THSCC Forums

What is the impact of the 2 year old harness rule on our time trial series? I know this was discussed, but do we all need new harnesses now?

What should the passenger seat get (I know, equal protection...)

Scott

An important note. As I posted in the other topic, FIA belts are good for longer than the SFI belts. I just bought a set of FIA belts and the expiry date is 2008. Here is the memo from FastTrack:


I'm not 100% sure how this affects the TT. Since there is no real harness rule for school cars, then the equal restraints thing is still in effect. That being said, I believe only Time Trial cars will be required to have belts that conform to the new rule, and only for the driver.

As with all school related safety items, your instructor must also feel safe. In my opinion, as long as the passenger belt looks reasonably safe (and I think we all know what that is) upon inspection, and the driver's passes the TT rule, then I think that is sufficient. If the car is not running TT then I think that the belts need only pass visual tech. I MAY BE WRONG. MARK OR SOMEONE SHOULD CLARIFY THIS.

-Matt

Here's a link to the new THSCC tech form:

http://tinyurl.com/2kbey

Page two seems to indicate 5 years on belts although it also requires SCCA CGR Section 20 compliance.

Frank

Scott:

The SCCA 2 or 5 year rule on harnesses will not impact the HPDE
or TT series (other than introduce additional confusion to an already
confused topic).

Our requirements for 2004 remain at 5 years until
either the belt manufactors recommend diffrently or we receive factual
data showing belts no longer meet their designed minimum streingth
during that time frame. We do recomend replacment at 3 years due
to UV exposure.

In general keep in mind:
- IF your belts are obviously warn or damaged, they will not pass tech
regardless of the date or type. This includes sun damage.
- Harnesses are not required for the Driving School but when they
are used for an HPDE event they MUSt be fully GCR section 20 compliant
with regards to the design and installation.
- IF you can un-clip harnesses and store them where they will not get dried out from the sun or get caught in seat tracks or door jams they will last longer.
- For Dual Purpose cars (street, autocross, etc) we recomend DOT
compliant systems (3 or 4 pt) that are designed to work in a stock car without a roll bar or other extensive modifications.

These topics and more are covered in the THSCC Track Events Tech
Guilde comming soon!

MV

_________________
Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net

Scott:

I sorry to have to be answering all these questioins pice meal every one
of these points are covered in the Tech Guide. I will see that it gets
released this week as its only being edited for cosmetic and grammer
content at the moment.

We have not changed any of our requrements other than to allow
an additional option of using 4 point DOT complaint harnesses for
the HPDE. Previously only stock or competation 5/6 pt harnesses
were specified for the HPDE and we did not allow 4 pt harnesses.
However, there are now street legal DOT complaint 4 pt harnesses out
that will pass a state inspection that we are not justified in banning.

All belts must be installed as spedificed by the majufactor or in cases
of competation belts, per the SCCA GCR section 20. This has always
been true and stated on the tech forms. THis is not new. OTher clubs
are lax in enforcing proper harness installations but we have always
been deligent in this respect.

The same protection must be give to both
the driver and passanger - equal protection rule. This has always been
true for THSCC as well as most other driving schools.


Cheers
Mark V

_________________
Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net

Thanks for all the hard work Mark (and I've quoted the answer I was looking for).

Glad to see that logic can prevail with THSCC vs SCCA.

Scott