Rollbar / seats / harness stuff, yet again...

edconline

Good thread, some good info in here. I too am going the route of a harness bar with 5-point harness/racing seats for the track. Several reasons, however the primary two are:

1) I agree that a roll bar is the best solution to help ensure you are not crushed in a rollover while wearing a harness, however I do not believe that the car was built with the concept of your body 'falling' into the middle to protect you from being crushed in a roll. This is what the B Pillars are there for, and while certainly not as effective as a roll bar, I am confident that they will in many cases prevent the roof from crushing in on you.

2) The only time I will be wearing the harness is at the track. I think it can be reasonably said that in any type of a crash where you are wearing a harness, that does not involve a roll (assuming a hans device is used with the harness), you are better protected with the harness than without it, regardless of whether it is fastened to a harness bar or roll bar. Also, based on the tracks/Auto-x places I will be going to, the chances of a roll are slim to none, which means despite that added risk in one, unlikely type of crash, the added safety in all other possible crashes more than makes up for it.

I believe there is a picture/post on here of a member that rolled his 350Z down a hill while wearing a harness, without a roll bar, who stated that wearing the harness likely made a big difference. (In that he was uninjured)

Obviously the decision to use a harness without a roll bar is going to come down to what each person is comfortable with (and regulations of the tracks you are at) but for me, the harness bar is a more than acceptable alternative to a roll bar/full cage.

__________________
View Journal
Audio Build

wstar

It definitely is designed around this concept. The 3-point belts do this automatically by design (allow you to fall to the inside). Re: the B-pillar, I'll say what I said 30 seconds ago in the other post: it helps, but it can be pushed over or flattened depending on the accident. And if the B-pillar falls, and you're locked into a harness, your neck is the next thing in line for the car's force.

__________________
7AT Track Car!
Journal thread / Car setup details

SPOHN

That was me. And it sure did. I had seats, harness, and a harness bar that did brace between the stock seatbelt mounts. I rolled four times side over side hitting some big rocks. The first roll was a straight drop of about 30 foot plus. I was very supported within the car. The roof did hit my head but it wasn't bad nor did hurt me. I was just a little shaken up. Mostly nerves. Not to say luck didn't play a part. I see where both of you other guys are coming from.

__________________

ryan0

that is the only reason i posted in this thread... the almost elitist version of 'you're an idiot if you use a harness with out a full cage' has magically been accepted as law, and is now the first response you hear when the question is asked.

lots of different factors need to be weighed.. if you're in a cobra or miata with no hoop, a big tall seat with 6 pts is probably a bad idea. if you're in a mini-van with huge head room and proven roll over protection you'd be stupid not to wear a harness.

in a perfect world, everyone would have full cages and NASCAR bars... but thats not the case... and i don't feel that the only opinion given should be 'full race or OEM, with nothing in between'.