Ok, so the new NC turbo has a 5 point harness (or whatever it is - two straps over the shoulders, one on each side and one between the legs). I friggin hate this thing! How in the hell do you men drive a car with a harness between the legs? I don't mean this to be dirty, but of coarse ya'll will take it that way. But seriously, that thing is uncomfortable. And moving the wrong way would seem to have disastrous results.

Seeing me drive this thing was comical. Sitting on a 4" Grainger catalog since the seat is bolted to the floor. Yeah, could not see over the steering wheel since the top of my head was even with the top of the steering wheel. The the damn things blows a tire at 7 am Sunday. And no spare in the trunk. Yeah, I am loving this car.
Stephanie

 

It blew a tire due to the unruly torque it's putting down right?

 

Once you strap in, you shouldn't be going anywhere. I did have a couple of moments when first adjusting the anti-sub strap where the fit was a bit too tight, and yeah, it sucked.

 

Well, this is a Miata after all. So for most of the guys here, the center strap is a non-issue.

Seriously though, I don't get it either. There's a reason I have the stock seats and stock seatbelts in my car. I've never sat in a Miata with racing seats & a harness where I felt genuinely comfortable.

 

Every so often I will be sitting on grid, shift my weight just perfectly, and feel an intensely uncomfortable pinching that necessitates a re-adjustment of certain extremities under the substraps. Quite annoying.

 

I despise 5 points because the single sub strap really cramps my junk. I switched to a 6 point, much much much better with a two point sub.

 

I'm not looking forward to my 5 pt harness that was given to me. But for now the fact that is was free means it's getting installed.

 

Helps a lot to go 6 point instead of 5. Use smaller straps and they are separated to help the "boys" have some space. Racing harnesses are all about safety though, not comfort. Being strapped in and very restricted in your movement doesn't make for a pleasant drive on the street.

Hate that "pinch" that can happen. Just like taking a light shot to the wrong spot. The pain in your gut isn't pleasant.

 

on the street I leave the nutstrap loose enough not to squash everything. On track it gets tightened tho..

 

Well I dropped the center strap while trying to buckle in. OUCH! The width of the strap was a problem too, for me anyway. I still don't get it. It seems entirely too painful.
Stephanie

 

When I had my formula Vee I never had problems with the 5th strap. Maybe it was how the strap was installed in the car. My seat was the fuel tank, so the strap came up just in front, so no real pressure on equipment. Now if I was in a wreck I am sure I would have felt it.

On a serperate note, my wife when I met her had a 1989 full size Bronco. When she drove around in it she looked through the steering wheel. It always looked like no one was driving it LOL.

 

Is this on a well fitted race seat? No one should have issues with that if the seats and belts are mounted properly.


Keep in mind the main reason for that strap is to prevent the other 4 belts from moving up. The shouler and lap belts should be taking the majority of any impact.

 

what she said

 

i never installed the center strap, although i would if it saw any track days.


This is why i still have the stock seatbelts instaled as well. Stock on the street, and then pull the nicely tucked away 5 pt (4 i guess) out for autox.

 

I don't. I let my ***** pole vault the car right side up if it ever flips.

 

There's just some things you deal with...such as a roller coaster with a center strap. The ride is just so badass it doesn't even matter that your jewls are being smashed.

 

Yeah, for the owner of the car. Not me! I fit in the seat, but not in a drivable position. The owner is about a foot taller than me. He did not seem to have a problem with it on Saturday. The whole concept seems wrong on so many levels.
Stephanie

 

I wear a 6 point harness when doing roofs greater than a 6/12 pitch or any 2 story and up buildings. We did 55 squares on a 2 story beach house with a 12/12 pitch roof, and 3 16/12 gables. 10 hour days and several days I was on the roof the entire time, no lunch, etc wearing that damn thing. It really really sucks. If I fell off the roof I'm not sure what would hurt worse; getting snatched by that harness or just hitting the ground....

 

It could be worse. You could get into an accident and your nether regions meet the sub strap with lots of force.

It's not fun...not at all.

 

Some dudes are into the masochism thing.


But seriously, the hole in the bottom of my Kirkey is forward enough that the nutstrap has never caused any issues. If you have a seat that fits (hole in the right place) then you shouldn't be hitting it under normal circumcisions. Errr, circumstances.