I have been reading the HPDE rule book and don't understand what is required when they give rule for the restraint system first and roll bars second.

First it speaks of the restraint system (Seat Belt) needs 5,6,or 7 points.

What does this mean and do our stock Z seats comply with this rule?

Second they speak of Roll Bars. Will the hoops on the Z roadster fulfill the requirements of the rules?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Sunset

 

i am sure this has all been covered quite a few times but i don't like searching either so here goes....

First off rules are dependant upon the organizers that are hosting the event. Typically for an HPDE at 3pt STOCK seat belt system (restraint system) will work just fine as long as you do not have racing seats/roll cage. So to answer your question, YES, the stock seat belt should work in a stock car.

If you have a roll bar, roll cage, or even a harness bar then as long as the club allows said add-on you will be permitted to wear a minimum of a 5 pt harness. Keep in mind, if you have a 5 pt harness or greater, your passenger should have the equivalent safety equipment.

For most convertibles, and yes this includes the Z, you will not be allowed on track without some sort of aftermarket/custom roll bar installed. The factory roll over is not sufficent for most organizers.

what club is putting on the hpde you are interested in?

 

bill's right - for HPDE's, stock restraint will always pass. as for the Z roadster, it is up to the organization's tech inspector. it would also help to know which organization you are looking into. again, bill's right in that most morganizers (mainly NASA and SCCA) won't accept the factory stuff in this respect.

 

The rules for different HPDE Orgs differ greatly, and even then enforcement can be very lax. But here is a excerpt from the PCA National HPDE minimum standards doc for your review. However, the only way to know if your car is approved for a specific HPDE Organization and/or track to to ask the HPDE Org you want to run with.......

Also note that the local tracks rules override the HPDE Orgs rules.

http://www.pca.org/members/library/P...Guidelines.pdf

MINIMUM STANDARDS
1. Open Cars: Any make of car delivered with factory-installed roll over
protection meets the minimum standards for PCA DE events. In these
cars the soft-top must be in the up position or the hard top installed.
If a car does not have factory installed roll over protection,a roll bar
must be installed, which meets the "broomstick" rule (the driver's
helmeted head is below a bar placed on top of the rollbar and
windshield). All targa tops must be installed unless there is addition
roll over protection. All sunroofs must be in the closed position. The
windshield alone is not considered to be factory roll over protection.
2. Equal Restraints: Both student and instructor shall have the same
restraint system. All vehicles must be equipped with a properly
installed lap and shoulder restraint system.
3. Harness Systems: If the participant chooses to install a 5 or 6 point
driving harness ( four point systems are not safe and therefore not
allowed) several changes to the automobile must be made to create a
safe occupant restraint system. Harnesses must include a
antisubmarine strap and be mounted in an approved manner
consistent the manufacturer’s instructions. The Harness system must
be used in conjunction with a seat which has the supplied routing holes
for the shoulder and anti-submarine belts. All pieces of the restraint
system must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.
This means that a seat is required to have the proper routing holes for
the harness as supplied by the seat manufacturer for the shoulder and
anti-submarine straps. The shoulder straps should be mounted at 90
degrees to the axis of your spine or at most 40 degrees down from
horizontal. Because the addition of the harness system means that the
occupants are fastened upright in the vehicle, a properly padded roll
bar or roll cage is strongly encouraged to complete the SYSTEM. The
use of one without the other may result in an unsafe environment and
is not a COMPLETE SYSTEM. Due to UV degradation and wear the
harness webbing must be replaced every five years.
4. Medical Personnel at the site: The minimum standards are one EMT

 

Careful with this statement... It's generally a one-way rule. If a track mandates a roll bar requirement for convertibles, then yes, even if the club normally allows stock convertibles... they will have to abide by the track's rules.

If, however, a track does not mandate a roll bar, but the club does, then it's at the club's discretion to require the roll bar.

This is the case with our events (TZC/THSCC) where we require a structural roll bar (4-point minimum) for all convertibles. This usually means SCCA compliance, or a track-approved aftermarket roll hoop extension. In case no one has noticed lately, stock roll hoops almost always are an after-thought in the car's design, and as such, are made to fit inside any soft or hard-top, and almost always, are not tall enough.

 

i think what laze1 was getting at was to always err on the side of caution - whosever rule is more conservative, go with that one.

 

This same question came up with regard to a Colorado NASA HPDE recently. One of my students in a Z Roadster tried to get in but was denied. The tech official put a straight rod across from the top of the winshield back to the stock roll hoop and found the top of the driver's helmet would come into contact with the ground FIRST in the event of a rollover.

In any case, look through the contact list for officials to the event you're going to and call the tech official in charge. Discuss this point with him/her and get the straight scoop...

 

Correct....often tracks will not let convertables run even if the HPDE Org will allow them...so in this case, the tracks rules dominate. However, if the track's rules don't reference the issues of convertibles, then the HPDE Org rules will dominate..

Sorry, If I didn't state my point clearly enough, as it is a very important issue.

 

I should have said: Also note that the local tracks rules MAY override the HPDE Orgs rules.