Seat Belts & Seat Belt Mountings
Rules in Red updated 26 January 1999
Rules in Green updated 8 December 1999
Rules in Purple updated Conference 2000

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T4. SAFETY HARNESSES AND RESTRAINTS

Applicable to;
   All Section vehicles where arm restraints are compulsory
   All other section vehicles where Velcro lever latch covers and/or arm restraints are used.
The following specifications are applicable to vehicles where the competitor has chosen to use a
Velcro lever latch cover and or arm restraints. These guidelines are designed to maintain the
highest level of safety in seat belt harnesses and their related devices.
These guidelines cover the use of Velcro seat belt lever latch covers, arm restraints and also
introduce the age limit rule on seat belt webbing for section 10 vehicles.
LEVER LATCH COVERS.
It must be remembered that the mandatory 5-point safety harness stipulated for speedway must be locked by a lever latch mechanism that, with one action, will simultaneously release all belts of the harness.
SNZ acknowledge that some competitors may decide to use lever latch covers to secure the lever latch mechanism against accidental release. However, the haphazard use of such covers may in some instances hinder the basic requirement of instant release.
An incorrectly fitted latch lever cover may be more of a hindrance than an asset. The lever cover may become entangled in the webbing adjustment mechanism causing the webbing to loosen, or it can work its way under the lever latch helping the latch to be accidentally released. The extremely dirty and gritty environment may be a hindrance to the Velcro self-attaching capabilities; with time the Velcro cover will not stay secure and work itself undone. The use of such covers in Speedway where driver actions are very extreme can gradually dislodge a cover with each cornering manoeuvre.
It is deemed that it is a driver's personal choice on whether or not he fits a Velcro lever latch cover. However if the cover is fitted, the cover must be carefully inspected and cleaned regularly.
  ARM RESTRAINTS.
Arm restraints are mandatory in Section 10 vehicles and Modifieds. Depending on design this flexible tape devise is attached to the tongue buckle of the lap belt clamp and to both arms of the driver at or about the elbow area. The restraint must be long enough to enable the driver to maintain control of the vehicle and be short enough so as to restrain the arms from exiting the cockpit. It is a matter of careful personal driver consideration that the arm restraints are fitted in such a manner as to lay clear of the lever latch. Due to different driving positions and contrasting sizes of drivers it will be the driver's personal decision on whether the arm restraints are fitted under or over the seat belt webbing.


SECTION 10 VEHICLES & MODIFIEDS
   The vehicle must be fitted with an approved, quick release, full harness safety belt. A full harness consists of 5 belts, 2 lap belts of 70 mm. minimum width, 2 shoulder belts of 70 mm. minimum width, plus one crutch belt 45 mm minimum width. All belts must be adjustable. These belts will connect or be part of a quick release mechanism: a device which, with one action, will release all belts simultaneously.
   All belts must be securely attached to the structure of the vehicle.
   All seat belt and shoulder harness installations must be mutually compatible, originally designed to be used with each other, and produced by the same manufacturer.
T 4-1.      Latch Lever Covers:
T 4-1-1.
When arm restraints are worn with a restraint system that utilises a "latch lever", a protective cover installed to prevent the arm restraint from accidentally releasing the latch lever is permissible.
T 4-1-2.
Such covers must only be fitted where entirely practical. The cover must not hinder the quick release mechanism whatsoever.
T 4-1-3
The cover, if fitted must be made from Velcro type material, if the self-attaching properties of the Velcro become worn the material must be renewed. The Velcro cover must not be able to enter the webbing adjustment metal clamp.

T 4-2
Three Quarter Midgets, Midgets, Sprintcars, Modified Sprints, Minisprints and Modifieds.
T 4-2-1.    Head Restraints:
The use of head restraints on the right and left-hand side of the vehicle is optional.  
(a)
This restraint if fitted must be of webbing type material i.e. Jager, Simpson or similar.  
(b)
These head restraints must not be manufactured of any elastic type material.
T 4-2-2.    Arm Restraints:
(a)
Arm Restraints must be worn, these must be of similar type to 'Simpson's Safety Equipment' (U.S.A.).
(b)
It will be up to the individual competitor to see the arm restraints are fitted to the safety harness in such a way that the arm restraints cannot release the safety harness.
(c)
It is mandatory to use crutch belts with arm restraints.
T 4-2-3.    Seat Belts:
(a)
The vehicle must be fitted with an approved, quick release, full harness safety belt. A full harness consists of 5 belts, 2 lap belts of 70 mm. Minimum width, 2 shoulder belts of 70 mm. Minimum width, plus one crutch belt 45 mm minimum width. All belts must be adjustable. These belts will connect or be part of a quick release mechanism: a device which, with one action, will release all belts simultaneously.
(b)
All belts must be securely attached to the structure of the vehicle.
(c)
All seat belt and shoulder harness installations must be mutually compatible, originally designed to be used with each other, and produced by the same manufacturer.
(d)
All belts must be adjustable and be able to be adjusted whilst in the normal seated position. All seat belts must swivel on their mounting points. If seat belts mount wrap around (wrap over) tubing, the tubing must be at 90 degrees to the line of the belt. Wrap around belting must be secured by a 3 bar sliding adjuster, of heavy-duty construction, 70 mm for 70 mm webbing and 45 mm for 45 mm webbing.
(e)
Seat belt webbing must not be twisted
(f)
Chain link mountings and "D" shackle mountings are not permitted.
(g)
The seat belt must be worn correctly at all times when vehicle is in motion.
(h)
Crotch belt or sub-belts anchoring point to provide a direct pull from the quick release mechanism.
(i)
The lap and crotch strap should not pass over the sides of the seat but through the seat, in order to wrap and hold the pelvic region over the greatest possible surface. The lap straps must fit tightly in the bend between the pelvic crest and the upper thigh. Under no conditions must they be worn over the region of the abdomen.
(j)
Holes may be made in the seat if this proves to be necessary in order to avoid such an occurrence. Seat belts must not pass over sharp edges, at any point where the belt passes through the sides of the seat, the seat edges must be rolled and or have grommets to prevent chaffing or cutting of the belt material. Seat belts showing signs of chafing against sharp edges must be rejected.
(k)
Under no circumstances may seat belts be secured to the seat.
(l)
The seat belt straps may be wrapped around the safety roll cage or to a reinforcement bar, or belt buckles bolted to seat belt mounting plates.
(m)
Where eyebolts are used, eyebolt must be fully into mounting, no back spacers permitted. The angle of approach to the webbing must be in line with the eye bolt ring. See here
(n)
The shoulder straps must be directed towards the rear, directed downwards with an angle of between 1° and 40° to the horizontal from the top of the shoulder, an angle of 10° being recommended. See Here.
(o)
The belts must be anchored within 250 mm of the back of the seat, or pass through guides within 250 mm of the back of the seat. The mounting points or guides must be no more than 150 mm apart with their centre point 90 degrees to the seat back. Where the shoulder straps pass through the seat the edges must be rolled or have grommets fitted to prevent chafing or cutting of the strap material.
(p)
Check the entire harness for chaffing; stitch damage, or hardware corrosion. Under no circumstances can cutting and resewing of webbing or modifications to hardware be permitted.
(q)
Two belts joining in a "Y" behind the neck to form one strap are not permitted.
(r)
Butler, Britax and other automotive safety harnesses where shoulder belts are only looped around lap belts, and fastened by a seat belt buckle, are not permitted.
Parachute harnesses are not permitted.
(s)
Driver restraint system must be clearly labeled and be dated by manufacturer.
(t)
This date to be recorded on vehicle green sheet. It is recommended that all harness webbing be renewed after five [5] years from date of manufacture, or earlier at the discretion of scrutineer, all harness webbing must be replaced after seven [7] years from date of manufacture.
(u)
Safety harness webbing, mounting points and release mechanism must be inspected for condition and fit at every green sheet inspection and before a race meeting by class scrutineer.
Look Here for Further Information.
T 4-2-4    Method of Application
(a)
Carefully affix arm restraint webbing over tongue of lap belt buckle and assemble remaining buckles.
(b)
Tighten the lap seat belt; be certain that it comes across the pelvic area.
(c)
Adjust crutch belt with light tension on latch lever buckle assembly
(d)
Tighten the shoulder harness to the desired tension.

T 4-3    Saloon Cars
T 4-3-1
All vehicles must be fitted with a window net on driver's side or driver to wear arm restraints (See Section T4-1 and Guidelines, above). Where safety nets are used they must be of approved" Simpson" type design with opening release mechanism to be in the top front. (Refer Diagram)


T 4-4.
T4-4-1.    SEAT BELTS Saloons, Stockcars, Standardstocks and Streetstocks.
(a)
The vehicle must be fitted with an approved quick release full harness safety belt. A full harness consists of 5 belts, 2 lap belts of 75 mm minimum width, 2 shoulder belts of 75 mm minimum width, plus 1 crutch belt 45 mm minimum width.
(b)
All belts must be adjustable, these belts will connect or be part of a quick release mechanism, a device that with one action will release all belts simultaneously.
(c)
All belts must be securely attached to the structure of the vehicle. Seat belt mounting bolts must be 10 mm minimum diameter or certified fastening system supplied by the belt manufacturer. Optional chest or sternum protection belts and clips are now approved but fastener must be of a metal quick release type.
(d)
Plastic fasteners are not approved. Must be approved design. Recognized manufacturers e.g.: Simpson, Bell, RJS, Leaf, Williams, Sabelt, Luke etc. local N Z) Easton and Jager. These normally have an SFI rating 16-1 tested to a safe working load for webbing and hardware.
  (e)
All belts must be adjustable and be able to be adjusted. All seat belts must swivel on their mounting points. If seat belts mount wrap around (wrap over) tubing, the tubing must be at 90 degrees to the line of the belt. Wrap around belting must be secured by a 3 bar sliding adjuster of heavy-duty construction 75 mm for 75 mm webbing, 50 mm for 50 mm webbing and 45 mm for 45 mm webbing.
  (f)
   Seat belt webbing must not be twisted.
(g)
   Chain link and "D" shackle mountings are not permitted.
(h)
The seat belt must be worn correctly at all times when vehicle is in motion (the exception being the grand parades - not hot laps).
(i)
Crutch belt or sub-belts anchoring point to provide a direct pull from the quick release mechanism.
(j)
The lap and crutch strap should pass over the sides of the seat or through the seat, in order to wrap and hold the pelvic region over the greatest possible surface.
(k)
The lap straps must fit tightly in the bend between the pelvic crest and the upper thigh. Under no conditions must they be worn over the region of the abdomen.
(l)
Holes may be made in the seat if this proves to be necessary in order to avoid such an occurrence. Seat belts must not pass over sharp edges, at any point where the belt passes through the sides of the seat, the seat edges must be rolled and/or have grommets to prevent chaffing or cutting of the belt material.
(m)
   Seat belts showing signs of chaffing against sharp edges must be rejected.
(n)
   Under no circumstances may seat belts be secured to the seat.
(0)    Seat Belt Mountings
The seat belt straps may be wrapped around the safety roll cage, provided Rules Rule (e) and (f) are complied with, or wrapped around a separate reinforcement bar 25 mm minimum diameter. The 'bar' may be solid or pipe.
(p)
   On fabricated vehicles the seat belt buckles may be bolted to:
    [a] the structure of the vehicle
            or
    [b] mounting plates 8 mm minimum thickness with corners rounded.
(q)
The structure is deemed as any plate or RHS 3 mm minimum thickness, welded on at least two sides.
   (r)
Minimum distance between seat belt mounting hole and unsupported or open edge of structure 25 mm.
(s)
   On OEM vehicles i.e. street stocks and production saloons, seat belt buckles may be bolted to:
    [a] permitted reinforcing structure
            or
    [b] to seat belt mounting plates 8 mm thickness with corners rounded.
(t)
All seat belt mounting holes and mounting plate holes must be clearance drilled to a professional standard. All mounting plate holes to be a greater distance than 25 mm from plate edge.
(u)    Eye Bolts
Where eyebolts are used, eyebolt must be fully into mounting, no back spacers permitted. The angle of approach to the webbing must be in line with the eye bolt ring.
  

(v)
The shoulder straps must be directed towards the rear, directed downwards with an angle of between 1 (one) degree and 40 degrees to the horizontal from the top of the shoulder and angle of 10 degrees being recommended.
  
(w)
The belts must be anchored within 250 mm of the back of the seat or pass through guides within 250 mm of the back of the seat. The mounting points or guides must be no more than 150 mm apart with their centre point 90 degrees to the seat back. Where the shoulder straps pass through the seat, the edges must be rolled or have grommets fitted to prevent chaffing or cutting of the strap material.
(x)
Check the entire harness for chaffing, stitch damage or hardware corrosion.
   Under no circumstances can cutting and resewing of webbing or modifications to hardware be permitted.
(y)
Two belts joining in a 'Y' behind the neck to form one strap are not permitted.
Butler, Britax and other automotive safety harnesses, where shoulder belts are only looped around lap belts and fastened by a seat belt buckle are not permitted.
(z)
Safety harness to have date of manufacture visible to scrutineer. This date to be recorded on vehicle green sheet.
(aa)
It is recommended that all harness webbing be renewed after five (5) years from date of manufacturer or earlier at the discretion of the scrutineer. All harness webbing must be replaced after seven (7) years from date of manufacture.
(bb)
Safety Harness webbing, mounting points and release mechanism must be inspected for condition and fit at every green sheet inspection and before a race meeting by class scrutineer.

T 4-4-2.    METHOD OF APPLICATION
(a)    First tighten the lap seat belt, be certain that it comes across the pelvic area.
(b)    Adjust crutch belt with light tension on centre buckle assembly.
(c)    Tighten the shoulder harness to the desired tension.
(d)    Be certain that all mounting buckles are in alignment.