|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
3 Feb 2015, 10:35 (Ref:3500393) | #1 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 509
|
Seat Belt Lifing
I've been delving into the Blue Book to confirm the "life" of my seat belts but I can't find any reference any where. My belts state 12 GEN 2012 on the label. When do they run out?
|
||
|
3 Feb 2015, 10:47 (Ref:3500399) | #2 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,323
|
Not 100% sure they do run out for circuit racing (club level at least) - I know we have to change seats and belts in our rally car every 5 years now and there was a lot of complaining (and rightly so) as the same seat and belts that are deemed unsafe for rallying are still perfectly acceptable for circuit racing. So you could use the rally car legally in a circuit race with seats and belts older than 5 years but the same car would be deemed unsafe for rallying. MSA logic at its best.
|
||
|
3 Feb 2015, 12:20 (Ref:3500415) | #3 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 92
|
My belts are dated and the scrutineers check them at every meeting.
|
||
|
3 Feb 2015, 12:33 (Ref:3500417) | #4 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 946
|
there should be quite a lot of labels saying expiring end of 2015 or similar.
|
||
__________________
Andrew Cliffe - Norwich Photo & Racing Exposure |
3 Feb 2015, 13:10 (Ref:3500435) | #5 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,685
|
||
__________________
Semper ubi sub ubi |
3 Feb 2015, 13:40 (Ref:3500444) | #6 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 11,143
|
It's tucked away in Q.19.14.2 https://www.msauk.org/assets/2015msayearbook.pdf
19.14.2. Be fitted with currently FIA Homologated safety harness to be worn at all times by the driver during training, practice and competition unless the vehicle was constructed in Periods A to E. |
||
|
3 Feb 2015, 17:10 (Ref:3500493) | #7 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 509
|
You are right. There is another label saying "Expire end of 2017" which will comply with 5 years on from the 2012 date on the other label. it's a pity that the MSA can't actually state the 5 year life in the BB.
|
||
|
3 Feb 2015, 18:55 (Ref:3500523) | #8 | |
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 212
|
When you sum up having to replace your belts every 5 years when there is nothing wrong with them you start to think why do i bother racing as someone somewhere is getting a back hander for this to be a rule ,when there are cars out on the road with 50 year old seat belts and there ok to use
|
|
|
4 Feb 2015, 07:42 (Ref:3500726) | #9 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 606
|
Derwent I'm in the same boat as you. To avoid any disappointments at scrutinise ring I'm changing mine now. In fact the last two races both occasions the scrutinisers reminded me the expiry date was near.
There must be an awful lot of very cheap harnesses out there which are perfectly good but of no value. Where do they all end up? |
||
__________________
I am surpised anything this much fun is firstly still legal and secondly is not taxable |
4 Feb 2015, 08:02 (Ref:3500730) | #10 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 9,441
|
I've got at least a couple of sets that are out of date still in boxes, they are still ok for trackdays etc and I have tried to give them away but no takers.
Some while back I was in a breakers yard and I saw an old complete Rover 100 picked up on the end of a crane by it's seat belt. I looked at it and it was an old grey skinny Britax aftermarket one that was probably fitted at least 40 years ago ! |
||
__________________
Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
4 Feb 2015, 08:05 (Ref:3500732) | #11 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,323
|
£1000 worth of seats and harnesses which are 'unsafe' for rallying because they're 5 years old (and have done 12 events with no big impacts and lived in a heated workshop the whole time) can be sold on to track day drivers, autograss drivers, sprinters, rallycross (I think?) as they don't have the same lifing rule.
|
||
|
4 Feb 2015, 08:58 (Ref:3500747) | #12 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,718
|
I sold 3 sets of near new boxed 6 point FiA belts on fleabay recently.
netted nearly enough to pay for the postage on a new set. |
|
|
4 Feb 2015, 09:02 (Ref:3500749) | #13 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 9,441
|
|||
__________________
Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
4 Feb 2015, 10:14 (Ref:3500774) | #14 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 946
|
You can sell out of date belts to the boy racer brigade or to the trackday market.
|
||
__________________
Andrew Cliffe - Norwich Photo & Racing Exposure |
4 Feb 2015, 12:56 (Ref:3500818) | #15 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 509
|
Well it looks as though I am OK until 2017 then. However I do need a new helmet I am told. The latest spec with flameproof lining. If your lining inside your helmet is on fire then you must be in real trouble!
Due to various things beyond my control I've only done about 12 races in my current helmet and it looks like new. I do wonder if the MSA live on the same planet as the rest of us. Some friends are very experienced stage rally competitors. They bought some top notch seats a few years ago - the same as M Sport used on the WRC Focus. They were costly but they thought they would have the best as they would see them out as they only did a few events each year. Now those seats are out of date so they have to buy new ones. So they buy much cheaper seats as they know they will have to change them in 5 years. That logic does not fit in with the MSA of course! |
||
|
5 Feb 2015, 06:44 (Ref:3501186) | #16 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 12,853
|
Thought all snell 2000 or whatever it is had nomex linings?
Often wondered about if any owners or directors of harness or seat manufacturers are on either boards of MSA or the FIA.Never looked but still curious. |
||
__________________
Living the dream,Chief instruktor and racing on the worlds best circuits-The Nordschleife and Spa.Getting to drive the worlds best cars-someone has to do it, so glad its me. |
5 Feb 2015, 08:08 (Ref:3501214) | #17 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,863
|
Derwent if you have to change your helmet it must be at least 10 years old. It doesn't take your helmet to be on fire for the nylon lining to melt onto your face.
The great seat replacement scam...The majority being inconvenienced for the few. Apparently the big manufacturers told the FIA that they couldn't guarantee the safety of their products after five years. Seems like a nice little earner. |
||
__________________
Midgetman - known as Max Tyler to the world. MaxAttaq! |
5 Feb 2015, 22:32 (Ref:3501627) | #18 | |||
Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 53
|
Quote:
|
|||
|
6 Feb 2015, 05:06 (Ref:3501792) | #19 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 12,853
|
Bit ill thought out though still.
A car could be involved in a heavey shunt and two weeks later be presented and passed by a scrutineer not knowing that the owner didn't bother/couldn't get replacements , and the car could still be passed by the scrutineer. Hardly failsafe alternatively the FIA/MSA probably dont have room for seats/harnesses that have been seized at the scene of said accident. |
||
__________________
Living the dream,Chief instruktor and racing on the worlds best circuits-The Nordschleife and Spa.Getting to drive the worlds best cars-someone has to do it, so glad its me. |
6 Feb 2015, 06:27 (Ref:3501812) | #20 | ||
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,830
|
As has been said before in other discussions on seats, some manufacturers will extend the life of a seat after inspection by themselves. The problem is the cost of returning seat to them, especially if in Italy......
What's really needed is a manufacturer wide agreement on inspection, so that it can be carried out by anyone licenced to do so- like extinguishers and crack testing. But that would mean they sell less seats, so fat chance..... |
||
__________________
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. (Einstein) |
6 Feb 2015, 10:15 (Ref:3501872) | #21 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,368
|
Meanwhile said £1k seats and harnesses are bolted to a rotten floorpan. Seen it lots of times, not so much in historic racing but quite a lot in the various 'budget' series.
|
|
__________________
CSCC Swinging Sixties #128 Red/Black Mustang |
6 Feb 2015, 14:40 (Ref:3501950) | #22 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,820
|
Not necessarily Mike; I dropped 2 extinguishers into a well-known place at Castle Combe for check & recertification - they refused to do one of them as it isn't a Lifeline one, which is all they will touch apparently.
|
||
__________________
a salary slave no more... |
6 Feb 2015, 16:13 (Ref:3501971) | #23 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 9,441
|
I am even wary as regards "anyone licensed to do so" I know it's not the same thing but I had one of my diving second stage regulators overhauled by a so called expert that was licensed, only to have it fail on it's first dive ! on inspection afterwards an O ring was omitted. Ok so we carry a backup, just as well as it was in 40mts !
|
||
__________________
Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
6 Feb 2015, 16:52 (Ref:3501981) | #24 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 509
|
What's the rule about seats now? My seat is not dated. I don't think the lifing applies to pre 68 cars - is that right?
|
||
|
6 Feb 2015, 19:14 (Ref:3502030) | #25 | |||
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,830
|
Quote:
David, understandable that some 'service agents' will only work on extinguishers they are licenced by manufacturer to do so. However, there are a lot of companies more used to industrial stuff that will take on anything. For seats it would have to same idea as crack testing, with an industry standard. |
|||
__________________
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. (Einstein) |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
seat belt expiry date | FranksWilde | Club Level Single Seaters | 18 | 7 Nov 2011 23:51 |
Belt bottles | numbersix | Marshals Forum | 22 | 25 Sep 2007 10:20 |
Seat Belt found partially torn in Mayfield's crash | Joe Fan | NASCAR & Stock Car Racing | 4 | 30 Sep 2001 14:47 |
Broken seat belt did NOT kill Dale! | Fiorentina 1 | NASCAR & Stock Car Racing | 10 | 13 Apr 2001 19:06 |