Wow, after 8 runs yesterday I noticed that the outside of my left knee hurts from pinning my body. I seem to be pushing rather hard against the door and it's right over the screw hole.

Anyone else have this problem and more importantly - a solution?

-J

 

A 4 or 5 point restraint system should solve your problem.

 

If you knew how funny that is....

A guy "owes" me one, I hosted his web site and he was going to pay me with it.

Thanks.

-Jim

 

I agree. Even with the slippery leather "sport seats", my 5pt harness holds me in place MUCH better than the stock belt during autox:

 

Ran with new Schroth belts yesterday. Huge improvement, I really felt more in control of the car. I recommend them 100%.

With that said I still killed two cones.

 

I used to have the same problem. When I went to an Evolution autocross school the instructor noticed my left foot was hovering over the clutch pedal. He told me to keep it planted firmly on the dead-pedal except for shifts. Never had a sore knee again.

 

Fixed mine with some Corbeau seats. Still keep my knee tight on the door, but its not holding my skinny **** in the seat all by its lonesome, now I have side bolsters.

That or you can affix a pad of some kind either to the door, or else wear a knee pad on your left leg. It may sound silly, but I know of several drivers who do wear one.

Just be ready for some suggestive looks and ribald commentary...

 

Hey guys,

I'm looking at getting a harness for autox myself i just don't know which one to get and how easy or difficult is it to install and remove it when needed? I want to take it out for daily driving and put it back for autox and track events.

How and where are all the connection points?

 

Hi there.

I went with this one: http://www.soloracer.com/minirallye4.html and it can easily be removed after track day.

Cheers,

-Jim

 

No offense to Mjolnir or Soloracer, but Helix has them for less.

http://www.helix13.com/html/products/body.htm

I got them for track days. Very easy to install.

 

Keeping the left foot planted on the dead pedal works and instead of a 4/5 pt harness I use a CG-Lock. It keeps the bottom part of the seat belt lock in place and allows the shoulder part to trave normally. Works for me at the autocross and I use it all the time, keeps the bottom firmly planted in the leather seat.

 

I had the Scroth 4 point but can't use them at BMW schools unless I put in 1/2 cage so I sold them and have the C-G Lock now.

I run at Mosport which has one blind off camber down hill left hander and I find I lean all my weight on my right knee and then can't get enough muscle control to push the gas peddle when I get to the apex.

Planting the left foot first really helps but does have to be an active choice otherwise i end up in the right knee again

 

Wow, i didn't know harnesses were so costly.

I've looked into getting a CG lock and i'm just not sure if planting my bottom in the seat is enough. Plus wouldn't a frontal accident with the CG lock in place be a little dangerous? I know you still have the shoulder belt in place but the reason shoulder belts were made mandatory were because lap belts can stretch your spine in an accident.

Any thoughts on that?

 

I can only relay what I have experienced thus far with the CG-Lock. My BIG Butt stays pretty much planted. I have talked with the designer of the product and he says that the lap belt portion restrains 80% of the body. The CG in CG-Lock stands for "center of gravity".

Here is a trick that I use for autocross, determine where you keep your seat during an event, then slide the seat all the back and pull the CG-Lock as tight, now slide the seat back up to the autocross driving postion. If you can breathe, it is not tight enough, just kidding... ... You may have a hard time breathing, but then again the runs are only 30-90 seconds...

I use the CG-Lock daily, of course I don't pull it very tight, it just makes me feel more secure. :smile:

No way am I any type of Dr. or Automotive engineer, but the CG-Lock does not interfere in anyway with the shoulder part of the seat belt, it still moves freely. The only thing that the CG-Lock does is keep the lap part from feeding out. Think of as you would the lap belt ina passenger airplane.

 

The lap belt is still in use and will lock up in an accident - plus you have airbags.

The C-G Lock just stops things from loosening off when nothing too exiting is going on in your car. I have found that some cars are better than others at keeping the harness tight. My Z3 got soo tight you could hardly breath but the MINI seems to always be too loose.

It's definately not a substitute for proper belts but not value for the money. I notice a few of the BNW school instructors just carry them from car to car

 

So i'm guessing you guys are saying its much more worth trying out the CG lock before spilling $200 bucks for the Shloth Harness?

Again the harness is more for attaching me to the car instead safety for me.

 

All I am saying is that for the $40 or so dollars how can you go wrong. Also, I believe that most driving schools require that the passenger seat have the same type/level of restraint as the driver. At least those are the requirements up here in this area.

The CG-Lock will keep your bottom planted on the seat, which where most of your movement is going to be. You can use your left foot to brace yourself, but you gotta shift some time.

I may move up to a harness in the future, but for right now the CG-Lock does the job that I want it to do.

 

Thanx guys,

Looks like i'll be trying out the CG lock soon, if i'm not satisfied i'll then go to the harness.

 

I use knee pads. Same as carpetlayers, roofers or baggage handlers
would use.

I cannot keep me left foot planted if I left-foot-brake.

 

I'll second eveything Paddy said. The CG Lock is as good as a harness on the MCS.

I wish I could put one on my Corvette. I did a school last weekend (Paddy attended, too), and the enxy day my right knee had a big bruise from my practice of bracing myself throughout each run. If I autocross the Vette next year, I'm going to have to get a harness, as the CG Lock won't fit. I'd much rather use the CG Lock, and obviously it's much, much cheaper.


Cheers.

 

cheapest solution to a sore knoee is a knee pad......