Tom, Nolan...
Nolan, thanks for such a detailed answer to my question. I do worry that
so many "boy racers" use this sort of harness now... although I have no
real respect for their stupidity (some of them anyway)...
Tburke4@aol.com wrote:
>>Crushed vertebrae or ruptured spinal disc is an all to common problem
>>resulting from the equally all to common improper mounting of a double
>>shoulder harness rig like this one.
>>
>>
>
>
>I would agree with you almost entirely, though I have to say I have always
>been a bit suspicious of the stock Spitfire shoulder harness since it still
>goes up and over the seat back unlike modern setups that have a higher
>mounting point or a loop. James' injuries also indicate that the stock setup
>is not very effective.
>
My belt didnt catch until I was well out of the seat... so perhaps it
was my particular unit that did this... perhaps it was defective or just
old and slow...
On my car the seatbelt reel was located right at the bottom of the wheel
arch... perhaps 50cm down from my shoulder?
>>To the above roll over concerns, most Spitfire roll bars are too low to
>>do any good, so the point is moot. You are just as dead with the top 4
>>inches of your body crushed as you would be with the top 24 inches of
>>it crushed. As well, most Spitfire street roll bars are so poorly
>>mounted as to be ineffective in a roll over, they just punch out through
>>the floorboard.
>>
>>
>
>I have to agree about the rollbar height as well, though, I think it's
>better than no rollbar at all because it adds a little crush resistance in
>some circumstances. Our plan is to secure the rollbar mounting points by
>through-bolting into plates on the underside that match the size of the
>interior mounting plates. If I can figure a way to attach to the chassis,
>we'll do that, too.
>
>Based on this discussion, I think we'll add shoulder harness loops that mount
>on the rollbar so the stock harnesses can hang above the seat. That should
>also make the harness a little easier to reach.
>
>
>
Sounds a good idea to me.... practical and also safer.... Liv Haaspers
Spit is like this... as she described in her earlier post...
>While we're on the subject, the gas tank could stand a lttle more protection.
>James' toolbox seemed to help there (aside from its many other practical
>applications).
>
Well, everybody should carry a huge toolbox in the boot.. or perhaps
weld one in there? :)
The toolbox was in the left side of the car... (balancing my weight)....
if you look on the photos of the inside of the boot - it actually ripped
the wheel arch from the boot floor - and also acted as a braking
mechanism - making my left rear tyre lock up - perhaps saving my from
spinning any further....?
James
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