Seat Belts
 

Does the NHRA really need to have seat belts put in a stocker every two years? Could it be changed to a period more in line with how fast they wear out?

Re: Seat Belts
 

My understanding is that the rule is based on the lowest common denominator; i.e. A dragster that is lef outside in the sun and the UV exposure and weather degrades the webbing. Obviously that's the extreme circumstance. I don't agree, but I understand.

Re: Seat Belts
 

hi, in general aviation, seat belts are not replaced every two years, they sit out in the sun lots!!! especially open cockpit biplanes!!! when I worked for a dusting outfit, the stearmans were 20 yrs old, same belts that were installed in 1943 still in use in 1960-1970,s. If they deteriat that easily, then need better material/!!!! the two year rule is based off military jet fighters.

Re: Seat Belts
 

I think the two year rule is only about one thing,,,, MONEY.
We all know our belts aren't worn out after 2 years,, I'm going to recert mine soon, and they look as nice as the day I got them in 2012. The manufacturers were making too good of a product, and therefore weren't selling a lot of belts, so somebody griped to Glendora, and what do you know,,, a 2 year rule goes into effect! I'm sure Glendora makes out very well on this and the manufacturers "show their appreciation" to Glendora for said ruling. My 2 cents.
Danny Durham

Re: Seat Belts
 

I'm sorry guys.. I know I'm not your typical go to 8-10 races a year Stock/SS guy, but I can guarantee you my belts are worn out after 2-2.5 years.. Deist.. Crow you name I've wore them out.. the rule is in place to take the liability off of the poor tech guy that just let your 10 year old belts pass tech, when you get seriously injured in an accident.. You people complaining that you don't want to replace them every 2 year would be the first ones in line to sue when the belt failed in an accident..

Brad

Re: Seat Belts
 

I got this.

Re: Seat Belts
 

And helmets?

Re: Seat Belts
 

The reason this seat belt crap got started:
When they had the first national event they had in New Jersey there was a state law that said "race car's had to have seat belts that had been replaced within two years". It caused lots of trouble at the first Englishtown.
It was not long after that NHRA made the seat belt rule.

Re: Seat Belts
 

Damn Yankee's. Lol
Chuck

Re: Seat Belts
 

If I am running N/SA then I am allowed to use factory belts forever, correct?

Re: Seat Belts
 

x2.....

Re: Seat Belts
 

Could not disagree more. Do you think that set of belts in my 11 year old truck are putting my life in peril? One need only use common sense here...anything frayed or cut should obviously be replaced, but the age has little to do with it.

Re: Seat Belts
 

i am in the wrecker buss in south La. i pull car out of the water by the seat belts all of the time.those belts are twenty years old most of the time.half as thick half as wide as our belts we have in our race cars.i also had pics of me lifting a 1989 olds four door completely off the ground by one factory seat belt.the car sat in my wrecking yard for over a year with the windows down and was rained on.now you tell me that my race car belts are no good after two years. (BULL FEATHERS)

Re: Seat Belts
 

The only thing I've seen "wear out" on the SFI certified seat belts is the SFI tag! Last 2 or 3 sets that I've had, one or two tags fell off before they expired!

Re: Seat Belts
 

The seat belt rule went into place when Lee Shepard died, due to not being worn,
I mean belt failure.

I mean Daryll Gwynn's belt failure......

Re: Seat Belts
 

Right on! You hit the nail on the head Myron! Jim

.

Re: Seat Belts
 

I agree,, common sense would certainly dictate,,,, no difference than the straps I tie down loads with on our semi. Theres no 2 year rule on them, but if they're worn I replace them.
Common sense is lacking nowadays to what there used to be.
Danny Durham

Re: Seat Belts
 

Where's the reply of the man beating the dead horse ????? lol

Re: Seat Belts
 

My thoughts are, NHRA is forcing us to keep spending money with their sponsors, kinda like transmission & flex plate shields. I don't see those wearing out either.

Re: Seat Belts
 

Come on, Mr Durham--using "NHRA/IHRA" and "common sense", in the same sentence? lol lol lol lmao

Re: Seat Belts
 

Thats right, and if I add a little more than 100 lbs in my M/S Mustang, I wouldn`t have needed the roll bar, SFI pants, on new 5 point belts every 2 years. All that for a tenth of index.:confused:

Re: Seat Belts
 

I formerly complained about the 2 year rule myself until I saw the picture of Dale Earnhardt's broken seat belt. For 70 bucks, putting new belts into the car every couple of years is not a bad thing. Since we have some stockers running 80 MPH and some running 155 MPH, I would not want to be in the slower car with a 30 year old lap belt and no roll cage. It's just a recipe for disaster. I guess you could just save the money by doctoring up your own SFI tags (LOL).
Rusty

Re: Seat Belts
 

The first National Event at Englishtown was the 1968 Springnationals long before there was any kind of seat belt rule !!!

Re: Seat Belts
 

And I'm betting his belts were new and up to date. The argument is pointless...anything can fail, even when new. No one is saying delete the belts...just use some common sense when it comes to part replacement.

Re: Seat Belts
 

I believe the seat belt rule took effect after an accident at a Englishtown Divisional in the 1980s.A friend of my dads Jimmy Galuzi,[Spelled wrong]was driving a candy apple red angula in super comp.Car was powered by a injected small block.It was windy but he crashed badly and died.The family sued everybody .. car builders safety equipmenytNHRA Etown.Belts WAY OLD.But there was no rule .This is what I was told when I asked why we need new belt every 2 years. Could be wrong but that's what I was told...

Re: Seat Belts
 

My car is a natural "M" but I'm running "N". The Deist belts in it have a tag dated 1986. Local tech said no problem. My car is always garaged & the belts are still dark black & no fraying.

Re: Seat Belts
 

Is it truly a “Commitment to Safety”?

When was the last time that you saw an NHRA tech inspector check the seat belt mounting hardware and installation to insure that it complied with NHRA rules?

I believe that the seat belts used in NASCAR have a set procedure for the mounting of the seat belt hardware and routing of the belts and that was the cause of the belt failure. The belt failed, as I remember the news accounts, due to the installation not being in compliance with NASCAR rules and the belt was worn which caused it to fail.

Just having a 2 year rule on seat belt replacement doesn't free NHRA to not inspect and certify that the belts are installed per NHRA guidelines.

Correct installation and proper quality control of the seat belts is what turns them into safety equipment.

The 2 year rule is nothing but a money maker.

Just my thoughts,
Bob

Re: Seat Belts
 

Division 6, my car.

Re: Seat Belts
 

Was the mounting hardware and installation checked every time that your car went through tech just like the date on the belt?

I am not ragging on the tech inspection, but rather trying to point out how stupid the 2 year rule is.........

Re: Seat Belts
 

The New Jersey seat belt law started off as a 5 year rule.

Re: Seat Belts
 

Funny how NASCAR has to replace their belts every FIVE (5) years :rolleyes:

Re: Seat Belts
 

D1 LODRS at Epping. Curt Lashure was checking cars for seat and belt mounting. I know of one racer who had to make an adjustment in mounting to pass tech

Re: Seat Belts
 

Yes, my car is quite low and they get down on a knee to have a good look. They have made suggestions, which I followed through on.

Re: Seat Belts
 

Every race I've attended in D1

Re: Seat Belts
 

That is funny how many miles do they race compared to the miles we race? But the out of date belts have many uses like pulling tractors out of the field, pulling engines with the cherry picker, even picking up and setting 40 ft light poles.

Re: Seat Belts
 

Same thing happened to my friend at 2012 Englishtown LODRS...

Mike P/SA A114

Re: Seat Belts
 

Mike,, I admit that would be quite a stretch, but in my "common sense" post I thoughtfully left NHRA & IHRA out of the wording,, but I hear what you're saying.
Danny Durham

Re: Seat Belts
 

Every time I have ever taken an expired 5 point harness to a swap meet, they have always been purchased by a circle track racer, you know, the type of racing where hitting the wall or another car is a constant occurance. Apparently, my 2or 3 year old belts that have never experianced any impact loads are not safe anymore in NHRAs eyes, but are just fine for a roundy round racer.

Re: Seat Belts
 

Maybe some of the "bomber" classes. When I had my sprint car, back in the 1980s, we had to have new belts every year.

Re: Seat Belts
 

I've been told that we have the plastic seat rule as well as belt certification because of Lee Shepards crash. Those one piece molded plastic seats had the belt slots cut with a "Hot Knife" leaving a sharp edge that cut the belt. I have seen a few lately that are cut with a router blade that leaves them smooth.
You will never hear me grip about the belt rules. I had a crash a few months before Dale Earnhardt's & I had exactly the same belt system that he had in his car. Mine didn't fail and probably contributed to saving my life. I also had a brand new Simpson neck colar thanks to Mike Baker @ IHRA. He checked mine and it had gone soft. He made me go buy a new one before I raced. It is just the price one has to pay for safety, even though it may be "over kill" on the 2 years. Humm, Over Kill is probably not the best word to use....