I've just completed my second track day and loving it.
But there are a few things I need to sort out.
I have the Recaro shell seats and notice on hard cornering my body is not supported well and my body is moving just too much.
I was thinking of either a harness to strap me in or padding on the seats to hold me in position.
I like the schroth quick fit pro 4 point harness, but will not sell to anyone outside of the USA.
So what options do I have?
Surprisingly, the standard Recaro seats have way more side and thigh boltering than the "upgraded" shell seats (I found this out after ordering the same Recaro sportster CS to install into my USDM RS).
I'm surprised there aren't any Schroth dealers in Australia. One option I can think of is getting a seat belt lock of some sort to help since you hips down into the seat. This CG-Lock is one of the more popular ones, but I believe it doesn't quite work with the RS's seat belt buckle.
That would be great if someone could send one. They are saying that it has only been tested on a USA delivered RS. Same same I'd say. It's only a seat belt.
There are Schroth dealers in Australia btw.... https://performanceracegear.com.au/product/p1-dealers-australia/ ..... Race Harness
Interestingly when I first took my RS on the track a couple of years ago, I also noticed that the seats weren't holding me as much as I thought they would....I had identical seats in my previuos Mk2 RS and they were fine on the track, so I can only conclude that the MK3 ones are a touch wider. However, when I tracked it recently, I did the old tighten the seatbelt trick before going out and it was fine. Certainly a race harness will solve your problems but I don't like the look of the setup posted above by BigFatFlip....the angle is not right and in the case of a crash those harnesses will pull down on your shoulders too much. If using a race harness they should be mounted as close to horizontal to the back mount as possible. This could be achieved using a harness bar mounted behind the seat or a bar between the rear strut towers.
Check out these guys for harness bars...they are pretty helpful ... https://jdmaccessories.com.au/product/21383/
And these guys do various harnesses at reasonable prices... Harnesses | Autosport - Specialists in all things motorsport
The advantage of a harness bar setup is that it allows you to also wear a Hans device.
This would all be clearer if their documents were consistent... they're not.
Snip from the link I have below:
"Please Note: In light of recent testing, Rallye 4 harnesses do not need to be sided. They no longer are specific Left or Right. This harness is not compatible with HANS or any other head and neck restraint devices."
Just by reading about using harnesses without a roll bar I have always been scared away from getting a set. I hate bracing myself against the door and center console. It was worse with my WRX as the seats were bad. I've used a CG lock or years but want to be held in better. Check out the Shroth video where the rep (talks about) refutes the belief that a harness will not let your head/neck move out of the way in case of a roll over/crushed roof. I may be sold and will try the Quickfit Pro.
I too thought it might be different products (Rallye 4 vs Quickfit) but some, maybe all, of the RS docs I found linked or pasted here reference a long name version for the RS as "Rallye 4 Quickfit" or something similar.
The harness grips are the little pieces of plastic that go into the ends of the harness adjustment straps. Its just something to give you something to grab instead of the just strap material. They make tightening the harness much easier, specially once you are in and have gloves on.
The pads are your basic shoulder pads to keep the harness from digging into the side of your neck and shoulders. You can also pick a nice contrasting color to make it stand out. I also like them since they are zipped/detachable and you can install them on your regular seat belt for MAXIMUMRACECARHARDPARKINSTAGRAMSCENEPOINTZ!!!
If you are planning on getting the harness, I would get both the grips and the pads as well.
I tried using a harness without pads once... never again.
The plastic tabs are pretty helpful for making adjustments more easily, but I could live without them.
Fair point. My "never again without" point of view about the need for pads reflects my autocross and HPDE use of harnesses. I never missed the pads when using a HANS while club racing... they would have been pointless.
I'm in Australia too and want quickfit pro but understand it is unavailable here. Has anyone used one in Australia and do the cams scrutinised pass it? Any advice on what else to do. I have seen some harness bars which wrap high up behind the seats which look ok. I don't like the floor mounted one's at all.
Should I organise overseas purchase and get so done too ship the quickfit here or is that a dead end at the first club day?
I am too thinking about such a solution (the quick fit or a harness bar), but also wondering whether such a setup is "safe" in the unfortunate event of a roll. Without a cage a roll can be fatal either way, but a 4 point harness will prevent one's body / spine from bending whereas the standard harness would allow it (which in theory at least) could save the passengers.
For that reason, I am more inclined towards a bolt-in roll cage instead of a harness bar or the quick fit solution. Obviously if you use the rear seats daily, then that's a no go, but the 4 point bolt in cages can be used without removing the seat and can be removed with relative ease.
I'm not going to tell anyone what to do regarding harnesses and roll bars, but the Schroth set up is designed and tested to be safe in such circumstances.
Plenty of organizations (i.e. those who run HPDEs and racing-like track events) treat all aftermarket 4pt situations the same because of concerns like what nviorres stated. They aren't. Schroth with ASM isn't such a safety risk.
I will say I just did my first track event in the RS and after 3 twenty minute sessions my arms were DEAD after holding myself in place a lot. Def need to look more at a harness now
Just did a trackday last Thursday and forgot how great the quickfit (or any harness really) is at keeping you in place. It really allows you to feel a lot more of what the car is doing (slipping, yawing, etc.). One new thing I noticed is that it made my heel-toe better. Without it, the force of my body slowing down and sliding forward during hard braking makes for a jerky and awkward heel-toe down shift. With the harness, my body stays in place and I'm able to modulate the brakes. Also, my left leg is not as tired after a 20 min session since I'm not having to brace my body against the dead pedal during hard cornering.
Got mine ordered yesterday. I'm tired of having to hold myself in place and am flat wore out by the 5th or 6th session. Having better control and being able to concentrate 100% on the car instead of holding myself in place can only be a good thing!
Just finished 2 days HODE at The Ridge in NW Washington June 12th & 13th. I can now honestly say that installing the Schroth 4 point harness was the best mod that I made to the car this year. IMO one of the best performance upgrades you can make to your car for autocross or road course racing!!
Why does it says that its not working with HANS?
Is it wise to use a 4point harness without HANS? I am thinking about the body being hold in place, while head moving forward in case of an accident.
Quickfit Pro does work with HANS, Quickfit does not. It is to do with the way in which the belts go into the waist buckle and how that spreads loads and holds the HANS in place. I think I will get Quickfit Pro so I can use HANS. Agree about head moving forward.
As far as roll overs go, the following video presents a good discussion on whether a four point harness is better or worse when in a roll and without a cage. In the end, I tend to agree so will use the harness. They have a recent video on their website which is an hour long too which covers this in more detail. Not looked at it yet.
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Quickfit Pro does work with HANS, Quickfit does not. It is to do with the way in which the belts go into the waist buckle and how that spreads loads and holds the HANS in place. I think I will get Quickfit Pro so I can use HANS. Agree about head moving forward.
As far as roll overs go, the following video presents a good discussion on whether a four point harness is better or worse when in a roll and without a cage. In the end, I tend to agree so will use the harness. They have a recent video on their website which is an hour long too which covers this in more detail. Not looked at it yet.
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Did you end up finding any to purchase. If you do buy from somewhere else i'd be interested in seeing if theres a postage cost in combing for two sets. After a track day I can barely walk the next day due to having to brace myself so much.
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