chuck hannah Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I have a 318 bmw that I'll be starting HPDE in in about a month, wanted to get some input on a couple things: I have in my garage a set of worn racing seats and a sparco steering wheel, wanted to know if it'd be considered "ok" to put the wheel on with the stock seats and a 3 pt. (stock) harness?? Or should I put in the recaro seats (pair) and a 4pt. harness?? (guessing i would need a harness bar?) I'm trying to keep all of this budget friendly, but safety is most important...should I just leave everything stock?? do people disable their airbags?? ...i've been hit in the face by a passenger side airbag and since then haven't been the biggest fan of them, what is the track consensus?? since i'll be running in DE1, what should I do for the instructors airbag?? ...last 2 quick questions: should i take out my back seat? and are M2000 (snell MOTORCYCLE) helmets allowed for DE? Thanks for any input, hope to see you guys around, I'll be at Barber at the end of this month then running my first event at Road Atl in mid June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboShortBus Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Most of this is covered in the 2009 CCR in the HPDE section: http://www.nasaproracing.com/rules/ccr.pdf The Technical Requirements start on page 41, but answers to your questions could be elsewhere as well. I'm not sure why you would need to remove your back seat. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck hannah Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 not really any needs for any of them...just wondering the standard protocol since this will be my first DE. 141 pages of codes and regulations...any quick answers?? pretty please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboShortBus Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 141 pages of codes and regulations...any quick answers??pretty please I already got you started: The Technical Requirements start on page 41, but answers to your questions could be elsewhere as well. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck hannah Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 "The driver and any passenger must utilize modern style* stock seatbelts in very good condition, or a DOT approved restraint system, while operating a vehicle on the track." ok....so 4 point harness are not allowed...they certainly are not DOT approved, i've got the ticket to prove that, lol. do you see any of my confusion?? i guess i'll wait for someone else to chime in with some answers...not really looking for hints, but thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obzezzed350 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 You can use harnesses but they must be more than a 4 pt setup (5,6, or 7 pt) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboShortBus Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 The SEARCH function works great, although I only had to scroll down a few posts on the first page of the HPDE section to find this: http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27951 Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboShortBus Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 "The driver and any passenger must utilize modern style* stock seatbelts in verygood condition, or a DOT approved restraint system, while operating a vehicle on the track." ok....so 4 point harness are not allowed...they certainly are not DOT approved, i've got the ticket to prove that, lol. do you see any of my confusion?? i guess i'll wait for someone else to chime in with some answers...not really looking for hints, but thanks for the info. See CCR section 11.4.8 on page 44. Come on now, you aren't even trying to help yourself... Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck hannah Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 You can use harnesses but they must be more than a 4 pt setup (5,6, or 7 pt) THANKS!! exactly the QUICK answer to the "QUICK question"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck hannah Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 I already got you started: ...lets just start over... ...last 2 quick questions: should i take out my back seat? and are M2000 (snell MOTORCYCLE) helmets allowed for DE?... quick questions = quick answers...aka You can use harnesses but they must be more than a 4 pt setup (5,6, or 7 pt) my recaros will not accept a 5 pt+ harness so i guess that answers the seat question... i searched "airbag" before making the post and came up with all sorts of obscure things....also, i didn't even know there were rules and regulations on the SRS requirements...was just wondering what anyone would suggest...am i not allowed to change my steering wheel?? do you guys THINK (not talking rules and regs.) that it would be of benefit to learn on the steering wheel that i will use in my next car?? benefit enough to sacrifice the airbags?? (stock seats, OEM 3 pt. belts) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robnie0723 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Don't modify anything on the car until after you get a couple of event's under your belt. Invest in the driver first -- spend the money on instructed track time and maybe read a couple of books. Make sure everything is tight, fresh fluids (especially brake fluid), new brake pads and go have fun. Inital goal is for the car to be safe and reliable. Safety upgrades (seats, belts, bars, ...) should be done as a system and done at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck hannah Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 Don't modify anything on the car until after you get a couple of event's under your belt. Invest in the driver first -- spend the money on instructed track time and maybe read a couple of books. Make sure everything is tight, fresh fluids (especially brake fluid), new brake pads and go have fun. Inital goal is for the car to be safe and reliable. Safety upgrades (seats, belts, bars, ...) should be done as a system and done at the same time. cool thanks for the advice...yeah, certianlly not planning on dumping too much money into this thing, but i have another car i had just thought about pulling some goodies out of for this one... car should be solid...got all new brakes, fluids, had to replace a wheel bearing and a shock... the seat upgrades make sense with the rest of the components....but what is you guys OPINION on airbags?? better with or without?? i've been hit in the face with one and it wasn't fun, still have the astigmitisim in my eye to deal with for the rest of my life...also walked away from a couple little incidents with airbag disconnected where they would have caused plenty of $$ damage...is a three point with no airbag OK?? i know its a bit of situational grey area, just trying to get some input....i want to put this steering wheel in but i don't want to be "stupid" read all the f'n rule and didn't see anything specific to airbags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robnie0723 Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 For DE, I'd leave the car stock until your ready to to do a full upgrade on safety hardware. Full face helmet is strongly recommended by most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanmer Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 There are no specific rules concerning airbags. Some guys pull the fuse so they don't inflate in a crisis situation. Airbag to the face with a full face helmet can be a bad thing. If it were me, I would leave the stock wheel and just pull the fuse. HTH Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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