when i went to Limerock Raceway with PDA on Nov. 3rd i was told to remove my Schroth 4 point harnesses at tech inspection as the instructor would refuse to use them, they said it was an issue with spine compression and the upside down V that the straps make. Just wanted to see if anybody else had any concerns , or knows the official rulings on these 4 point harnesses, as i understand they are DOT approved, and Eric from Helix uses them at the track. I thought i saw something about PCA banning 4 point harnesses.
any feedback would be great!

Charlie

 

Yep I've heard that the PCA will no longer allow them. The Schroth Quick fit was designed & tested for use in a MINI. I agree with a regular harness being unsafe with the shoulder belts mounted low.

So far BMWCCA has no problems with them. Many folks use them. I know of one person who had a hellatious crash/roll & they worked very well for him & his passenger. Only bumps bruises & airbag burns.

I will continue to use mine.

 

The spine compression is a big issue for alot of clubs. Each one has there own rules but basic is depended on the Drivers shoulder height VS the back of the seat. The belts them selves are fine. I use a Schroth Bolt in, but I have no race seat or Cross bar. So its in the same config as the Quickfit. Since I only do Autox. I've never really be concerned about the belts.(yeah I know I should still be), But as for a safety and insurance Stand point. If you happen to be in a crash and the due to the belt config. you are paralyzed from the waist down after the safety inspector said the equipment was ok, but knows of this possiblity. Then that club can get its pants SUED off them. No matter what wavier you signed.

As for 4 point harnesses, or stockers for that matter. It has to do with Submarining. For those who like to drive in the F1, Astronut or lowrider position. You are more likely to submarine than anything else in sudden stop type crash.

But hey sooner or later those concerns will come up along with other causing us to have Hanns an other type of devices to be installed as well

 

I share the same spinal compression concerns with my Schroth harness. I will use it for autoX where speeds and the risk of impact are much lower, but for track days I feel safer with the stock 3 point. I know that Schroth claims they are tested and safe, but the setup does not give me my required "warm fuzzy feeling" to be used on track. As long as the seat back did not collapse, there would most likely not be much in the way of spinal compression, but in the event of the seat back collapsing or breaking away from the seat bottom there would be a very serious chance of spinal compression.

Just another viewpoint.....

Jason

 

http://www.mini2.com/forum/interior-...t-harness.html

 

Check out the video on the Schroth site for a view on how well these belts work.

 

Video's are great, but I still don't trust the seat back enough. I just don't think it was designed with this sort of loading in mind. I respect that other's may feel differently on this, but for me and my spine I feel more comfortable with my 3 point on the track.

Jason

 

Well TUV seems to think the seat is engineered just fine.....