Whatever harness you purchase, make sure its designed to work with factory seats. You have to specifically see a mention of that on the box or in the literature and see some kind of DOT certification.

Why?

Spinal compression and/or the shoulder straps popping off your shoulders in an accident.

Racing harnesses are designed to:

1. Have the shoulder straps mounted horizontally from the tops of your shoulders to a roll cage. If the straps are installed at a downward angle greater than 15 degrees the straps will compress your spine in a frontal collision.

2. Have the shoulder straps run through reinforced holes in the upper seatback of a race seat. These holes prevent the straps from popping off your shoulders as your body flies forward in a frontal impact. The headrest mounting bars are not strong enough to do this job. Sternum and H straps are now being outlawed by some sanctioning bodies because they don't allow the chest to flex in a big accident, causing heart bruising.

Unfortunately, just bolting in a set of racing harnesses can increase your risk of injury or death and your insurnace company will walk away from their coverage if the harnesses contributed to your injuries.


John Coffey
johnc@betamotorsports.com