I am just wondering if anyone in here is running the Sparco Sprint seat in their race car, and if so, how did they mount the 5pt harnesses. I know the sprint isnt the most ideal seat, but it is FIA homologated and a decent price so it would make a good entry level seat. But with SCCA and NASA requiring 5pt harnesses, how can you mount those when the sprint does not appear to have a guide hole for the anti-submarine belt?

Thanks for the help.

 

I have my lower belt coming over the front of the seat. There is nothing wrong with doing it this way. The "crotch" belt is only used for keeping the whole assembly out of your gut in an accident.

 

couldnt you still slide partially under the harness in an impact?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bosco500 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have my lower belt coming over the front of the seat. There is nothing wrong with doing it this way. The "crotch" belt is only used for keeping the whole assembly out of your gut in an accident.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're right in that the sub belt is supposed to keep the lapbelt from going into your gut, but with the sub belt going forward over the front of the seat, it won't be preventing the lapbelt from being pulled up onto your gut. The reason is, in a frontal impact, your shoulder harnesses pull UP on your lapbelt. You need something to counteract that UP force, by having the sub belt directed down between your crotch.

If you look at Simpson's direction, they have the subelt mounted down and back.

With your setup of having the sub belt going FORWARD over the front of the seat, it probably doesn't provide enough DOWNWARD force.

Suprmod, I don't know how your seat is constructed, but if you can put a hole in your seat without the hole affecting the integrity of the seat, I would consider doing that.

 

hrm, so after double checking both nasa and scca rules, it appears there are no strict guidlines on how to mount the submarine belt so long as it is properly secured to the floor or seat belt attachment points.

The pic above shows what I know is supposed to happen. I'm not sure yet if I can make a hole in the seat or not, I will have to check. Say that I did make a small guide hole tho, would either SCCA or NASA inspectors dissapprove on that?

Also, for downward force, I believe that mounting the belt in front of the seat, although not ideal, still provides enough downward force. The problem is that you can still slide under your harness until your crotch hits the strap which is now at the front of the seat.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by suprmods &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Also, for downward force, I believe that mounting the belt in front of the seat, although not ideal, still provides enough downward force. The problem is that you can still slide under your harness until your crotch hits the strap which is now at the front of the seat.</TD></TR></TABLE>

With the sub belt going over the front of the seat, that belt is almost horizontal. What little downward force you get from them is not enough to prevent the lapbelt from slipping up over your hipbones. The main purpose of the lapbelt is to prevent the lapbelt from moving up 2 inches and slipping off your hipbones.

The sub belt isn't supposed to catch you by your crotch to stop your body from moving forward. It's your lapbelt that is supposed to stop you. And if your lapbelt isn't over your hipbones, then the brunt of the stopping force is applied to your guts.

 

upon second thought, you are right. There is very little downward force coming from the sub belt if mounted at that angle.

So anyone know what would happen if I modified the seat for a belt guide? (im just curious, and know that a better alternative is a seat designed for a 5 pt harness)

 

How about getting a fiberglass Momo seat for $239 shipped? IIRC the sparco is a tubular steel seat right?

 

The Momo Start seat is a better seat than the Sparco Sprint. If you already have the Sprint seat, try a 6 point harness. The sub-straps would mount to the same mounting points as the lap belts. Lay the sub-straps on the seat, sit down on them and pull up between your legs and into the buckle. SFI, SCCA and NASA approved.

Howard Bennett
Racer Wholesale

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hbennett76 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The Momo Start seat is a better seat than the Sparco Sprint. If you already have the Sprint seat, try a 6 point harness. The sub-straps would mount to the same mounting points as the lap belts. Lay the sub-straps on the seat, sit down on them and pull up between your legs and into the buckle. SFI, SCCA and NASA approved.

Howard Bennett
Racer Wholesale</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was gonna say the same. I used a 6pt setup in my CRX and really liked it. I thought it was very comfortable. The only problem w/ the 6pt setup is that you body can potentially lift off the seat, but probably not far enough to matter. I now use a 7pt setup in my DA and it's really the best of both worlds, but I'd think 6pt is the way to go if you don't have a 5th hole. If you already have a 5pt harness, you may be able to buy just the 6pt sub strap for it, which would save you cash over buying a whole new set.

 

hrm, a 6pt harness sounds like a viable option. I take it racer wholesale has some on the site

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hbennett76 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The Momo Start seat is a better seat than the Sparco Sprint. If you already have the Sprint seat, try a 6 point harness. The sub-straps would mount to the same mounting points as the lap belts. Lay the sub-straps on the seat, sit down on them and pull up between your legs and into the buckle. SFI, SCCA and NASA approved.

Howard Bennett
Racer Wholesale
</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is how I do it, with a 6 point. Very comfortable, too. Works like a charm.

 

Unless you already have the seat, spend a little more on something you like and will be comfortable in. Dont skrimp on safety!

Trying to concentrate and race a car that is totally uncomfortable is nearly impossible!

 

Where do the 7 points attach on a 7 pt harness? I would assume 2 for the shoulders, 2 for the lap, but what about the other 3?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Another Drew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Where do the 7 points attach on a 7 pt harness? I would assume 2 for the shoulders, 2 for the lap, but what about the other 3?</TD></TR></TABLE>

A 7 point combines both 5th and 6th points into 1 belt system. So, you have 1 between your legs going to the floor, and 2 between your legs going back to the lap belt anchor points!

 

Ah, thanks. Since I haven't seen any 7pts for sale, I would assume you would buy a 6pt and then buy just a sub belt from 5pt system? Oh wait, duh, the camlock wouldn't accept both sub belts at the same time. Hmmm

Any idea what the purpose of a 7pt system over a 5 or 6 pt?

 

its for formula style cars, where the driver is sitting in a more inclined position. I would assume its to counter act the motion of the driver lifting off the seat, which was mentioned earlierby flyzlow. If you had a 7th belt it would act as the downward force to keep you planted in the seat.

I think....

 

7 point systems are available but you are still faced with the middle sub-strap problem in the Sprint seat. You would also have to drill a hole in the floorpan to properly mounth the single sub-strap of a 5 or 7 point system. With a 6 point system, no issues.

Some 5 point systems can be converted to 6 point. Depends on what you got and how old it is.

Howard Bennett
Racer Wholesale

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hbennett76 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">7 point systems are available but you are still faced with the middle sub-strap problem in the Sprint seat. You would also have to drill a hole in the floorpan to properly mounth the single sub-strap of a 5 or 7 point system. With a 6 point system, no issues.

Some 5 point systems can be converted to 6 point. Depends on what you got and how old it is.

Howard Bennett
Racer Wholesale
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm confused do all 3 go down the submarine hole?

 

No. One goes down the sub hole, the other 2 run through the same holes as the lap belts and attach to the same anchors (like a 6pt setup). Think of a 7pt setup exactly like 5pt + 6pt. With the 6pt setup, you have 2 straps coming through each of the side holes. You sit on 1 of them and the other goes over your lap. A 7pt setup is the same, however, you also have a submarine strap that goes down through the seat to a bottom mounting point. The purpose of this (as I said in my earlier post) is just to keep the driver from being lifted off of the seat, as can happen with a 6pt setup. Racer Wholesale does carry the 7pt setup (that's where I got mine). My initial impressions from using it are that it is a little more of a pain to get adjusted correctly and get clicked in than the 6pt, but it's just as comfortable and gives you that little added safety.

- Scott