Seat Belts & Seat Belt Mountings |
T4. SAFETY HARNESSES AND RESTRAINTS |
All Section vehicles where arm restraints are compulsory |
All other section vehicles where Velcro lever latch covers and/or arm restraints are used. |
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. |
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. |
T 4-1-2. |
T 4-1-3 |
T 4-2 |
Three Quarter Midgets, Midgets, Sprintcars, Modified Sprints, Minisprints and Modifieds. |
T 4-2-1. Head Restraints: |
(a) |
(b) |
T 4-2-2. Arm Restraints: |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
T 4-2-3. Seat Belts: |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) |
(g) |
(h) |
(i) |
(j) |
(k) |
(l) |
(m) |
(n) |
(o) |
(p) |
(q) |
(r) |
(s) |
(t) |
(u) |
T 4-2-4 Method of Application |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
T 4-3 Saloon Cars |
T 4-3-1 |
T 4-4. |
T4-4-1. SEAT BELTS Saloons, Stockcars, Standardstocks and Streetstocks. |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) |
Seat belt webbing must not be twisted. |
(g) |
Chain link and "D" shackle mountings are not permitted. |
(h) |
(i) |
(j) |
(k) |
(l) |
(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 |
On fabricated vehicles the seat belt buckles may be bolted to: |
(r) |
On OEM vehicles i.e. street stocks and production saloons, seat belt buckles may be bolted to: |
(u) Eye Bolts |
(v) |
(w) |
(x) |
Under no circumstances can cutting and resewing of webbing or modifications to hardware be permitted. |
(y) |
(z) |
(aa) |
(bb) |
T 4-4-2. METHOD OF APPLICATION |