4pt Harness safe with Std seat?

[MINX]

maybe be dumb question but would like some suggestions.
Havent had the sparco 4pt harness long - only used once at Lakeside- awesome with the sparco sprint

Now, off to Morgan Park for driver training/coaching day tomorrow,
using standard leather seat, as Lisa is coming and she has hips, and cant comfortably fit in the sparco.
Q - should i still use the harness?
My only concern is it doesnt have the advantage of locating the shoulder straps through the holes in the sparco.
Is it safe just pulling over the top of std seat?

My logic is it must be better than lap sash.

Stu

[hks_kansei]

Without the harness holes in the seat there's a possibility of the shoulder parts sliding off.

Think, the normal seatbelt goes across at an angle, that means it's constantly being pulled towards your neck, where if it were straight down it would be pulled down.
By virtue of human shoulders angling away from the neck, it can slip off.


Personally, I'd say use the normal seatbelt, it's safer in this situation.
Plus, it's a driver training day, they will make sure you don't crash (if somebody crashes at an instruction day then either the instructors, or the driver, are complete morons)

(also, people who show up to driver training days and then put on harnesses, racesuits, etc always look a bit silly)



edit:
just curious, you say "by my logic it must be better than lap sash" I'm just curious what the reasoning is behind this. Better how?

[MINX]

edit:
just curious, you say "by my logic it must be better than lap sash" I'm just curious what the reasoning is behind this. Better how?

Well, i have simply found that i move around a lot with the lap sash and have to regulary retension it when track driving.
Where as the harness is fixed length and stays put. Obviously the whole point.

I dont think i will use it tomorrow, as you say it wont nessarsarily be a 10/10ths outing, but certainly will be very spirited.
My first time at Morgan Park so i may get lost!

[toppertee]

You need to show more commitment at KFC, instead of the 5 peice pack
Go the 21 bucket!
P.s don't be drinking the max stuff go the full leaded gear!
Then just widen the seat, remember not to force it just use a bigger hammer.
If you need any more tips on bulking up please just pm.

[MINX]

You need to show more commitment at KFC, instead of the 5 peice pack
Go the 21 bucket!
P.s don't be drinking the max stuff go the full leaded gear!
Then just widen the seat, remember not to force it just use a bigger hammer.
If you need any more tips on bulking up please just pm.

Thats super helpfull Nige!

I am steering well clear of trying to make Lisa fit the seat - that would def end in tears, and serious consequences
If i could make the seat wider, well that would be win, .... goes to look in shed for FBH

[sailaholic]

You might have more luck with a velo, certainly don't try a mazdaspeed fixed back they are even tighter.

I also would use the laptop sash for passenger, but then I wouldn't use a 4 point as a 10/10th restraint if I had a seat that could take a 5 point. Have a Google about submarining and 4 points and the abdominal injuries it can cause. I think this would be worse with the relatively flat stock seat base.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[Magpie]

When my Sparco's were delivered home I asked my other half to sit in them to see what the fit was like. The response was "yes they fit" I then said Great I'll have no issues! Note I was in WA when I said that and she was in QLD.

[Dan]

You might have more luck with a velo

+1, I've sat in a few Velo's and they are a well made value for money seat that are wider from my experience sitting in them. Even better is the fact they're made in Australia so you can support an Aussie company.

I personally own a Racetech 4009 but they also sell a Racetech 4009W which is a 'wide' seat, it's good for the Sir Mix-A-Lot crew since it's much more sizable in the bottom area but is not too much wider at the hips so it still holds you in, you can also change the cushions on the bottom (Racetech sell lots of different ones) since they secure with Velcro to prop people up or down slightly, they're about $1,000 for the seat which might be more than you want to spend but it's a one off purchase that you can keep and put into your next car (also I'd suggest buying a six point harness for safety, you can also put this into your next car).

As for this outing skip the harness and use the standard seatbelt since you shouldn't use a harness without guides, if you insist on using the harness at least put the stock seatbelt over the top of it in case you have an accident.

[Hjt]

I have two floor mounted Velo XL Milanos, they are an excellent seat and can be bought new for the same cost as the Sparco Sprint 5. My gf fits even with her hips

[Guran]

Stu - to answer your original question, use both. The harness will help lock you into the seat and the lap sash will be there for insurance if the shoulder slippage thing happens.

[Dan]

Thought I'd elaborate since I noticed this when going through the Schroth harness install instructions for my car, just in case you think people might be being cautious rather than factual.

[MattR]

I know it's too late for the training day, but +1 for what Dan said. I wouldn't even contemplate using a race harness without a proper seat for it, and after 20 years of racing and fire marshalling, would now only ever fit a 5 or 6 point harness. At every track day I shudder when i see 4 point harness being used that aren't fitted properly with the lap belts sitting too high up across the stomach, rather than across the hips. Most 4 point harnesses make it very difficult to achieve this, the 5 or 6 point harness make it a lot easier and a lot safer.