Xperience

Hi, so after my car caught on fire a few months ago, I did a lot of upgrades and improvements but I ran out of money for the time being. I would really like to go out for autox this season (planned on going out this last summer but life happened) but I don't have the money for a good quality or custom roll bar. My question is, can I use a harness for autocross without a roll bar or harness bar? I did search for the "proper" way to mount the harness without a bar (mount to the rear seat belt mounting points) but not sure if I can do it for autox. I checked the rule book but either I am blind, or it isn't there. I found the requirements for roll cage specs and all that though. Help is appreciated. Thanks!

No18

You may, and I know many people (including myself) who have done just harnesses for autox.

I mounted it to the rear seat mounting points, just as you mentioned. Leave the OEM seatbelt in for driving back and forth to the event.

Works pretty well, definitely helps to hold you in place while driving.

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

This also can happen in a low speed wreck.
Not much protection at all.

mattbatson

to be fair, in most every autox I've ever attended, there was not much chance of hitting anything...maybe, a light pole...but usually they are situated so you really have to **** up...and very unlikely in a head on type situation.

mattbatson

there is a guy here who does this...has the same kind of connections used on a baby seat that click into the anchors between the seat and back portion of the rear seat...

I've thought about doing this also...

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

Yea you'd have to really lose control in 2nd gear.
I agree unlikely. Id never use a harness bar on the street though.

Xperience

Thanks for the replies. I will be getting a roll bar asap but in the meantime at least I can get some seat time. Thanks again!

While I am asking questions, I will ask one more. Since I will be removing my sunroof for the bar, how thick of lexan should I get? I was thinking 3/8" thick. What do you guys think?

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

Just put in a 1/8 sheet metal plate or something similar and call it done.
Why would you want to see outside when your concentrating inside?

Xian

Yup ^^^. Aluminum plate + sealant + rivets.

Matt_EH3

I did this last year and exactly for the same reason (installing rollover protection and parts of the sunroof were in the way). I just riveted a piece of aluminum to the roof. I did not have access to sheet metal cutting tools, so I bought a pre-cut piece of aluminum online for 80$. I know it is a little much for just a piece of aluminum, but it saved me the hassle of buying tools I would probably never use again.

I got it painted before installing it (I had other body panels to paint, so the painter just charged me an additional 50$ for this).

I like how it turned out for 130$ + hardware/sealant. I am considering painting over the rivets next year.



I did not weigh the sunroof assembly before discarding it, but that thing was really heavy. By removing it, I probably saved the same amount of weight that was added with the 4-pt rollbar.

I wouldn't use lexan unless maybe if I were to paint it. It would probably get way too hot in the car otherwise.

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

Exactly! well done.

StatGSR

CCC Racing offers the aluminum plug, I will be getting mine this year as well.
http://www.cccracing.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1825

Xperience

Has nothing to do with seeing out lol I was just going to use acrylic and realized that lexan is shatter proof.

Looks good!

That is perfect! I bought a plug on my Crx that was carbon fiber but it cost like $400 so the one in the link will save me lots of time at a very minor increase in cost. Thanks for the link!

Matt_EH3

That's exactly what I got last year (pictured in the post above).

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

Should of been more specific...
Most sanctioning bodies wont allow even lexan in the moon roof area.
They want it closed off with sheetmetal.
Even though lexan wont shatter it will break and can cause harm to a driver.

Xperience

Cool that is what ill go with then and save time. Hard to tell on my phone but it isn't an exact fit in the hole right? It rests on the roof and then rivets? I was going to size mine up perfect to fit in the hole and use brackets but this way is fine too. The reason I ask is my crx plug was perfect fit so just want to clarify. Thanks.

Matt_EH3

It's a little bigger than the hole, so you can just use rivets that you attach to the roof directly and won't need brackets.

It really is just a piece of sheet aluminum that they cut for you. Much more cost effective than the blingy 450$ CF one. I prefer spending my money on tires and brakes.

StatGSR

As mentioned, the CCCR option is more of a sunroof "cap" than a plug, it will over hang and sit on top of the roof to cover the hole.

Xperience

I agree. I have a roll of carbon fiber sitting anyway so I can wrap it myself and save that extra $370 they charge for bling ^_^. Thanks for the help guys! Much appreciated.