenghty description... but i hope it helped.
bottom line...... nothing beats the combination of the STOCK seatbelt and airbag.
01-07-07, 11:39 PM
#29
I don't understand how a three point factory seat belt would keep you safer then a four or five point ? I'm not a saftey engineer, but I can observe the comparitivly small g-forces put on my body when braking/cornering since I have been driving with the harnesses, the 4/5 points harnessses more evenly apply the g-forces when compared to a factory belt, which tie into the next part.
Never having been in a serious car accident with either factory or race harneses I cannot comment on how your body reacts to the inital crash forces thrust at you, with the factory belts, I could see many more injurys that could potentialy occur due to the factory belt crossing over your body leaving your right shoulder basically exposed to go where gravity takes it, I'm not by any means saying that factory belts are rubbish but to me the harnesses make more sence protection wise in all cases when worn properly.
Never having been in a serious car accident with either factory or race harneses I cannot comment on how your body reacts to the inital crash forces thrust at you, with the factory belts, I could see many more injurys that could potentialy occur due to the factory belt crossing over your body leaving your right shoulder basically exposed to go where gravity takes it, I'm not by any means saying that factory belts are rubbish but to me the harnesses make more sence protection wise in all cases when worn properly.
01-08-07, 01:04 AM
#30
Locking Mechanism
Originally Posted by str8ryd
Thanks for the link! I didn't realize that the legal issues spawned from the locking mechanism used. I purchased Takata harnesses so would you happen to know if these locking mechanisms are street legal? On their website it says they're FIA approved, 8853/98, and also 8854/98 approved.
I'm honestly not too worried about cops, because if I do get pulled over I have tooooo many other things to worry about and I'm sure the cop will be preoccupied with those other infractions as well.
I'm honestly not too worried about cops, because if I do get pulled over I have tooooo many other things to worry about and I'm sure the cop will be preoccupied with those other infractions as well
.
01-08-07, 01:07 AM
#31
Dot
Originally Posted by livin4hockey
I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that all harnesses are illegal for street use. But I had never heard of the Schroth Racing harnesses. I'm also not sure if it varies by state. Nevertheless, it'd still be cool for the track if you track your car.
01-09-07, 01:06 AM
#33
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In this day and age where laws require bicyclist to wear helmets, is it legal to wear a helmet while driving a car? my noggin easily taps against the door window and roof frame, I'd feel safer wearing one. I seem to get a speeding ticket every two years, I don't want to be asked by the police to explain why I may need a helmet. Or have all the looks from other motorist.
past profession I was an insurance guy, not in autos but other line of property and casualty. you may risk being denied and the ability to purchase future insurance.
past profession I was an insurance guy, not in autos but other line of property and casualty. you may risk being denied and the ability to purchase future insurance.
09-22-10, 06:18 PM
#36
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Excuse me if it is a noob question, but is this date that makes this thread applicable in the Generation 3 Specific Issues forum? Otherwise I'd think harness questions apply to all automobiles.
oops ... sorry for old bumps
just noticed I was reading from a search list
oops ... sorry for old bumps
just noticed I was reading from a search list
Last edited by RubyDoo; 09-22-10 at 06:31 PM.
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