I was able to mount harnesses in our Celica without using any type harness
bar, I can't see why a way couldn't be worked out to do the same in a
Corvette. Otherwise if you REALLY ARE after chassis stiffening as well as
harness mounting and want to be legal as well, put in a 6 pt rollbar or
cage! A harness bar with clevises connecting it to the mounting brackets
would assure that it couldn't be protested as stiffening the chassis.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Travis Dixon" <travisd@tubas.net>
Cc: <evolution-discussions@yahoogroups.com>; <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 1:36 PM
Subject: RE: [evolution-disc.] Harness bar...
> On Tue, 23 Aug 2005, Andy Hollis wrote:
>
> > The SEB answered this one again this year (it keeps coming up). In
essence:
> >
> > 1) *If* the bar serves to stiffen the chassis, it isn't legal.
> >
> > 2) The manufacturer claims it stiffens the chassis.
> >
> > You gotta decide whether you believe the manufacturer or not.
> >
>
> I have a "harness bar" in my C4 corvette. Different design - mine is
> a solid piece of stock, where the Hardbar one says it's a co-axial
> type (telescoping?). Mine adds no discernible stiffness to what is
> a pretty floppy chassis. If it's not noticiable on a C4 flexy-flier
> I seriously doubt that there's any stiffness to be had on a C5,
> especially a hard-top/FRC.
>
> From a "makes you go faster" perspective the harnesses to much for for you
> (the driver) IMHO. And having a proper, safe way to mount them should
> trump any perceived "chassis stiffening", again, IMHO.
>
> Given the number of national level stock-class cars that run a harness
> bar I think the chance of drawing paper is slim to none, especially on
> a harness bar that only bolts into the upper belt mounts. On the other
> hard, if you started pushing that envelope and went for one of the bar
> designs that bolt in to more than two locations in a way that starts to
> triangulate the chassis, you're going to get into problems. Keep in
> mind that if you install something like this it needs to be there for some
> reason other than potentially stiffening. Installing the bar but not the
> harnesses would also put you into protest-bait territory.
>
> Oh yeah, I'll also throw in the obligatory note about don't plan on
> using a harness bar for harnesses used on non-Solo2 activities (i.e. track
> days). Running upper-body restraints without a proper roll structure (bar
or
> cage) is a no-no.
>
> -travis
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