Lets make the definitive Harness and racing seat thread!

[Orange Crush 1LE]

Originally Posted by hcsi99

Orange Crush, I'm assuming your cage is custom? I would love to have something like
that.

Yes, it's custom. I didn't think I'd do this to my street machine, but here I am, LOL. Good to feel safe when pushing, worth the investment. I looked at it this way- I could skip a few track events and that would pay for it, a good trade-off. I know my lady appreciates it too.

[AG1LE]

Originally Posted by Orange Crush 1LE

Yes, it's custom. I didn't think I'd do this to my street machine, but here I am, LOL. Good to feel safe when pushing, worth the investment. I looked at it this way- I could skip a few track events and that would pay for it, a good trade-off. I know my lady appreciates it too.

Daily driver?

[Orange Crush 1LE]

Originally Posted by AG1LE

Daily driver?

It could be a daily driver, but no. The roll bar is behind the seats, not a roll cage, so aside from losing the back seats, doesn't affect much. I retained my factory 3-point seat belt in addition to the 6-point harness. The Sparco Evos are very comfortable.

The main thing is the big wing and the NASA stickers (I'm starting to compete). It's not exactly low key, LOL. So I only drive it on occasion on the street. The door numbers are magnets but the rest are permanent.

[ZL1-V]

[hcsi99]

Orange Crush, is your roll bar welded or bolted in?

[Orange Crush 1LE]

Originally Posted by hcsi99

Orange Crush, is your roll bar welded or bolted in?

It's welded in

[hcsi99]

Orange Crush, You are my hero. I was just looking at your first thread about tracking your car, and not putting in a roll bar, and using a CG locker. How thinks have changed. I'm loving your set up. I don't drive my car on the street much, but want to
retain the interior with the exception of the back seat. I'm thinking of not doing as many autocrosses next year and just enjoying 3 or so track days a year. I'd get more seat time in 3 track days then I would in 30 autocrosses.

[Balok]

Originally Posted by Orange Crush 1LE

OC 1LE's car

I saw OC 1LE's pics and I...

[jksynergy]

^ Umm, ok. He races his car and that's an issue?

Orange, what is the span of the wing on the rear? Curious as i've seen some that are much smaller in size and wondered how much that impacts down force in the rear.
Thanks.

[Orange Crush 1LE]

Originally Posted by hcsi99

Orange Crush, You are my hero. I was just looking at your first thread about tracking your car, and not putting in a roll bar, and using a CG locker. How thinks have changed. I'm loving your set up. I don't drive my car on the street much, but want to
retain the interior with the exception of the back seat. I'm thinking of not doing as many autocrosses next year and just enjoying 3 or so track days a year. I'd get more seat time in 3 track days then I would in 30 autocrosses.

Haha, it's a slippery slope. I really didn't think I'd do much to my Camaro- I thought I'd leave it stock. Next thing I know, I got addicted to tracking and started modding. I may have gotten a little carried away, but it's a blast on the track. Keep us posted on your track days.

[Orange Crush 1LE]

Originally Posted by jksynergy

^ Umm, ok. He races his car and that's an issue?

Orange, what is the span of the wing on the rear? Curious as i've seen some that are much smaller in size and wondered how much that impacts down force in the rear.
Thanks.

The wing's a medium-sized wing, not as big as some. It's an APR GT-250, I believe the span is 67 inches. It's very efficient and depending on the angle of attack that you set, it yields 105-301 Lb of downforce 120 mph. 14-66 Lb drag at 120 mph.

Those that don't like the look of a wing only need to look at track records to know why I did it. The Viper ACR with it's big wing holds the track record at most tracks that I've driven. I am turning MUCH faster laps with the wing and splitter, a good trade-off considering that this primarily a track car now. Certainly not for everyone, not for most in fact. But I wouldn't change much of anything on this bad boy.

[EarlyApex]

Originally Posted by White_SS/RS

Let's not forget that OEM belts are intended for highway speeds and not track speeds! Moral of the story... Don't track unless you cage and harness the car!

First off, I am not trying to cause conflict but to share info. At my last track day on Monday, the cars with roll bars were in the minority, maybe only 20 out of 75 cars. Many others had harness bars and at least half of us were still using the stock belts. I personally try to stay within my car and personal abilities as I do not want to go off track and damage anything. I was graduated to the advanced run group and my main issue now is trying to stay in the seat with the increased cornering loads. I need to add some type of harness to hold me in place so I can concentrate on my steering inputs and not the death grip on the steering wheel. A roll bar is a big commitment in both money and impact to the street ability of my Camaro so a harness bar is the likely choice at this point. A cage is not for everyone, or even for many, who track their street driven cars. Even a 4 point roll bar is pretty hard core for a street car. Remember, this isn't a wheel to wheel race but a "high performance driving event" and should be approached with that in mind.

[White_SS/RS]

Originally Posted by EarlyApex

First off, I am not trying to cause conflict but to share info. At my last track day on Monday, the cars with roll bars were in the minority, maybe only 20 out of 75 cars. Many others had harness bars and at least half of us were still using the stock belts. I personally try to stay within my car and personal abilities as I do not want to go off track and damage anything. I was graduated to the advanced run group and my main issue now is trying to stay in the seat with the increased cornering loads. I need to add some type of harness to hold me in place so I can concentrate on my steering inputs and not the death grip on the steering wheel. A roll bar is a big commitment in both money and impact to the street ability of my Camaro so a harness bar is the likely choice at this point. A cage is not for everyone, or even for many, who track their street driven cars. Even a 4 point roll bar is pretty hard core for a street car. Remember, this isn't a wheel to wheel race but a "high performance driving event" and should be approached with that in mind.

I didn't event look at anyone else's car to see what they were running as far as caged/harness bar/stock. Other than the ZL1 vert. Glad you noticed that.

As you know my day was cut short by one session due to brake reasons but with my harness bar setup I wasn't nearly as exhausted at the end of the day as I usually am, and it was a hot day. It definitely helps with being able to concentrate on driver input and reduced fatigue. All plus' to being safer. Definitely recommended.

Like I said let me know if you need measurements or pictures.

[JOHNSONROD]

Originally Posted by jksynergy

Like the setup. May I ask, who/where the cage is from?

http://rpmrollbar.com/rollbars.html

this one. you need to tell them its for road tracking so they build the right one. the cage is awesome but the install kit is kinda crude and you have to modify a few backing plates to make it work. i did it all myself. there is an install thread somewhere that several guys did it and posted pics.

to the guys still running stock belts . . .
get a lap belt from the junk yard and mount it solid. you can cinch that baby down and its better than maxi pads or wussie wings. a four point belt with a harness bar is not as safe as stock belts with a lap belt to hold you in the seat. very huge difference in the steering wheel death grip.