Seat Belts

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

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

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.

[Rusty2211]

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

[Dave Ley]

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

Originally Posted by Jeremy

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.

[HandOverFist]

Originally Posted by Rusty2211

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

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.

[James Perrone]

Originally Posted by Dave Ley

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

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...

[Dave Noll]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

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

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

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.

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.

[Bob Mulry]

Originally Posted by HawkBrosMav

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

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

[Peter Ash]

Originally Posted by Bob Mulry

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

Division 6, my car.

[Bob Mulry]

Originally Posted by Peter Ash

Division 6, my car.

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.........

[Bart Kilraine]

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