The Challenge and current Safety.

If your 1960s car came with lap belts only, will it pass muster for the NHRA and SCCA Techs?

Dan

Depends on how fast you go.

(checking on the real answer, but I think you'd be wise to update.)

The real answer is-

(queue the drumroll...)

Buy a seatbelt. It doesn't affect the Challenge budget anyhow, so you can go whole-hog and get a proper 5-point harness even.

my local nhra track lets me run with lap belt only in my car that was made before any seatbelts were optional or mandatory.

nfw i'm hacking up my car for shoulder harness, and i dont think a 5 point is the safest thing with a bench seat.

patgizz wrote: my local nhra track lets me run with lap belt only in my car that was made before any seatbelts were optional or mandatory. nfw i'm hacking up my car for shoulder harness, and i dont think a 5 point is the safest thing with a bench seat.

Then it sounds like you've already got an answer you're comfortable with. If the NHRA tech inspector in Gainesville is happy, we will be too. See also—Rule #1.

Although the idea of a Challenge car that's too pristine to install a 3-point belt or 5-point harness makes my head hurt a little.

patgizz wrote: nfw i'm hacking up my car for shoulder harness, and i dont think a 5 point is the safest thing with a bench seat.

You're kidding, right?

Let's seat... a 5 point with the slight possibility of a little bit of sideways movement or... being folded in half by a lap belt so I can snap my spine at the same time I fracture my skull against the steel steering wheel on the non-collapsible column in the car with no airbags or crumple zones.

Let's see...think...think...think.

To the original question:

914Driver wrote: If your 1960s car came with lap belts only, will it pass muster for the NHRA and SCCA Techs? Dan

Why on earth would you want to try???

'Cause.

Considering you may be they only person in Challenge history to have a safety rule specifically written for you, I guess that was a stupid question.

Let me rephrase it:

Please don't.

I asked for aesthetic purposes only. It may not be NHRA compliant but it is period correct to the car.

Now I know.

Dan

I understand the desire for period correctness. I've got a '60 El Camino that I dealt with the same issue.

My solution was to install the 5 point harnesses, but the attachment points are inobtrusive welded eye bolts. The harness connects to these eye bolts using racing style quick connect clips (like an overbuilt carabinier). That way, I can remove the harnesses at will.

Since completing the job, my tastes have changed. I now like the look of the harnesses, and rarely remove them. But I can.