SEEKING: Safety equipment recommendations for NASA Time Trials

GENERAL At The Track
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EDIT TO CORRECT ALL OF MY MISGUIDED INITIAL THOUGHTS: The summit seats are crap for track and autocross use. Not that comfortable, didn’t hold me very well, feel cheap. Good maybe for drag racing. I went with sparco sprints, which are side mount capable and FIA certified. I went with RCI 5-point latch and link setup with swivel eyes for the harness ends. i welded a harness bar between the rear strut towers for my shoulder harnesses, but this is not ideal to the length. The jegs cage is not DOM, so it’s a no-go. Check out bdracing and kirk and autopower and rollcagecomponents for weld in cages. fire extinguishers should be mounted where they are easily reachable; my thought is to use the exhaust tunnel under where the radio used to sit. For more safety related details:

http://forums.g2ic.com/showthread.php?214883-92-RS-track-and-autocross-thread-with-build-pictures-amp-videos

I participate in advanced level track days and i want to get into time trials with NASA mid atlantic region. I also want to perform my modificatinos with future Honda Challenge H2 in mind. The car has basic suspension (camber, springs, dapmers, rear bar). brake (race pads, S.S. lines, DOT4 fluid), and engine (I/H/E) upgrades. It is also fairly stripped (around 2250lbs).

Here is what i have in mind for a safety setup:

  • I was looking at the Jegster roll cage, but it doesn’t use DOM tubing. Any bolt-in or weld-in cage recommendations? (i have a friend who can weld excellently, has welded chromoly chassis before)

  • Polyurethane racing seats OR Sparco/Corbeau/ect upholstered seat (realize that non SFI seats will require a back brace for HC)
    http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rci-8000s/overview/ (RCI and summit both have versions of poly seat)

  • 5-point harness with 3" straps. I would like recommendations on mounting (wraparound rollbar mounting vs bolt to rear seat spot), latch vs. cam, brands, ect.

  • Extinguisher mounted under passenger seat

Moving up from track days to time trials & door-to-door is a big step for me; I appreciate the advice.

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I would highly suggest thoroughly reading the rules for the classes you’re considering running with and making sure that all your mods fit with the rules. I’ve never seen those poly seats you mentioned but honestly I’m surprised they’re legal at all (assuming you’ve read the rules and know that they are). Those things just look scary to me, and personally wouldn’t even be something I’d consider. Sparco and Cobra (my recommendation) both make some budget seat offerings that are fairly nice. I’ve used both and thought the Sparcos were low quality, but it does seem like their newer seats are better. I’m going to be upgrading soon to a new Cobra for my driver seat and moving my current Cobra to my passenger side and selling my Sparco Sprint. Check out the Sparco Sprint and the Cobra Monaco for the entry level seats.

As for cages, I didn’t see a Jegster option for the DA. S&W makes some cage options, as does Autopower, Kirk Racing, and Art Morrison. If it’s in the budget and you’re OK with something permanent, then I’d say definitely do weld-in. I have an Autopower 4pt bolt in. And while I’m glad I have it, it’s less than ideal. The main hoop sits a lot further behind the B pillar than I’d like. Of course I’m short, so my seat is all the way forward so this problem is exacerbated. If I were tall and the seat needed to be all the way back, then the main hoop may be as far forward as it could be without being harmful. Eventually I’d like to do a weld-in setup.

For harnesses, both Crow and GForce make some good SFI certified harnesses for a lot cheaper than some of the other options. Personally I’d pay the extra money and get the cam lock, they’re a lot nicer. Especially considering you can get a cam lock Crow or GForce for similar prices to the Sparco, OMP…etc latch style. If you’re going to be using a roll bar then go for wrap around mounting, its simple, effective, and gives you more room in the back of the car for hauling gear to the track.

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A relevant discussion I just stumbled across
http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=3108120