Hey guys,

Has anybody heard a rule that if you have a race seat and or safety harness that you MUST have the same kind of equipment for the passenger side for your passenger or instructor? Personally, I've never heard of that but I just wanted to get some more thoughts on this as I'm thinking about getting a racing seat + harness for just myself (driver side).

Note, I'm not planning to do any races in my car... just lapping/track days.

Keith

 

It is common courtesy to have equivalent safety equipment for the passenger and driver both. If you don't have equivalent safety equipment, you run the risk of having an instructor refuse to ride in your car. I think it's rather ignorant to force an instructor to make do with a stock seat and belt while you have the additional safety of a harness and racing seat.

I'm assuming you already have a roll bar to properly install the harnesses . . .

On page 44 of the 2006 NASA CCR under 11.4.8 and 11.4.12 (chapter 11 is HPDE Technical Requirements), it states:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NASA CCR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Passenger seatbelts must meet the same minimum requirements as the driver seatbelts if being used by a passenger.

Passenger seats must meet the same requirements as the driver seat, if used by passengers.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

I'm not planning on running any SCCA or NASA events... competition or otherwise.. but yeah, I'll have a roll bar in my car. Most of the time, I don't even have an instructor (since I'm usually in the advanced class). I wouldn't force any instructor to ride with me so ignorant is a pretty strong word.

Keith

 

The BMWCCA have the same rule when they do there Driving schools. If it is strictly lapping days I am sure you will be fine. But I have a feeling that almost all schools will have that rule.