Rep Power: 319

Ok guys, im really getting sick of sliding around in my seat on the track, I always end up holding on to my shifter or steering wheel, very distracting & its hard to shift or turn like this. I always do the seatbelt locking trick, but I never get it tight enough & I end up in pain after a run. One of my recent races, I mis-shifted alot, which I think was a combo of sliding around & just crappy shifting. I started working on my shifting & on my last race I did better, but I was still struggling to shift/turn in the tight corners. This has got me wondering how I would drive if I didn't have to think about holding on through the whole run.

Which brings me to this... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33701
What do you guys think about a cheap *** harness, just for now, because I want konis & i'm not doing any road racing for a while. Just to have something that will hold me in the seat. I dont really know anything about harnesses, will a cheap one like this be even worth the 25 bucks?? Are there any alternatives to this?? I want a nice one like a Schroth, but I dont have that kind of cash handy at the moment, & I really dont think its necessary right now just for autocross. When I move up to road racing though I will definately have good equipment, but thats not going to be for a while.

What do you guys think??

Edit: heres another real cheap one, better quality.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=50433
I dont know if any of these can be mounted in my civic w/o alot of work, but dosent hurt to ask.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33725
^Mugen?? I doubt it...I dont think they sell anything for under 30 bucks

 
Rep Power: 424

Well, its safety equipment... I usually don't like generic.
You can probably pick up a Sparco/Clubman harness for about $70, or if you don't mind used.... Road Racers have to update their safety equipment every 2 or 4 years.... so their old harnesses become useless. I know a few people who have scored real cheap ones that way. There's nothing wrong with them, its just that SFI certifications last 2 years, FIA lasts 4, then they need to be replaced.

 
Rep Power: 319

Yea I hear ya on the safety issue, wouldnt want one to pop mid run. Any idea wher I could find a used one? Ebay?? Is there a certain type I need to install in a civic, or are they mostly universal??

 
Rep Power: 315

Ask some of the "Grey Hairs" in your region if they know of anyone with some old harnesses. That's what I'd do......er......will do.........

BTW....Thanks Boilermaker fer pointing out that they have to be replaced every so often....didn't know that, so I'm SURE I could find a used set here.

 
Rep Power: 296

harness also have to be replaced after an accident. they are designed to strech just once and very little bit when there is a critical load applied to them

 
Rep Power: 315

Yeah, I wouldn't buy a harness that's been through an accident. Only old harnesses that have been replaced for longevity reasons......still good for AutoX to keep my fat *** in the seat!

 
Rep Power: 319

Ok, i'll ask around next event, but in the meantime, if anyone stumbles across an extra one at one of your events or something let me know.

Thanks guys

 
Rep Power: 319

Boiler, I was digging through the old autoX posts & I came across yours about these good cheap harnesses.

http://www.7thgencivic.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=121444

You have one of these?? How has it held up, im gussing you've had it for awhile. How is the install, what all do you have to do to put it in?? I think you said it has to be permenantly installed, is there no way to easily pull it out when youre not racing??

If you recommend them I might pick one up, i'd rather have a new one than a used one, & $69 isnt too bad.

 
Rep Power: 315

Good find....

$69 for a harness.......PURRRFECT

"Ah the powers of (searching)" -Cheese commercial

 
Rep Power: 315

I found these too....

Corbeau Racing Harness

They're not DOT legal, but are cool for AutoX purposes...

Schroth Racing Harness

Then you got these.....decent price for one of the best harnesses on the market, IMO.

If/when I can afford it, I'll prolly get a Schroth for my side, and a cheapo for the passenger's side....just to keep the "riders" quiet and to keep them from bumping into me when I'm running, lol.

But fer now...I'll take what I can get.

 
Rep Power: 315

Ok...now I have a question...

I want a harness badly, and I might get one within a week or so......so.....

which is better? The Rally 3 or 4 ? I'll be BOLTING it to my stock seatbelt mounting points, so I'm not getting the "removable" style. I'm just thinking since I only have ONE hole in my seat (little red triangle in the head rest) that maybe I should get the 3 style....it might work a bit better/easier? I dunno...

 
Rep Power: 424

OK... lemme try to answer these...
Yes, I have an OMP harness... My only complaint is that it rides up, but so does every other 3 or 4 point harness I've come across. I'd love to get a 5 point with the nut strap, but the seat doesn't allow for it. The reason I bought is was for the buckle system which was better than Sparco's buckle at the same price ( paid a little over $100 for it).
As far as schroth harnesses go, I've got one in the passenger seat, its fine... my buddy has a Rallye4 on his drivers seat, its the same as the rally 3 but bolts to 2 places instead of just 1. The front of the harness is the same. Rallye3 has 1 strap, Rallye4 has a 'V' strap in the back. Either one is fine.

 
Rep Power: 315

Ah...gotcha.

Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 319

Good find FattyMcj, I think now im leaning towards this one because of the waist pad.


Now is this a 2 inch or 3 inch?? It looks like a 2, but I cant really tell off hand, & it dosent say anywhere on the website.

I think im going to get the snap in mounts, so that I can remove it when im not racing, that is unless anybody knows if I would be better off with a bolt in??

I need one before next race, I hope I can pull the cash in time.

 
Rep Power: 315

I think I read somewhere it's a 2" belt.....


Don't quote me on that, but I think so.


Edit: The SCHROTH Ralley 3 is a 2" belt...so I'm guessing that it's a 2" belt as well....since it's a lesser harness. (just a guess)

 
Rep Power: 319

Hmmm...any advantage to getting a 4 point instead of a 3 point??

 
Rep Power: 381

^^ They are ushually cheeper for some reason.....

 
Rep Power: 319

Any other differences?? The three point seems like it would be easier to install.

hmmm...

 
Rep Power: 424

3 points don't often pull evenly on both shoulders, which is where the 4 would come in handy. Of course to install a 4 point without a harness bar, you need 2 rear seat belt bolts in line with your shoulders...

 
Rep Power: 315

I was wondering about this....(actually I was just gonna try **** and see what worked, lol).

But.....

Can you just mount the rear (shoulder) harness mounts to the front seat bracket bolts.....like under the seat at the back of the sliders? I know it prolly wouldn't be LEGAL, but would it work? I'm thinkin' with my red triangle hole in the seat being so high, it's not going to reach anyplace I put it though.....any thoughts?

 
Rep Power: 319

If I am thinking correctly, if you had it hooked up that way, in the event of a sudden abrupt stop, like an engine seizure, or hitting something, wouldnt the straps pull down on your sholders, possibly impacting your spine?? Then you would get a mouthfull of steering wheel. Thats why they say you shouldnt mount the rear straps at more than a 45 degree angle from the seat(illustration below). I know autocross isnt that dangerous of a sport, but **** does happen, you still want to be prepared.




Another diagram here...

http://www.ompusa.com/harness_notes.htm

 
Rep Power: 315

See...now THAT helped A TON!!!! THANK YOU!!!

However...now that I think about it.....the harness won't be long enough. My mounting points in the rear (back seat) are WAAAAY back there. For my daughter's seat to be clipped in, I have to go OVER the rear seat, into the hatch, and on the floor BEHIND the seat, to clip it to the "appropriate mounting points" per Honda Civic Manual.

Argh..I may have to make something that'll extend the shoulder straps....

 
Rep Power: 319

I am reading CarbonFlybers DIY thread right now, where he mounted a 4 point back there, so it looks possible. But his pics suck, so I cant really see for sure. If possible, I think ill go with the 4 point. I dont want to get a 3 point only to still need more support later. Plus, theyre both the same price, so who cares.