Harness belts, track days and expiry dates

[twobone]

What is everyone's experience with track days and harness belt expiry dates?

Is it religiously enforced at non-PCA days?

I have an opportunity to buy some new in box Scroth ASM 4 point harnesses that are nearing the end of their expiry period. Instead of $775 taxes-in, I will pay about $300.

Now I suspect I will get some feedback that the extra cost is warranted for the safety margin and reduced hassle, but these have been in a box, away from UV rays and with my 95% street driving, my only concern will be reg. focused track day inspectors.

Thoughts?

[David in VA]

I think it really depends on which organization you will be running with. I've seen some that enforce and others that don't. You may want to check with the organizers before buying something you may not be able to use. Worth reading up on 4 points and forming your own opinion on their merits and drawbacks with regard to safety.

You may also want to look into 5 or 6 (preferred) point harnesses instead. I'm pretty sure PCA does not allow 4 points at all. Also remember that you'll need seats and somewhere to mount and position the harnesses such as a harnesss bar/rear seatbelt mounts or roll bar. A lot to think about and spend money on but it is a package deal. One well worth it in my opinion.

Hope that helps.

[tonythetarga]

Dave is right, PCA won't allow 4 pts, min in 5 with racing seats and harnesses mounted to either a roll bar or through a guide bar and anchored to the rear seat belt anchors.
You need to check with your clubs chief instructor about what they want to see.

[Deschodt]

Standards will vary... Even PCA let me run a 5 pt mounted to a harness bar, period...Nobody ever checked it... it was 2 or 3 years past expiration at the time but looked new...

What I find amusing is that some clubs (not singling out PCA here) will frown on a slightly expired 5 point harness, made of super strong and wide belt material, which has seen the sun maybe 30 days in its life... "Ooh, it's past its shelf life, too dangerous"... Then they turn around and let you go on track with your original seatbelts, which can be 40 years old, are thinner, and have much less sturdy buckles...

it's a bureaucratic thing ;-) To answer the question, I'd pay for the new ones... a cheaper set will do you no good if you get called on them !

[schumicat]

Crow Enterprizes in Anaheim, CA will recertify old harnesses of any make for a very reasonable price (under $100 IIRC). As far as I could tell, they exchanged my old ratty harness for a brand new Crow harness.