MY01 sports seats - the solution......
30 October 2001, 12:09 AM
#4
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Just wait to be stopped by a copper who thinks your not wearing your seatbelt... then again, if you did not remove 'm you could always wear them over your nice blue ones. Hahaha.
btw Looks great!
btw Looks great!
30 October 2001, 08:08 AM
#6
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Hunk/FB
The original belts are still in, so them for the road, and Sabelts for track days
Phil
How did you guess
That'll be his retirement fund when he reaches 21 - the second time LOL
The original belts are still in, so them for the road, and Sabelts for track days
Phil
How did you guess
That'll be his retirement fund when he reaches 21 - the second time LOL
30 October 2001, 09:00 AM
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Dave
They look good. With you being in insurance can you advise if there is any insurance implications in fitting full harness belts in a road going car. Do you have to wear the standard belts on the road?
Cheers
Sid
They look good. With you being in insurance can you advise if there is any insurance implications in fitting full harness belts in a road going car. Do you have to wear the standard belts on the road?
Cheers
Sid
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30 October 2001, 09:47 AM
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LOL at Phil 
Harnesses are legal for road use, provided they are BS or FIA marked and within date.
Cars like Ariel Atom's etc, only come with harnesses.
Harnesses are legal for road use, provided they are BS or FIA marked and within date.
Cars like Ariel Atom's etc, only come with harnesses.
30 October 2001, 09:51 AM
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I've sat in these seats and they're really snug, it's a bit like sitting in a cupped hand holding you tight
Be warned tho' - they're not for the lardy @rsed oh and you may need a small winch to get you out again
Morning Dave
Be warned tho' - they're not for the lardy @rsed
oh and you may need a small winch to get you out again Morning Dave
30 October 2001, 01:27 PM
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Pete Croney,
Unless the law has changed recently the aircraft turnbuckle type of harness (as shown) is *not* street legal (and your MOT tester will tell you that if the original belts are removed). Four (five etc.) point harnesses with normal buckle type fixings are OK, but v. difficult to get into in a bucket seat IMHO. There is no regulation covering seats.
Rally cars generally do not require an MOT (too new) and so are 'exempt'.
However the average boy in blue is not aware of the above, so no worries. If I make my car safer, then the insurance co. shouldn't be too concerned either ?
Unless the law has changed recently the aircraft turnbuckle type of harness (as shown) is *not* street legal (and your MOT tester will tell you that if the original belts are removed). Four (five etc.) point harnesses with normal buckle type fixings are OK, but v. difficult to get into in a bucket seat IMHO. There is no regulation covering seats.
Rally cars generally do not require an MOT (too new) and so are 'exempt'.
However the average boy in blue is not aware of the above, so no worries. If I make my car safer, then the insurance co. shouldn't be too concerned either ?
30 October 2001, 01:59 PM
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Nimbus / Dave,
I use a similar style Recaro race seat with harness and once spent seven hours `trapped` in traffic etc...much better than most standard seats I`ve come across.
Oh yes, I needed a winch too....
I wear the harness all the time, the Police have seen and not commented at all.
Enjoy
I use a similar style Recaro race seat with harness and once spent seven hours `trapped` in traffic etc...much better than most standard seats I`ve come across.
Oh yes, I needed a winch too....
I wear the harness all the time, the Police have seen and not commented at all.
Enjoy
30 October 2001, 02:32 PM
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Nice Seats Dave. 
BTW, I wouldn't use the standard belts anywhere. Likely that you would submarine under the lap strap as it will now be sitting higher due to the seats high sides.
(Unless you are a huge fat bloke...LOL)
D
BTW, I wouldn't use the standard belts anywhere. Likely that you would submarine under the lap strap as it will now be sitting higher due to the seats high sides.
(Unless you are a huge fat bloke...LOL)
D
30 October 2001, 04:43 PM
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Speedking
Perhaps it has changed.
Not only was my RA an L reg 1994, but there are 1000's of rally cars that are more than 3 years old that need MOT's.
When mine was tested, the tester took one look and said "I can't test it, it hasn't got any seat belts." I suggested he ring the Dept of Transport, as I couldn't be the first in this situation.
He duly rang and was told that provided the installation was sound, the belts (and buckles/connectors) are BS or FIA marked and in date, then its legal.
To pass scrutineering on a rally involving road mileage, EVERY rally car has to be road legal.
Perhaps it has changed.
Not only was my RA an L reg 1994, but there are 1000's of rally cars that are more than 3 years old that need MOT's.
When mine was tested, the tester took one look and said "I can't test it, it hasn't got any seat belts." I suggested he ring the Dept of Transport, as I couldn't be the first in this situation.
He duly rang and was told that provided the installation was sound, the belts (and buckles/connectors) are BS or FIA marked and in date, then its legal.
To pass scrutineering on a rally involving road mileage, EVERY rally car has to be road legal.
30 October 2001, 08:32 PM
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speedking
minor point
rally cars do require mot if over 3 yeasr old and the used on the road or between special stages on public roads.Most rally cars in the uk are over 3 yrs old only a few hundred are not.
toodle pip
minor point
rally cars do require mot if over 3 yeasr old and the used on the road or between special stages on public roads.Most rally cars in the uk are over 3 yrs old only a few hundred are not.
toodle pip
30 October 2001, 09:06 PM
#19
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LOL - I love it when threads start to go off at a tangent...
Re road legality - Mr Burns won't be driving the road sections on the RAC (oops, Network Q
) with his lap and diagonal belt on.....it'll be in his harnesses. As nobody knows better than me, IM wouldn't be involved in a product that wasn't fully road legal
Re MOT - the car will be long gone by then
Re the Feds - don't really care what they think! The vehicle inspectorate probably wouldn't like the decat exhaust either LOL.
Diablo - there doesn't seem to be room for my gut to submarine under the lap belt of the OEM belt
Re road legality - Mr Burns won't be driving the road sections on the RAC (oops, Network Q
) with his lap and diagonal belt on.....it'll be in his harnesses. As nobody knows better than me, IM wouldn't be involved in a product that wasn't fully road legalRe MOT - the car will be long gone by then
Re the Feds - don't really care what they think! The vehicle inspectorate probably wouldn't like the decat exhaust either LOL.
Diablo - there doesn't seem to be room for my gut to submarine under the lap belt of the OEM belt
30 October 2001, 10:01 PM
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Sorry ididn't think my question was that off topic. The belys look great but I'd heard various tales about the legality of full harnesses on road cars and therefore wonder on firstly the legality and secondly the insurance implicastions.
Do you need to tell your insurance co? Would they load the premium if they thinks it makes you more of a "boy racer"?
Do you need to tell your insurance co? Would they load the premium if they thinks it makes you more of a "boy racer"?
31 October 2001, 08:21 AM
#23
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Sid
Sorry, wasn't having a pop at you mate
The harnesses are only in for use off the public highway - track days and the like. The OEM belts remain, deliberately, for road use. Of course, I may occasionally forget whether I am actually on the Queen's highway or not!
Bex
Cheers - have a try on Saturday
Sorry, wasn't having a pop at you mate
The harnesses are only in for use off the public highway - track days and the like. The OEM belts remain, deliberately, for road use. Of course, I may occasionally forget whether I am actually on the Queen's highway or not!
Bex
Cheers - have a try on Saturday
31 October 2001, 01:03 PM
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Dave T-S,
If one were to fit a rear roll cage in one's car how does this affect your insurance, admittedly I haven't spoke to my insurers (Bell Direct) yet, but I am interested to hear what you would say about the rear cage?
If one were to fit a rear roll cage in one's car how does this affect your insurance, admittedly I haven't spoke to my insurers (Bell Direct) yet, but I am interested to hear what you would say about the rear cage?
31 October 2001, 01:44 PM
#28
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Andrew
I'm not involved in car insurance, so I can't tell you. I can talk to you about American medical malpractice reinsurance though, but it won't answer the question LOL
Seriously, this subject has come up on here before. it was why the removable track day cages were developed. I seem to remember the story goes that if it is a permanently fitted cage, as opposed to a removable track day one, it will be classed as a competition car, but you can't insure a competition car for the road without a competition licence - or something like that.
All insurers will likely have different rules, best give Bell Direct a call
I'm not involved in car insurance, so I can't tell you. I can talk to you about American medical malpractice reinsurance though, but it won't answer the question LOL
Seriously, this subject has come up on here before. it was why the removable track day cages were developed. I seem to remember the story goes that if it is a permanently fitted cage, as opposed to a removable track day one, it will be classed as a competition car, but you can't insure a competition car for the road without a competition licence - or something like that.
All insurers will likely have different rules, best give Bell Direct a call
31 October 2001, 05:37 PM
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Dave,..I was also thinking of swapping the chairs,...I'm too big/tall for the dutch/wrx chairs to give good support when driving sporty :lol,...they are a little narrow compared to the MY99 chairs !
Are your chairs still adjustable ??
and where did you fitted the harnesses at the rear,...I have taken the the rearseat out, and saw a few option to fit !
Are your chairs still adjustable ??
and where did you fitted the harnesses at the rear,...I have taken the the rearseat out, and saw a few option to fit !
31 October 2001, 08:17 PM
#30
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Theo
I made sure when asking Pete to adapt the reclining seat package he was initially offering to use race seats instead, that we had the seats on slides so you can instantly adjust them fore and aft on a lever just like the OEM seats.
The seats can be adjusted for rake and height by way of the different holes in the sidemounts, but these cannot *easily* be adjusted when the seats are fitted. You ideally need to set the seat height/backrest rake before fitting them.
They are the best road seats I have ever had.
Fitting the harnesses to a MY01 is not easy but with some thought can be done properly and safely. I fitted clip in belts with eye bolts so they can be fitted over the original belts and both can be used, and the harnesses can be unclipped if necessary.
The main problems are in the rear, because the '01 has a centre lap and diagonal belt. A single rear strap (3 point) does not really work because both available mountings are too offset to either side. A 4 point has to be used.
On the centre two mounts you have to bolt through TWO existing belt mounts and the standard eye bolts are not long enough. I managed to obtain some 32mm and 50mm long thread eye bolts - these are very difficult to get hold of. You also have to be very careful with the centre pair because they bottom out on something behind the captive nut and I think it is the petrol tank
They have to be packed out with large washers to ensure they do not bottom out, and also to raise the eye bolt head enough to clear the fabric of the belt where it is turned up at 90 degrees, enough to be able to tighten the eye bolt.
If you do decide to fit harnesses let me know and I will mail you full instructions.
I made sure when asking Pete to adapt the reclining seat package he was initially offering to use race seats instead, that we had the seats on slides so you can instantly adjust them fore and aft on a lever just like the OEM seats.
The seats can be adjusted for rake and height by way of the different holes in the sidemounts, but these cannot *easily* be adjusted when the seats are fitted. You ideally need to set the seat height/backrest rake before fitting them.
They are the best road seats I have ever had.
Fitting the harnesses to a MY01 is not easy but with some thought can be done properly and safely. I fitted clip in belts with eye bolts so they can be fitted over the original belts and both can be used, and the harnesses can be unclipped if necessary.
The main problems are in the rear, because the '01 has a centre lap and diagonal belt. A single rear strap (3 point) does not really work because both available mountings are too offset to either side. A 4 point has to be used.
On the centre two mounts you have to bolt through TWO existing belt mounts and the standard eye bolts are not long enough. I managed to obtain some 32mm and 50mm long thread eye bolts - these are very difficult to get hold of. You also have to be very careful with the centre pair because they bottom out on something behind the captive nut and I think it is the petrol tank
They have to be packed out with large washers to ensure they do not bottom out, and also to raise the eye bolt head enough to clear the fabric of the belt where it is turned up at 90 degrees, enough to be able to tighten the eye bolt.
If you do decide to fit harnesses let me know and I will mail you full instructions.