DE Safety Gear
#31
Three Wheelin'
So check with the groups you will be driving with before buying one.
But to answer your question...Schroth makes a good system that uses the rear seat belt mount points, then the shoulder harnesses attach to the extension. Requires a seat with harness openings or a moveable headrest. My seats do not have either which allows for the harnesses to slip down - making them useless.
The other option is a harness bar and the shoulder straps attach directly to it.
The Harness guide bar will keep them in the right spot - but again - the seat comes into question if it alters how they lay over your shoulders and Porsche seats like mine (and most others) don't work well.
If you don't have a proper mounting point for a 5 or 6 point harness then your only real option is the Schroth 4-point harness with Anti-submarining. If you want a 5/6-pt harness you need proper underseat mounts for the lap and AS straps.
You must treat the harnesses, seat, bar (and Neck Restraint) as a complete system. From my research the only true system is Roll Bar, Race Seat, 5/6-pt harness and Neck Restraint (HANS, Simpson, etc).
Last edited by cannon1000; 01-21-2013 at 05:27 PM.
#32
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
5-10 years? Ha ha - until the bug bites then the kids are on their own!
I think if you set aside a few $K I would protect yourself first:
Helmet (good one)
R3
Gloves (Better grip on the wheel)
Driving shoes and socks
1 layer suit w/nomex underwear or a 3 piece NOMEX suit.
If you get to a point where you are driving solo - you should start thinking about the car.
Rollbar, Harness and seats (hand held extinguisher)
I think if you set aside a few $K I would protect yourself first:
Helmet (good one)
R3
Gloves (Better grip on the wheel)
Driving shoes and socks
1 layer suit w/nomex underwear or a 3 piece NOMEX suit.
If you get to a point where you are driving solo - you should start thinking about the car.
Rollbar, Harness and seats (hand held extinguisher)
The track that I go to (BIR) is pretty fast (for me, anyway) so I'm going ~140 mph down the main straight into a ~120 mph banked turn and then a 100 mph flat sweeper. Then the course slows and gradually speeds back up. These are my speeds of course, the GT3s are going much faster.
#33
Three Wheelin'
I'm not sure what you mean by driving solo? I'm driving DE, which is solo, unless you ask an instructor to check out your driving. Twice a year we also have a DT the Friday before the DE weekend, where the instructor is with me the full day. I try to go to that, too, so I relearn what I forgot since the last DE.
The track that I go to (BIR) is pretty fast (for me, anyway) so I'm going ~140 mph down the main straight into a ~120 mph banked turn and then a 100 mph flat sweeper. Then the course slows and gradually speeds back up. These are my speeds of course, the GT3s are going much faster.
The track that I go to (BIR) is pretty fast (for me, anyway) so I'm going ~140 mph down the main straight into a ~120 mph banked turn and then a 100 mph flat sweeper. Then the course slows and gradually speeds back up. These are my speeds of course, the GT3s are going much faster.
DE does not mean solo. It should be "education". First you learn, then you practice. Down here you must graduate into a solo group.
#34
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Generally the DE's you start in beginner groups - w/Instructor. Graduate to "Adv. Beginner" w/Instructor until you are signed off as approved to drive "Solo". Most groups will require a check ride if you have not soloed with them yet.
DE does not mean solo. It should be "education". First you learn, then you practice. Down here you must graduate into a solo group.
DE does not mean solo. It should be "education". First you learn, then you practice. Down here you must graduate into a solo group.
DE's are Saturday and Sunday. If you were in DT for the first time on Friday, you must drive with the instructor on the first session on Saturday. The instructor will then decide if you're able to go solo the for the remaining Novice DE sessions. I passed this hurdle 4 years ago and have since moved into the Intermediate run group. That said, I still try to grab an instructor to drive with me at least once a DE. Their insight is usually invaluable.
#36
I agree, if anything protect you neck. But this does require some changes to the car to use a Hans. It wil also require some thought and planning.
Here is a DAS bolt in in my 993, as you can see the rear seats have to come out. The bar where the shoulder straps attach has to be at or slightly below the height of the Hans, you have to use seats w/ holes for the straps at the correct height so as to prevent any interference between the seat and the belts
You don't need to drill holes in the floor for the substraps, a GT3 bar can be used as seen here
Lastly you need a seat w/ the sub, side and shoulder holes in it, 964/993 are tough to fit bigger seats because of the tunnel, so the smallest seats w/ the correct holes(shoulder holes should be big to facilitate alignment) that you fit in need to be selected
All of this won't be cheap and is probably not worth it for 2 days a year
Here is a DAS bolt in in my 993, as you can see the rear seats have to come out. The bar where the shoulder straps attach has to be at or slightly below the height of the Hans, you have to use seats w/ holes for the straps at the correct height so as to prevent any interference between the seat and the belts
You don't need to drill holes in the floor for the substraps, a GT3 bar can be used as seen here
Lastly you need a seat w/ the sub, side and shoulder holes in it, 964/993 are tough to fit bigger seats because of the tunnel, so the smallest seats w/ the correct holes(shoulder holes should be big to facilitate alignment) that you fit in need to be selected
All of this won't be cheap and is probably not worth it for 2 days a year
#37
Instructor
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What safety equipment would you get if it was one of your children participating and driving with you at these events? Should that be any different than the level of safety you provide yourself?
#38
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
I agree, if anything protect you neck. But this does require some changes to the car to use a Hans. It wil also require some thought and planning.
snip...
Lastly you need a seat w/ the sub, side and shoulder holes in it, 964/993 are tough to fit bigger seats because of the tunnel, so the smallest seats w/ the correct holes(shoulder holes should be big to facilitate alignment) that you fit in need to be selected
All of this won't be cheap and is probably not worth it for 2 days a year
snip...
Lastly you need a seat w/ the sub, side and shoulder holes in it, 964/993 are tough to fit bigger seats because of the tunnel, so the smallest seats w/ the correct holes(shoulder holes should be big to facilitate alignment) that you fit in need to be selected
All of this won't be cheap and is probably not worth it for 2 days a year
#39
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For the OP - just get a head and neck restraint system that works with 3 pt belts. Then keep your head on literally and figuratively. That is all you need for now.
#40
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Thanks to everyone for the help. You've all provided some very good info. I already have a good helmet, so It looks like H&N restraint is priority one. Then bar, seat and harness. I'll put in a fire bottle in right away, too.
#41
Race Car
Here's the thing.
Race seats make you faster, because you are more planted/part of the car. you can add sliders. but (race seats) are not as comfortable for long drives or going out to dinner.
you can take them out, but its at least 1 hour time.... most don't.
I would get some gloves, and some fireproof underwear, then a R3....
Then seats, bolt in rollbar (didn't know the harness brace was no longer allowed), 6 point harnesses, sell the r3 and get the hans. add a fire system, then a fuel cell, some tires and go racing!
you can re-weld the cage holes you drill so nobody but you knows it was there... the safety devices cages are pretty good.
an R3 is a little uncomfortable at 1st... but you get use to it, like a helmet. not sure about ISSAC. that might be cheaper and more comfortable...
R3 vs ISSAC could be a new tread...
-one reason I use the R3 is it (and the ISSAC), don't require harnesses, If you later decide to instruct, these are your best options.
one last thing to keep in mind is, if your car breaks a tie rod at 140mph, will you have regrets the about safety money spent.... yes its rare, but can happen.
Race seats make you faster, because you are more planted/part of the car. you can add sliders. but (race seats) are not as comfortable for long drives or going out to dinner.
you can take them out, but its at least 1 hour time.... most don't.
I would get some gloves, and some fireproof underwear, then a R3....
Then seats, bolt in rollbar (didn't know the harness brace was no longer allowed), 6 point harnesses, sell the r3 and get the hans. add a fire system, then a fuel cell, some tires and go racing!
you can re-weld the cage holes you drill so nobody but you knows it was there... the safety devices cages are pretty good.
an R3 is a little uncomfortable at 1st... but you get use to it, like a helmet. not sure about ISSAC. that might be cheaper and more comfortable...
R3 vs ISSAC could be a new tread...
-one reason I use the R3 is it (and the ISSAC), don't require harnesses, If you later decide to instruct, these are your best options.
one last thing to keep in mind is, if your car breaks a tie rod at 140mph, will you have regrets the about safety money spent.... yes its rare, but can happen.
#42
#43
Three Wheelin'
#44
Fortunately the OP isn't going to being going 140mph. Unfortunately, much less than that can result in life altering or ending consequences.
Agree with the posters that suggested your brain is your biggest safety device. Park the ego and Drive smart. Next is H&N, cage, seat w/ 6pt harness......
Agree with the posters that suggested your brain is your biggest safety device. Park the ego and Drive smart. Next is H&N, cage, seat w/ 6pt harness......