I spoke with NASA NorCal Chief Scrutineer Larry Marsala, today at Infineon, to clarify NASA's rules regarding HPDE harnesses in sevens. Here's what he said.
1. A three-point DOT-style belt/harness, with no other belts installed in the car, will automatically pass HPDE tech in any car, so long as it is affixed to the car manufacturer's mounting points. Larry believes that such harnesses typically have a DOT label affixed, but they are acceptable without one.
2. Four-point harnesses are prohibited, unless they incorporate a special impact release device on one of the shoulder straps so that the four-point harness behaves like a three-point harness in a frontal impact. In other words, the release device must allow the upper body to twist enough upon impact to prevent the body from submarining out of the bottom of the lap belt.
3. Five-point, or more, harnesses will automatically pass HPDE tech if they are affixed to the car manufacturer's mounting points.
4. Anything else must comply with the Racing CC&Rs.
These requirements are the same as those that apply to all other cars, so sevens are not disadvantaged per se. Confusion arises, however, because some Caterhams, and perhaps other brands that I am not familiar with in detail, come factory-equipped with four-point harnesses. Some may also disagree with NASA's implication that a four-point harness is less safe than a three-point, and they may wish to take that up with Larry and/or CEO Jerry Kunzman.
Larry also strongly urges arm restraints in HPDE sevens, but NASA does not require this.
The obvious disclaimer here is that Larry represents NASA NorCal, and an inspector in a different NASA region might interpret differently. I would expect, however, that Jerry Kunzman will probably seek Larry's advice on responding to a question that comes from another region.
Hope this helps.
Rich H.
1. A three-point DOT-style belt/harness, with no other belts installed in the car, will automatically pass HPDE tech in any car, so long as it is affixed to the car manufacturer's mounting points. Larry believes that such harnesses typically have a DOT label affixed, but they are acceptable without one.
2. Four-point harnesses are prohibited, unless they incorporate a special impact release device on one of the shoulder straps so that the four-point harness behaves like a three-point harness in a frontal impact. In other words, the release device must allow the upper body to twist enough upon impact to prevent the body from submarining out of the bottom of the lap belt.
3. Five-point, or more, harnesses will automatically pass HPDE tech if they are affixed to the car manufacturer's mounting points.
4. Anything else must comply with the Racing CC&Rs.
These requirements are the same as those that apply to all other cars, so sevens are not disadvantaged per se. Confusion arises, however, because some Caterhams, and perhaps other brands that I am not familiar with in detail, come factory-equipped with four-point harnesses. Some may also disagree with NASA's implication that a four-point harness is less safe than a three-point, and they may wish to take that up with Larry and/or CEO Jerry Kunzman.
Larry also strongly urges arm restraints in HPDE sevens, but NASA does not require this.
The obvious disclaimer here is that Larry represents NASA NorCal, and an inspector in a different NASA region might interpret differently. I would expect, however, that Jerry Kunzman will probably seek Larry's advice on responding to a question that comes from another region.
Hope this helps.
Rich H.
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