You wear a helmet on the track, but not on the street.

 

......and this lack of helmet causes your spine to compress on the street? The comment doesn't relate to the original statement.

 

This is the statement I'm confused about.

 

I was just saying that's the difference. A lot of people think that's the reason roll bars/harness bars/harness/race seat aren't safe on the street. Not me, that's how I roll.

 

Ah...got it.

A helmet IS nice protection against a rollbar, for sure.

 

A three point seat belt like what comes from the factory allows the shoulder and head to move towards the center of the car in a rollover. Harnesses do not allow this to happen. Had I had harnesses in my car I would have been pinned in the seat and when the car rolled and the windshield came down my head would have had no where to go and would have been forced down or would have been crushed like a melon. Instead of the injuries that are pictured in the above pics it would have been much worse.

Hope that helps out a little.

Have a great day,
Jared

 

I should say that I do currently have a seat and harnesses in my car and it is my DD.

Have a great day,
Jared

 

Makes sense - so it's circumstantial. Could kill you, save you, or make no difference depending on the accident. Thanks for the info, I like to ponder these things. ;-)

What made you feel OK about the seat / harness this time? I'm hoping to do Lotus seats eventually, to get more under my bar and HOPE to be able to use my stock belts on the street.

I think the ACE is a good, strong unit and trust it (except for height), but you certainly should have the choice not to instruct in any car you're not comfortable in. Personally, I wouldn't ride along with anyone that was anything like a noob.

I've ridden with Tommy Byrne and Sam Halkias at speed - both of whom I regard highly as drivers. Sam nearly made me ill and Tommy was a bit scary in the relaxed way he chatted about motorcycles and leaned over so I could hear him with the top down....while driving around the 100mph mark. I think instructors that ride along are quite brave enough without asking them to ride in a car they don't trust.

 

As far as the seat and harnesses go I am at Tue track around twice a month and am lazy so I just left them in and someone needed/wanted leather seats so I sold them and have no other seats. Also I don't go running the canyons any longer.

As far as instructing goes. I love it. I love to see someone who is having a hard time driving and gets it because of my help. It's a great feeling. In 3 years I have only gotten out of one car because of safety reasons. For the most part beginners don't really do much to put you in harm.

THERE ARE THE EXCEPTIONS AS IS IN ALL OF LIFE.

Also since my accident I have not taken life so seriously. It sort of bellowed me out. Good bad I don't know. I just know my parents are glad that I am still here.

Have a great day,
Jared