Harness Belt tightness.. How tight!

[spookypt]

I was watching GT Sports Car racing on the weekend and the in-car footage showed many of the drivers in race mode floating in their belts. They seemed not to be done up tightly at all.
I was always under the guidance that tight as, is best as belts definitely stretch under high load etc.
I was reeeeeallly surprised. Even the V8 Supercar guys don't have them done up super tight!

Any one explain?

Spookypt

[tcrist]

Usually it is as tight as you can get them. During the race you will see them tightening them up on caution laps. Your body just settling in will loosen them and you might be surprised how much weight a driver will lose during a race. Especially if it is a warm / hot day.

[jcraigau]

If you can breathe then they're not tight enough!
They might look loose, but the g-forces have a way of making them look that way...

[Gav]

I saw the GT1 racing too, if you where cornering at those speeds I reckon you would move too regardless of how tight you where strapped in!

[spookypt]

I changed my belts recently as there design when super tight left was giving me a reverse wedgy!!! LOL

Watch v8 supercar on the weekend (if ya can stand the boredom) and I reckon you'll see what I mean.....

Anyways...back to work!

[Clois Harlan]

I keep mine pretty tight and have to tighten them from time to time. On the other hand my submarine belt is not a tight as my lap or shoulder belts (just couldn't stand the pressure down there) My biggest problem is with my arm restraints which seem to get pretty loose with each lap.

Clois Harlan

[suthol]

Get in & pull them down tight, pull them down again on the dummy grid and then once you feel there's nothing left breathe right out and pull them down again.

Also remember the crutch strap is there to hold the lap down across the hips and not crush the boys under normal circumstances, only if you have an unfortunate big one. It / they still need to be tight but shouldn't put pressure on the twins.

[legenmetals]

As tight as I can get them in my race cars. My street cobra a little loose so I can look over my shoulder.

[twobjshelbys]

At the Bondurant class a couple of weeks ago I was OK in the street cars (Corvettes) with whatever I could tighten them to. However, in the Formula Mazdas with much higher G forces I wasn't able to tighten them myself. After a few laps I couldn't take it any more as I was getting tossed around. The cabin was way crowded and I couldn't get an angle and the instructor snugged them down more.

Note: Personal opinion but I prefer "pull down" belts to "pull up" belts. Pull down is the style of the manual adjustable airplane belt. Pull up snugs from the floor up - which is very hard to reach in a Cobra.

[Rog246]

I always figured that if I DIDN'T FALL OUT of the belts when I was upside they were tight enough !-apparently, from reading all the above, that's NOT TIGHT ENOUGH !
That being said I haven't (to the best of my knowledge ! ) been upside down for awhile-who knows maybe when I finish #100 I might re-visit my youth.

Rog

[400TT]

Just asked one of my part time guys at the factory today. He still works for a V8 Supercar team, he said the belts are pulled down super tight. When he says super tight, it is super tight. The tighter they are, the better they work.

[Krait]

The seat plays a significant role as well, doesn't matter how tight the belts are if the seat doesn't stop you moving around under them.

Cheers