Seatbelt in AutoX

trasen92SER · Jun 27th, 2002, 10:57 PM

Just a quick question for anyone that autocrosses a classic. I went to my first autox this weekend and just went for rides as a passenger but loved it. I noticed that I got thrown around a lot in the cars and when I sat in my SE-R afterwards, I was having trouble figuring out how to secure myself down into the seat without expensive racing belts.

What has anyone done to remedy this? I can't get my stupid seatbelts to latch tight. Buy a 2" webbing strip to use as a supplementary strap? (heard from a veteran)

Help! I don't want to be flailing around for my first autox!

Thanks

barnoun · Jun 28th, 2002, 02:50 PM

Lock the belt. Sit and buckle it up, then put the seat in the farthest-back position. pull on the belt fast so it locks. Once locked, hold it locked and push the seat(and yourself) forward until you're held snug. Cheaper than a harness and it's the next best thing

Kelway · Jun 28th, 2002, 03:11 PM

I agree. Just give the belt a firm tug short of where you think it should be, and then latch it. You may want ot get some belt pads, too, cause that belt isn't too comfortable.

slowSER · Jun 28th, 2002, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by trasen92SER
Just a quick question for anyone that autocrosses a classic. I went to my first autox this weekend and just went for rides as a passenger but loved it.

You won't notice it as much when you actually drive because you're at least holding on to the steering wheel.

Also, you will be making the car turn ... not sitting in the passenger seat like a rag doll with no idea what the car is gonna do next.

bahearn · Jul 17th, 2002, 05:36 PM

I bought a Schroth Rallye 3 3-point harness for autocrossing. I consider this a must-do upgrade. I swear I gained at least one second just because I was spending less attention on keeping me in place.

The Schroth harness uses the rear front-seat bolts for the lap webbing and the left rear-seat shoulder harness mount for the upper webbing -- it looks like a 4-point harness but isn't.

This is for sale, by the way. Blue, with black-on-blue Schroth shoulder pads. SCCA requires true 5-point belts in IT. It's quite legal in Solo II.

Sr20kidD · Jul 17th, 2002, 06:37 PM

the harness if you look good enough i believe 50-70 maybe less.. so its not that much

bahearn · Jul 18th, 2002, 11:19 AM

$50-$75 for what? A chest strap? I don't know. For a Schroth harness? No way, not new. Maybe used.

RiceBox · Jul 18th, 2002, 02:09 PM

When you are holding onto the wheel you don't fly around as much. I brace myself with my left foot in the wheel well and with my right knee on the center console.

bahearn · Jul 18th, 2002, 03:21 PM

Hey, Ricebox. Get Twist of the Wrist by Keith Code. It's about racing motorcycles but he introduces and developes a concept of which you, and all motorsports enthusiasts, should be aware.

When you've done that, you'll know why I claim to be faster with a harness than without.

Kelway · Jul 19th, 2002, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RiceBox
I brace myself with my left foot in the wheel well and with my right knee on the center console.

You need that left foot for braking

barnoun · Jul 19th, 2002, 09:10 PM

You should lock the seatbelt so it serves as a racing harness(well, as close it gets), so you won't have to brace yourself to the car and be able to concentrate all your effort on driving. And yeah, the left foot is better for braking

Sr20kidD · Jul 19th, 2002, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bahearn
$50-$75 for what? A chest strap? I don't know. For a Schroth harness? No way, not new. Maybe used.

i saw a spearco 3 or 4 point harness for that much awhile ago.. so yea its pretty cheap

bahearn · Jul 22nd, 2002, 01:10 PM

A locked seat belt just doesn't cut it for serious autocrossing. You're still bracing with body parts and expending some of your fixed amount of attention to something that can be completely forgotten with a true harness.

barnoun · Jul 22nd, 2002, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bahearn
A locked seat belt just doesn't cut it for serious autocrossing. You're still bracing with body parts and expending some of your fixed amount of attention to something that can be completely forgotten with a true harness.

If you don't have the money for a harness, it's better than nothing. As for bracing, I do a whole lot less of it than when I didn't lock the belt, meaning it does help. Anyways...it's free.

bahearn · Jul 22nd, 2002, 03:13 PM

It's not really free.

You have a certain amount of attention to give to anything. Keith Code calls it $1.00 worth. When autocrossing, you spend some of that money on looking where you're going, some on throttle control, some on this, some on that. Regardless, you have $1.00 worth. When you have to brace yourself, you now have to split up that dollar on looking where you're going, throttle control, some of this, some of that and some on bracing. Your available attention is less for the important things...unless you're SO good that you find extreme driving unchallenging. Me, I bought the harness and gained at least one second per run since I had more of that dollar available for driving.