Hey guys, I'm very new to track days and I want some new racing seats, harnesses and a harness bar but could really use some help from you veteran track guys.
I have a 2002 Protege5 with Recaro Evo8 seats mounted in the car currently. They are certainly an upgrade from the Protege seats but I want to add harnesses to feel better planted in the seat and connected to the car. But I want to do this safely and legally without spending a metric butt-load of money. I plan on tracking the car in 2012 locally through NASA's HPDE and don't plan on racing or TT within the next 7-8 years, so just local track days and HPDE at Mid-Ohio, BeaveRun and Nelsons Ledges (near Ohio, basically)
Here's my problem; my Recaro's are great and I would love to use them but I've been told that NASA isn't allowing 4-point harnesses anymore (new to 2011) so I would need to run a 5 or 6 point harness, which the Recaro's do not have the center belt cut-out necessary. However, I'm not even 100% positive NASA banned all 4-points or just for TT classes or for all HPDE 1-4.
Next; harness bars/roll bars. I have been told bolting the rear harnesses to the rear seat bolts is a bad idea and possibly illegal as well. So I would need a harness bar, like the one made by Sparco. But I've been told harness bars are also illegal in NASA. So I would need basically a rear roll bar. But the mounting locations aren't really that different for the harnesses from the "harness bar" to the "rear roll bar"? Granted, the rear roll bar is better mounted so maybe that's why harness bars are illegal. Then again, Modified Magazine just had a short article about the AMS harness bar they installed in their EvoX that is legal for SCCA. So I would assume legal for NASA too?
Next up, harnesses; I like this Schroth 5-point harness but apparently they will need to be replaced every 2 or 5 years depending on the safety label on them? But the factory 3-point belt is perfectly acceptable even though it's 10 years old? And a friend pointed me to Crow harnesses which can be returned and they can re-web the harnesses and re-use your hardware.
I'm not a rich fellow, but want to keep myself and especially my instructor safe while on track. I've had two 20min Hyperdrives at Mid-Ohio and I am officially hooked on tracking my P5. I just have a lot to learn and I'm sure there are other members who have similar questions regarding seats, harnesses and roll bars as well. So a huge THANK YOU in advance for any help.
I have a 2002 Protege5 with Recaro Evo8 seats mounted in the car currently. They are certainly an upgrade from the Protege seats but I want to add harnesses to feel better planted in the seat and connected to the car. But I want to do this safely and legally without spending a metric butt-load of money. I plan on tracking the car in 2012 locally through NASA's HPDE and don't plan on racing or TT within the next 7-8 years, so just local track days and HPDE at Mid-Ohio, BeaveRun and Nelsons Ledges (near Ohio, basically)
Here's my problem; my Recaro's are great and I would love to use them but I've been told that NASA isn't allowing 4-point harnesses anymore (new to 2011) so I would need to run a 5 or 6 point harness, which the Recaro's do not have the center belt cut-out necessary. However, I'm not even 100% positive NASA banned all 4-points or just for TT classes or for all HPDE 1-4.
Next; harness bars/roll bars. I have been told bolting the rear harnesses to the rear seat bolts is a bad idea and possibly illegal as well. So I would need a harness bar, like the one made by Sparco. But I've been told harness bars are also illegal in NASA. So I would need basically a rear roll bar. But the mounting locations aren't really that different for the harnesses from the "harness bar" to the "rear roll bar"? Granted, the rear roll bar is better mounted so maybe that's why harness bars are illegal. Then again, Modified Magazine just had a short article about the AMS harness bar they installed in their EvoX that is legal for SCCA. So I would assume legal for NASA too?
Next up, harnesses; I like this Schroth 5-point harness but apparently they will need to be replaced every 2 or 5 years depending on the safety label on them? But the factory 3-point belt is perfectly acceptable even though it's 10 years old? And a friend pointed me to Crow harnesses which can be returned and they can re-web the harnesses and re-use your hardware.
I'm not a rich fellow, but want to keep myself and especially my instructor safe while on track. I've had two 20min Hyperdrives at Mid-Ohio and I am officially hooked on tracking my P5. I just have a lot to learn and I'm sure there are other members who have similar questions regarding seats, harnesses and roll bars as well. So a huge THANK YOU in advance for any help.
