Tested: Schroth Quick Fit Harnesses

,

And here’s the completed installation:

Being a recovering ricer, I decided it would be SUPER COOL to drive around on the streets like this.  I got about a block before I realized two things:

1. The harnesses make a huge difference in keeping my American-sized bootay planted in the seat.  I could even tell a difference going around a left-hand turn at 5 mph.
2. I could not reach my radio and had to suffer through a Justin Bieber song.

Clearly, this would not work, so I unbuckled the belts and decided to only use them for autocross.

While on the topic of street driving, I’d like to address a potential problem with 4-point belts: submarining, which can occur in a front-end collision when the driver is wearing a 4-point harness.   Submarining happens when the occupant literally slides underneath the bottom belt, causing serious injury.  This can’t occur with a 3-point harness, because the belt across your chest goes under your armpit, and it can’t occur with a 5- or 6-point harness because of the bottom belt(s) that go between your legs.

Schroth has solved the submarining issue with what they call Anti-Submarining (ASM) technology.  This works by the use of a patented “energy converter” that is installed on the inside rear straps.  The converter causes the belts to move in such a way during a collision that the occupant will not slide under the belt.

Regardless, I found the belts to be much too restrictive to use on the street.

I used the Schroth harnesses for the first time at an autocross a few weeks ago.  Just in case you’ve never used harnesses before, I’d like to share what I found to be the best way to get into the seat and tighten them:

1. Sit in the seat and buckle the harness, but do not tighten yet. 
2. Put the seat back fully vertical.
3. Move the seat forward so that you can rest your wrists on the top of the steering wheel with your spine completely against the seat back.
4. Now move the seat back about two inches.
5. Tighten the lap belts as much as you can.
6. Move the seat back forward to tighten the belts a little more.  Check positioning of steering wheel.
7. Tighten the shoulder belts down to fully plant your body in the seat.
8. Remember that the radio is on, unbuckle yourself, turn off radio to prevent Justin Bieber music, and repeat steps 1-7.

The bottom belt should be as tight as possible across your hips.

This is about how far I sit from the wheel.  I should actually sit a bit closer, but I’m shaped weird and my knees hit the dash if I get much closer.

At the autocross, I decided to do a couple runs with my standard 3-point belt and then a few with my 4-point Schroth harnesses.  This would give me a good reference point.

So how much of a difference did the harness make?  It’s difficult to quantify, but let’s just say “HUGE.”  You really don’t realize how much effort you spend trying to hold yourself in your seat when driving hard.  For instance, the lot I was autocrossing in had a large pavement seam that causes the suspension to nearly bottom out.  When wearing a standard 3-point belt, I would need to spend a moment or two re-situating myself in the seat.  I didn’t even realize I was doing this, however, until I went over that same pavement seam with the harness on, because I simply didn’t move.  I would hit that bump and just keep plowing on.

The same happens to an even greater extent when cornering.  When entering a fast corner with standard belts, for instance, the car would turn, then my body would slide to the outside a split second later, followed by my trying to use knees and elbows to “hold” myself in position while at the same time trying to control the car.  This requires a significant amount of effort—and concentration.  This is completely removed when wearing a harness: I am planted in the seat, and I do not move.

That brings confidence.  When wearing a proper harness, you feel like you’re wearing the car as opposed to sitting in it.  This is because you’re now completely fastened to the car, whereas before there is some “play” between your body and the seat.

In summary, harnesses are a great investment if you’re serious about autocross or lap times, and the Schroth Quick Fit harnesses are super easy to install.

Just remember to turn off the radio first.