>I'm about to go the 5-point harness route (I'll keep the crotch belt to
help
>keep the harness in place) and would love to hear pro/cons about what
>styles: pull-down or pull-up; individual shoulder, H or Y style;
Sabelt/TRW,
>Simpson, etc.
>
>Also, any tips on mounting - while keeping the OEM belts.
>
>Note: I plan on using wrap-around style for the shoulder portion.
>
>TIA
>
>Bill Schenker
>Cal Club #36 csp
Harnesses -- I have pull-down styles on both my shoulder harnesses and my
seatbelts. Next time I do belts, I am going to the pull-up on that. Down on
the shoulder harness seems to give me a nice tight fit, but down on the
belts seems to run out of room and also not to have a good angle that really
tightens. It may say "pull" down, but in effect I am pushing since the
direction is "away" from my body. I only feel tight from the lap belt if I
adjust it BEFORE I buckle it.
If you ever have any thought of doing more than pure solo II (including any
possibility of Solo I), get the H-style shoulder harness rather than the
Y-type. Y is illegal for road racing. H is only one more mounting bracket.
Big deal. Figure it this way -- with an H you are covered for any rules
evantuality, with a Y you are not. Price difference is virtually nil. Why
choose that which *maybe* could be a problem someday.
BTW -- just looked at 3.3A and 3.3B and I don't find them ambiguous at all.
Well, maybe a little, but it is language use, not numbers.
First, 3.3A says the full harness "may not be used" be used in an open car
without roll bars "meeting the full Height requirement of Appendix C. So now
you know a rollbar is required.
Second, Appendix C says "It is strongly suggested" (the word "required" is
never used) that the rollbar be at least 3 inches above the driver's helmet.
This is funny in that the roadracing GCR specifies 2 inches, but that is
irrelevant.
Third, 3.3B says that as a minimum a rollbar "must" conform to Appendix C.
Add that to the "may not" language of 3.3A and I guess that takes care of
"strongly suggested." (except that my car, built to GCR rules, only needs
the 2" clearance. But that is irrelevant for you).
Fourth, it states a specific exception for Stock/SP vehicles that permits
the "highest possible height which fits within a factory specified removable
top."
Conclusion: You have an SP car, thus a rollbar that barely lets you put the
top up is legal to let you run full harness in Solo II.
But note what I said above about any possibility of competing beyond Solo II
(they DO do Solo I in your neighborhood) and the GCR minimums take effect.
You may find a top-up rollbar too low to pass a Solo I tech.
--Rocky Entriken
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