Looking for Restraint Recommendations

[kmagvette]

I have a bone stock 2002 Z06 (for now). I have some track days scheduled in May, but want to upgrade the cars restraints before it sees the track. I want to keep the original seats (in the car) without having to cut nasty holes in them for the shoulder/crotch strap(s).

I have no clue what is available or useful in this domain.

I do not mind installing a no-welding required roll bar if it is required to secure the restraints.

Thanks for your help, I will work on fixing that "bone stock" problem later, I think the stock shifter goes first.

[DJWorm]

There are a number of nice Harnesses available. BTW you MUST use a 6 point harness with the stock seats

I use a Simpson. Hardbar has the Team Tech Harness and I know others who have used a Crow harness.

The shortcoming of the stock seats is that they do not have shoulder strap holes as do the sport seats. What many don't realize is that the OEM Z06 seats have the same frame as the Sport seats...so if you know a good upolstry shop it is a cinch to modify the leather and loose some foam padding. However it is not necessary to have holes cut in the Z06 seats to use a harness.

As to mounts Hardbar again has a harness bar and and mounting points, they use a bar mounted to the rear seat bolts.

Brey-Krause also has a nice harness bar and a Lap Mount Kit for attatching clip IN and clip OUT belts.

These systems use the OEM B pillar bolts as mounting points and the seat belt hardware. You retain the stock belts as well.

www.bkauto.com
www.hardbar.net

You will have to decide wether you need to go with a harness bar, roll bar or cage

Nice roll bars can be found at Doug Rippie and LG Motorsports, a Supporting Vendor
<---- Over There
www.lgmotorsports.com
www.dougrippie.com

For cages I would consider a Kirk Racing or Autopower from IO Port
www.kirkracing.com
www.ioportracing.com

This same question was just asked in the Racing section and I am going to transfer the post there.

[kmagvette]

DJWorm,

WOW, that should just about cover it. I will investigate the cost and visual impact of modifying the seats.

I see you are in Erie, Pa. Do you get any Road Course time locally? I end up in Erie frequently for business, so some time on a different track could be interesting.

Thanks again for all your help

[Subdriver]

I use a Simpson Cam lock six point harness which is bolted to various places on my car and the shoulder straps go around a horizontal roll bar tube behind me.

Whichever harness you get, think it out very carefully before you buy the belts. The ends are different for each piece (e.g. the lap belt, the anti-sub straps, and the shoulder harness). You have to know exactly how you are going to mount it or you may end up getting the wrong type of belts.

For example, the Brey Krause lap belt clips, which are very nice in a stock car, you need clip in ends to your lap belt and anti-sub straps. So if you bought a lap belt that had bolt in ends, you couldn't hook them to the Brey Krause clips.

I actually have a six point Simpson harness for my passenger side as well for when I do DEs. I use a Hardbar lap belt mount. The only downside to the Hardbar lap belt mount is it limits the seat rear travel by about an inch or so. Not a problem for me, but if you are tall, this may be a problem. I am not real satisfied with the shoulder harness fitament on the passenger side with the stock seats. I really want to get a sport seat for the passenger side that has the cut out for the shoulder straps.

[Gweedo]

What are your thoughts on using a harness without a rollbar? If the roof crushes in a roll over your going to break your neck. Seems a bit risky to me...

[David Pintaric]

Before I went T1 racing, I had a not-bone stock 2002 Z06 that I did a few (2 actually) DEs.

I used the Arizona Speed & Marine harness bar, and Simpson cam lock six point harnesses. I put the harnesses on both driver and passenger seats in consideration of any passenger.

At the time the belts seemed to work fine, but I am sure if I drove a car with this set up after driving a full-tilt race set up I would notice some movement. But I am sure you will not have problems.

What are your thoughts on using a harness without a rollbar? If the roof crushes in a roll over your going to break your neck. Seems a bit risky to me...

That issue has been discussed a few times on this site. I have yet to roll my race car, and I race under much more "aggressive" conditions than someone will experience in DEs.

[Zippy]

Restraiints? There's the old standby handcuffs, and leather straps.

Zipster

[DJWorm]

The question of wether to use a harness bar, roll bar, or roll cage and wether the apparatus needs to be bolted in or welded in is usually dictated by the rules of the sanctioning body.

Generally, Low Speed events and Controlled High Speed events such as DE's and Track Days do not require restraints (other than OEM) or roll structures. There is supposedly NO direct competition between cars and times are only for information and instructional purposes. Some of the rules limit restraints and how they can be attatched. See SCCA Solo II Rule Book

High Speed events that are timed events such as Solo I,Time Trials and Hillclimbs require at least a Roll Bar. See SCCA Solo I Rules

Any event in which there is direct car to car competition and the probability of contact or of off course excursion require a roll cage.
SCCA T1, WC. See SCCA GCR's


Drag events are ET regulated...ie the quicker you go the more protection you need. SEE NHRA rule book

Some Public Road events such as the Nevada Silver State Classic are speed regulated ...ie the faster you go the more protection you need. See specific event rules.

The obvious benefit of a welded in cage is safety, however there is also a performance benefit in a stiffer chassis. There is a weight penalty of course.

Again you need to seriously consider where and how the car is going to be used and in what class you are going to compete in amnd what the rules are and what they require.

I felt sorry for the guy who showed up in a completely stock Z06 except for the $4,500 custom 8 point welded cage and expected to compete in a stock category (he didn't realize the performance advantage and didn't read the rules) and was moved directly to a Modified class where he needed about 600 HP and race tires and wheels to be competitive. Plus his car is now carrying around 85#'s it doesn't need.

[DJWorm]

Zippy,

That's pretty KINKY for a Gentleman of you stature. Viva Viagra!