Personally, I think that you are over-driving the public road if you need a Schroth 4-point to keep yourself stable. That's just my opinion, though. Also, the intended severe impact at a DE event (intended purpose of the Schroth) is probably more from self-inflicted damage to the car... hitting a wall or rolling over. Severe damage on the street would be more likely to be from being hit by someone else. These are 2 different types of impact and I'd go with the one that was engineered for the purpose.

I'll use a CG lock on public roads, but really to make myself more comfortable on a long twisty stretch. I don't even install my Schroth until I get to the track and I pull it out before I drive home.

I'd hate to be wearing anything that looks like a harness when a LEO pulls me over for speeding. That just might nudge the charge from speeding to 'street racing' and that's a whole different ball of wax.

 

I'll throw my 0.02 in here, as I have driven on the street with the Schroth 4 point harness pictured in post #18. It was a total PITA. I couldn't rotate to see behind or even to the rear quarters. I couldn't reach the radio, or any of the central toggle switches. I did it once, and never again.

It is totally stoopid to use one of these harnesses in regular traffic. They are only good for race tracks where all the other vehicles are traveling in the same direction as you, or parked off the course. If you need something more than the regular lap/sash belt you are driving dangerously. It is just too hard to kill yourself without endangering anyone else to do this on the street.

...and I'm not even on my soapbox!

 

Good point about the nudging-the-charges-up thing - I hadn't thought of that. But again (in case ya'll were talking to me) I was thinking more of personal stability and comfort for my poor shoulders while doing twisties (I know - still considered public roads most times), not necessarily the non-submarining, track damage and injury, etc. Thanks for the input guys.

 

all you have to do to make the schroth harnes fit the r56 is shave a lil plastic on the outside buckle

 

If you really wanted an effective harness I would think the right way to do it was to change the seats to race seats to really make it safe, I may be wrong but I think the stock seats would be hit & miss in an accident since there not designed or tested to be used with a retro fit harness sytem.

 

They are on the R53 just not yet on the R56.

 

Not a bad idea, but most will tell you that you shouldn't use race seats (real, solid-backed race seats that are made for harnesses) unless you have a roll bar... something about spine compression from not being able to slide down or sideways when the roof crushes. In an accident, you run the risk of severe head trauma from the roll bar unless you are wearing a helmet tested for automotive use.

So, in my book (if my facts are correct and I'm no expert): real harness = race seat = roll bar = helmet = not for street use

I'm not even gonna get into a HANS device, but if I had all of that other track-based safety gear in the car, I'd probably do the research into that as well as a necessary protection with all the other stuff.

If you are looking for more side-to-side upper body support for canyon carving or other spirited street driving, I might look into some better seats with a bit of shoulder support... something with a 'designed-for-the-street' flexible/adjustable back like the JCW seats from the UK (but then you might have airbag considerations... it's never easy!).

 

Bringing this back to life...anyone have R56 harnesses? I'm starting a year of racing and driving school and really want these for the safety of my instructor and myself.

I know the r53 retrofits, but I want a belt designed for the R56 thats been tested and rated in the R56. I heard there is, but couldn't find it. Where should I look? Thanks in advance for the help!

 

Sorry - no headway made yet. Schroth is "supposedly" in the final stages of testing for the R56, but have not yet released them. I'm (not very) patiently awaiting the release....

 

I hear that, thanks for the speedy reply..I really need these things!

 

Just to let everybody know, the R53 harness work 100% perfect for R56's. I bought one in 2007 a few months after I got my car and there is one simple mod you have to do. The molded plastic on the front seat male piece needs to be trimmed a bit. The molded plastic is not structural, but a comfort thing. It took me 2 minutes with my dremel to trim this off.

I love my harness, once setup, I find it quite comfortable.

Scott.

 

It's not a matter of whether or not they fit (they do with the mod you descibe) but whether the seats are designed to withstand the load.

 

Exactly my point! I don't want a belt that is made for a different car, then have an accident or spin out only to find the belt was not rated to withstand impact, and end up with a malfunctioning seatbelt. That would be a bad time to say, damn, I wish I bought the proper belt!

Seatbelts are made for specific cars for that reason...they need to get a move on with these harnesses!

 

The belt design hasn't changed, only the seat. So the belts are the same. Schroth just wants to make sure the seat will stand up.

 

Understood. Thanks!