My car does not have a roll bar or roll cage. How do I install harnesses?

We highly recommend that you install a roll bar or roll cage before installing harnesses. Although this is not required for Solo II rules, it is for Solo I. 5-point harnesses will lock your body in an upright position making your head the tallest thing in the car. In a roll over accident, the harnesses do not allow you to move and if the roof collapses, you could be killed.

A harness guide bar will allow you to install harnesses at more or less the proper height and can work well for Solo II classes. We do not recommend the harness guide bar for HPDE events, but if used, the harnesses must be routed over the guide bar and attached to the rear lap belt mounting location.

Installing H-style harnesses mounted to the rear lap belt mounting locations without a guide bar will tend to pull down on your shoulders. If you are then involved in a frontal accident, this setup could cause spinal compression which can cause paralysis.

Do you have harnesses in different colors?

I/O Port Racing Supplies stocks harnesses manufactured by Autopower and Schroth. Autopower are stocked in black only. Autopower harnesses are available in Red and Blue colors on a special order basis. Schroth is available in Red, Black, Blue and Silver. Not all models and colors are stocked.

How often do harnesses need to be replaced?

Harnesses come from I/O Port Racing Supplies with the freshest dates possible. Each racing sanctioning body states a maximum lifetime for the harnesses. For instance, NHRA, SCCA, NASA and BMW CCA requires that SFI-rated belts to be replaced after 2 years. Check your rule book. FIA harnesses have an expiration date usually 5-years from the current year. In 2010, the expiration date is 2015.

Why purchase an SFI-rated belt system versus. a FIA-rated system?

SFI-rated belts can be a better value. SFI-rated harnesses are required to be replaced every 2 years. FIA-rated belts expire after 5 years. Aren't the FIA belts a better deal? The FIA-rated belts are more expensive because they have to import them from Europe. They cannot realistically be re-webbed, so after 5-years, throw them away. If you get into a major accident, throw them away. Burn them with the welder by accident, throw them away. With the Autopower SFI-rated belts, you can get them re-webbed usually for a cost of about $65. This way you get a brand new set of webbing every 2 years. You pay less up front and about the same in the long run, but you get fresher belts along the way. This is why I say SFI-rated belts are a better value.

Can harnesses be rewebbed instead of replaced?

Yes. Harnesses can be re-webbed but this must be done by the original manufacturer. Autopower harnesses supplied by I/O Port Racing Supplies are manufactured in the United States (San Diego, CA). Our FIA-rated Schroth harnesses cannot be re-webbed. Many manufacturers do not re-web their harnesses.

Are the Camlock harnesses better than the Latch'n'Link?

Yes and no. Most people find the Camlock harnesses are easier to get in and out of. Both are just as safe. The Camlock design and dirt do not mix so if your game is dirt track racing, I recommend the Latch'n'Link system.

What makes the Autopower Camlock better than some of the other brands?

The Autopower Camlock is a billet aluminum design with a solid scalloped twist knob. This design cannot be opened up accidentally as some other designs have been known to do. If the Camlock design you are looking at has a big lever to rotate (in any direction) think about how easy your sleeve could get caught on it and accidentally open the belts when racing. Autopower's design cannot open up accidentally.

When do I want a H-style system?

H-style harnesses are named this way because the shoulder harnesses look like the letter "H" when held up. The H-style system is designed for mounting further back in the car such as the rear lap-belt mounting points. The strap between the two shoulder harnesses holds the belts together. This strap is to be placed behind the driver's seat. Don't confuse this style of harness with a sternum strap which goes across your chest. Use the individual shoulder harnesses when mounting to the roll bar. Note: I/O Port Racing Supplies does not offer the Y-style harnesses as these are not legal for road racing. Y-style harnesses put too much force on one mounting point.

What are the enemies of racing harnesses?

Dirt and sunlight. Dirt will cause the fibers in the webbing to wear and break. Sunlight will cause the belts to lose their strength. This is why sanctioning bodies require the harnesses to be replaced at certain intervals.

Be sure that when mounting your harnesses that there are no sharp edges that the belts can rub against. It is important that harnesses be routed to their mounting points without being bunched or redirected by the seat, roll cage, or any other obstruction. Belts must be mounted in a straight line to the load. Please read and follow the manufacturer's instructions.