5 point harness?

[2mAn]

I just signed up for my first track day (technically second, but that's another story). My excitement was high as I researched track day brake pads, but then last night I got an email that bummed me out.

The email stated that I would need a 5 point harness in my car. They said it's because my car is older than a 2000 MY.

I am trying to think just how the hell I can avoid turning this into a $1000 track day. The pads alone are going to be $300+ then you factor in the harness. Then with the harness I would need a harness bar so that I don't crush my spine in the event of an accident. Add to that the fact that my seat doesn't have the dickhole for that 5th harness and now I'm clueless.

I have tried to think about the anchor points and the rear belt spots are the best (but then there's the angle). Then I don't know where the other two harnesses would latch down.

I'm bummed.... Is there hope or an I stuck in auto cross until I commit to the fuhraze stuff

[BraveUlysses]

Most track days do not require harnesses--just pick a different club on a different day.

A harness bar will not protect you in any way, it is the absolute minimum requirement for the harnesses to work but it will not protect you.

[djjerme]

That is weird that they are doing that and basing it off Model year. Seems rather arbitrary since Airbags/ABS..etc predate 2000. Sounds like someone's insurance company has them by the Ballz..

I agree Ulysses - find another group to run with.

[agent]

find another group to run with.

I've done track days with the BMWCCA, MVP and Chin Motorsports. None require anything more than factory seats and belts.

[ForcedFirebird]

I have done countless track days, even instruct the novice group, and never heard of that. BMWCCA, NASA, SCCA, FARA, Hooked on Driving, The HPDE, none of which required harnesses. Now when I participate in the races, safety is taken differently, though.

What is the organization?

[2mAn]

Its the Alfa club, and my friend has run with them before in his '85 E30 and they didnt bother him. I think something must have happened recently, to piss on my parade

[BraveUlysses]

Get your fees refunded and go elsewhere, there's no reason to go through with a trackday that would force you to buy a bunch of stuff

[2mAn]

Thats what Im doing, I just sent the email telling them that. Its just frustrating because I didnt get a chance to race my car at all this year and I was hoping to start 2016 on a different note, and here we go...

[Wh33lhop]

$300 pads? get PFCs. $225-260 for the set and are basically the best pad on the market.

I've never heard of a club requiring a harness before. Crazy.

[Axxe]

A track day is not "racing" by a long stretch,, you are going for a lapping/HPDE day, where you will be learning car control, etiquette and not racing your car. Focus less on mods and more on driver and find a more reasonable club to run with, a mandatory harness without a mandatory cage is scary and not recommended by any real sanctioning body that I've encountered. A 4 point is much more reasonable with stock seats and no supplemental roll over protection, the harness bar sets the belt angle btw, not the final anchor point.

[QUKBMER]

Whats the deal with the "brake pads" being so special ? I usually run ATE brake pads / Zimmerman rotors with ATE superblue brake fluid and have no issues.

[Wh33lhop]

Whats the deal with the "brake pads" being so special ? I usually run ATE brake pads / Zimmerman rotors with ATE superblue brake fluid and have no issues.

Stock pads work great up to a certain point... if you are not experiencing fade after a few laps on track, you need to go faster :p

[agent]

Whats the deal with the "brake pads" being so special ? I usually run ATE brake pads / Zimmerman rotors with ATE superblue brake fluid and have no issues.

Stock pads work great up to a certain point... if you are not experiencing fade after a few laps on track, you need to go faster :p

Yes. See the thread just below this one.

[QUKBMER]

Stock pads work great up to a certain point... if you are not experiencing fade after a few laps on track, you need to go faster :p

I do push the outside of the envelope and hall it back in.I guess i'm just lucky.

[matthugie]

I do push the outside of the envelope and hall it back in.I guess i'm just lucky.

It can also depend on the track, some tracks are much harder on brakes than others. I've never had issues with fade at VIR, but at CMP I had fade almost every session. Having to go from 120+ to ~40 twice per lap was just too much for a street-type setup.