Racing Harness + Street Driving

[Rah]

not sure if this is the correct section for this but i couldnt find a more appropriate one..

what is the issues involved with installing a bucket seat and a harness (3/4/5/6) point for street driving, do the back seats need to come out or is it as simple as just screwing one in and that being the end of that. any other issues/bla bla bla

Cheers,

Dave

[Rah]

bump

[aarc240]

installing a bucket seat

Issues:

1 the seat must be ADR certified

2 the seat mountings must be engineer certified if a direct replacement to anchor to the in-body factory attachment points are not available from the seat manufacturer

a harness (3/4/5/6) point for street driving

Issues:

1 the seat belts must be ADR certified

2 the anchorages must be in accordance with the National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification (NCOP)

see:

http://www.dotars.gov.au/transport/safety/...n/vsb_ncop.aspx

do the back seats need to come out

If the seatbelt enters the safety areas specified in NCOP then that seat position must be removed.

More importantly, removing the seat isn't the end of it - the vehicle must be re-certified with an appropriately reduced seating capacity.

So, no you can't just pull the rear seat out, bolt in any old seat and throw in a harness.

A way around it:

Use ADR certified seat belts and install a completely additional set of belt mounts.

Get those certified, together with the seat mountings.

When using the harnesses, remove the rear seat entirely and fit a neat carpeted panel in place of it.

Carry the standard belts all nicely packaged in plastic together with a copy of the certification documentation and the official approval papers (Dept of Transport etc).

If queried explain politely that the car normally has standard belts and rear seat but for specific occasions these are changed for the alternates.

We do this with our 240K GT for navigational rallies etc and Transport SA was satisfied that it was geniune and reasonable to do so.

btw, there is NO point in a beaut seat and flash harnesses if you don't invest in a roll bar with appropriate rear braces. Again, see NCOP

Edited January 17, 2007 by aarc240

[Rah]

thanks heaps for your goldmine of information mate:D much appreciated,

but let me just get a few things straight, firstly, i can have a seat installed and harnesses fitted so long as they don't interfere with the normal set of belts, so i have both sets installed and able to be used at once, i just select which i use? and the seat must either fit the standard factory ones, or i can run other rails so long as they are engineer certified?

and when using the harnesses, remove the back seat and put carpet over the top, and if i am queried explain whats gone on and it's sweet? or can the back seat remain there at all times, even when using the harness's?

Cheers again mate, Dave

[aarc240]

i can have a seat installed and harnesses fitted so long as they don't interfere with the normal set of belts, so i have both sets installed and able to be used at once, i just select which i use?

Get confirmation from your State's DOT (preferably in writing).

I have been advised (DOT SA) only one set of belts can be installed even though the correct anchorages for the others are there.

the seat must either fit the standard factory ones, or i can run other rails so long as they are engineer certified?

The seat isn't the issue, the rails & mounts are.

So, either

1 rails from the seat manufacturer to bolt to the stock in-body mounts (they will have already certified that combination to be ADR compliant) or

2 rails from the seat manufacturer with new body mounts that then must be engineer certified and accepted/approved by your DOT.

That may be as simple as decent adaptors between the rails and the original in-body mounts.

when using the harnesses, remove the back seat and put carpet over the top, and if i am queried explain whats gone on and it's sweet? or can the back seat remain there at all times, even when using the harness's?

The back seat must still come out and you will usually find that the average police officer will look favourably on a 'responsible' attitude. If he reckons you are genuine in trying to prevent injury to others he can be remarkably understanding.

Alternatively, talk to someone in your DOT.

You may find they will issue a modification approval which actually covers the two alternatives (harnesses / no rear seat OR lap sash / rear seat) or else a letter confirming that when the harnesses are installed then the rear seat must not be.

That alsp implies that they realise that it is not a permanent alteration.

[Rah]

awesome, thanks for clarifying that again mate

Cheers,

Dave