Hey,

Ok I have searched the last two days on this and there is no real answer I have seen. This concerns the NASA HPDE's. Ok, here are the questions:

1. If you have a roll cage, do you HAVE to have the SAME racing seat, or racing seat at all for passenger, same harness? Could I use a harness and passenger have stock seat with harness, would I find an instructor to do that?

2. If I have a roll cage, does the passenger have to have a seat back brace? With a stock seat?

Thanks!

Simon

 

Why don't you contact NASA and ask exactly what they are looking for? Makes it real simple... direct from the horses mouth.

 

I have, but cant find a direct answer.

 

Email the Regional Director.

Would be Jim Pantas for the southeast region.

 

I have but answers are not clear really on the rules.

 

its up to the instructor, some will say its ok, others wont.
If the instructor dosent feel safe they wont get in your car, make sense.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by smokin rubber &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its up to the instructor, some will say its ok, others wont.
If the instructor dosent feel safe they wont get in your car, make sense.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly the conclusion we reached in the other thread.

I've seen a few people with roll bars and stock seats, and none of them had seat back braces.

 

Your talking safety gear.. do it properly and you will never have to live wth remorse!

 

Simon:
The safest thing is to have the "exact same" on both sides. The rules for HPDE are less clear than roadracing as to seat back bracing. With a full cage you want the same level of restraint for both driver and instructor. I agree that you need to talk to the regional director and maybe the National Office of NASA. Come to think of it-if you have a current logbook from your karting they may waive the onboard instructor in favor of a follow the leader and tower observation session.
Let us know-helps all

 

At the end of the day, what will REALLY influence how an instructor feels about riding with you is your attitude and approach to what you do behind the wheel. I forget all about what kind of belts I'm wearing if a student is...

Coachable - listen to suggestions and work hard to make changes
Observant - see the flags before I do
Humble - undestand that we all have a lot to learn
Smooth - I don't want to be car-sick at the end of a session
Aware - know that there is someone in your blind spot, when there is

Your karting experience will probably take care of the last one and I know enough about you to believe that you have a good head on your shoulders but be constantly aware of what you are thinking and how you are responding. We professor types call this "metacognition" and it is massively important in this arena.

Have fun and get pics for the web site.

K

 

For HPDE, regardless of having a rollcage, the instructor expects the same level of safety as the driver. If you have a harness and bucket, the instructor should as well. Most clubs, NASA included, require the same level of safety for both, but usually leave it up to the instructor to enforce (ie the instructor can choose to ride with less safety gear).

For club racing (and test days that follow club racing safety regulations), the passenger is required to have all the safety gear (seat, brace, harness, window net, nomex suit, etc).

 

I have worked grid for NASA and the expectation is (what you have the instructor should have). You do this until you reach advanced and do not require an instructor anymore. When this happens you can run what ever you want on the passenger side.

Yes it is up to the instructor to enforce this and you can come to the track with one side stock and other harness but if the instructor does not want to get in that is his choice, then you are stuck with being at the track and not driving.

 

Hey,

Ok thanks for the tips everyone, I guess I will show up with the SSC Neon and harness on both sides and see what happens. Thanks!

Simon