Just like the topic asks...when did you realize that your stock seat/seatbelt was inadequate for holding you in place for your skill level?

I have seats with semi-decent support but I notice that when I'm taking a "high" G turn...I lean my body into the turn to make use of the side bolsters
I also cram my left leg into the door for additional support when turning right (results in a small bruise on my knee)

 

the day I put my 3point belt in the car, thats when relized the big difference...

 

Last HPDE...

 

I added the harness to the ITR when I noticed how much I was bracing with the steering wheel (death grip). It still took a while to undo that habit.

With the CRX, it was required, so I don't know how that would have been without it.

 

when i was going around a corner and my gf flew out the window

jkjk

when i drove a 2.5RS w/ jap spec (awsomely bolstered) seats and 4pt harness in an autox. no more death grip needed. i then went home and started the search for seats and belts

 

damn...i may need a seat then...

wat a pissoff...racing shell = 5/6pt harness = rollbar = $1000-2000 =

 

I noticed I needed new buckets when I got the hang of Left-foot braking down. Going around corners at speed really demonstrates how much your *** slides around without supports and a good harness.

That, and sitting inside a BRIDE bucket (forgot what model). It's like putting your face into some nice, soft breasts on a hot chick. Comfy, and you never want to leave.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by REFLUX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">damn...i may need a seat then...

wat a pissoff...racing shell = 5/6pt harness = rollbar = $1000-2000 = </TD></TR></TABLE>

No worries. A 4pt rollbar for most Hondas can be had below $300, and an inexpensive 5pt latch-lock harness can be had for around $100. I used a harness/rollbar/OEM seat combo in the ITR since the R has great OEM seats. However, you can pick up a good Kirkey seat for under $300 and swap it out for daily driving. For autocross and HPDEs, there's no reason to spend much more than that.

Note - That's $700 US$. I see you're up north, so that's what...$127,000 CAD?

 

I noticed that I need it when I came back from my HPDE w/ sore forearms. But alas, I'd rather spend the money on seat time than new gear.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by travis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


Note - That's $700 US$. I see you're up north, so that's what...$127,000 CAD? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Hey, our dollar has climbed 14 cents on your dollar in the last year or so. So it's much less than $1000 CAD.... unless you were including shipping, duty, and other ancillary charges, in which case $127,000 is pretty close.

More on topic, I too would like very much to get a seat and harness. The short-comings of my current set-up is most obvious while left-foot braking when the only force keeping my inside the car is the death-grip on the steering wheel someone mentioned above.

 

My last few HPDEs I have noticed how much I was sliding around. My arms would be tired by the end of the day, and I was using my left leg to brace. The worst part was trying to make a shift in a corner, like T1 at Summit, or T1 and Hogpen at VIR. In any of those cases you might find yourself trying to pull the next gear while you are still exiting the corner. I found that with the lateral G load, and my body slipping around, I had a hard time selecting the right gear.

My next track event will be my first in a new car with cage/seats/harnesses, so it should be interesting.

 

I never really felt comfortable with just the stock belts. Sliding all over the place. I hadn't figured out the twist method by that point and my 93 Si seats sucked. This season I picked up a Schroth Rallye 3 and a pair of delSol seats. Tightened up right I can barely breathe much less slide around.

The harness is for autocross only of course.

http://spoon.org/civic/pics/Rallye-3.jpg


I hear good things about those seatbelt clips they're advertising in GRM now that tighten up the lap belt but leave the shoulder belt free. For $30 I might get one for my wife to use in her car when she runs.

 

I never liked the stock seatbelt, but waiting until I could do the seat/harness/rollbar all at once.

For me, the seat made a much bigger difference than I ever anticipated. I had ridden in cars with stock seats and a harness and constantly felt the harness pulling on me. Now, I feel like the seat is holding me in place, and the harness just becomes protection. Had I known what a difference it would make I would have make the switch much sooner.