Mmmm more questions. As i plan to take the notch down the strip and to add some safety i'm planning a few mods.

Seat will be fixed (welded) in place and i would like to wear a harness whilst racing. Nothing full on but just something better than the standard equipment.

My notch is a 65 so how do i go? I have been told many different things and my understanding is this.

Solely they are not legal. If it came with seat belts that what it must retain.For Mr Engineer to be happy it must have the right spreader plates and nuts and bolts etc and have a cert for when it goes for it's blue / pink slip.

This wouldn't be a problem as alot of harnesses come with either a fixed or eyelet system so it could be taken out when needed.

What do folk do now and how well is my understanding on this?

Any helps good!

Cheers dan

[Edited on 11-12-2004 by dannyboy67]

there are a lot of illegal equipped cars about then....

All the mounting points would have to be checked and passed by an Engineer.... I would think....

I don't think You will have any problems having them installed... apart from the cost of the Engineer to check them out... some of the buggy guys may be able to help, they seem to be having things checked all the time by Engineers...

Lee

I've got to get it all done 100% or as best as!. I know this car will be a pull with Mr Plod!

Bolted on my carbs t'day , almost got hard! LOL
( sorry too much info )

Dan:o

I work in the car parts industry,
We sell the Klippan brand seatbelt.
They do 4 different type's of racing harness's.
All are fully australian and new zealand complianced.
You are legally allowed to run harness's in your vehicle as long as the vehicle does not come fitted with factory inertia seatbelts.
ie.They are allowed to replace old static seatbelts.
This is stated on their brochure.

Also I think you have to get your seats viewed by an engineer if you're going to do any welding or alterations to the runners.

I had the same question when I was building a car for charity rallies. Engineer stated harnesses were legal but had to be fixed so the shoulder harness bolted to the body at 45 degrees or less, also rear seat had to be removed and register as a 2 seater. If you weld the seat in the car will be illegal as the drivers seat must be adjustable for different drivers. When told I would be the only driver the engineer said it didn't matter, adjustable seat or no ticket.

After checking the seat rails tonight i saw that there are no plastic runners on them. I'm hoping this was the reason for the seats being a little lose , i think thats probably the case , fingers crossed. So no fixed seats then. Mmmm , okay. Interested in the harnesses mentioned as my 65 Notch only has the basic belts in so i'd be able to fit some. Did have it mentioned that the belts would have to be at less than a 45degree angle. If you mounted it through the cap where the rear seats meet that would be less thgan the 45 and still able to keep the seat. If it means i have to have the rear seats out and be classed as a 2 seater i may as well fill it with roll cage then.

Dan

i think the aim is to keep the shoulder straps as close to slightly down, but close to horozontal. You can always run the eyelets and bolt clip in the harness once at the track, and run your lap sash shile on the street, this means the belts may not have to be road legal (still have to meet the racing standards though)

Best off to contact the Transport department or an engineer as far as I can gather in Queensland they must be approved by an engineer or at least the monting points must comply with the standardsand must have the same style of buckling system as a normal seat belt not the latch or twist type as in race cars.

Dan,

Know what you mean about the carbs. Am glad you like 'em.

James C.

LOL , James you obviously have a carb fetish like myself. I'll send some pics with the 6" ram pipes fitted . VW porn i think!!!!

Dan

Okay back to the original topic. Seems then that i'll replace the seat runners tracks which will obviously help matters. The harnesses seem legal but either way it needs signing off by an engineer weither for rego / legal reasons and racing.

I've got some info coming about the harnesses mentioned before and i'll have a chat to the engineers to what i have to do. I'll also ask about a cage and whats needed whilst i'm there.

Nothing bloody simple is it! F*#@ !!

Dan:cussing

[Edited on 15-12-2004 by dannyboy67]

Hey Dragbug

Do you know of Klippan seatbelts that use the standard mounting points in a '68 beetle?

Thanks Craig

Anyone got any more light to shed on this thread?


Danny did you get any further with your investigations?

I just spoke to a fellow from KCF rallysport ( http://www.kcf-rallysport.com.au ) and asked him if it was legal to run harnesses in my 1963 beetle. He said yes that it was no problem, but noted that 1974 and newer cars it is not legal (I didn't ask him why or whether there are exclusions to the rule as I am not interested in cars newer than 1974!!)

Don't take this as gospel, but here in QLD to my knowledge they are legal for my 63!

Awesome, thanks Das. That makes me a little hopeful for the '71 then. Anyone know any details for Vic?

From what I can gatther from the engineer helping out with my buggy if you have inertia seat belts you can run harnesses as well but the inertia belts must stay fitted in the car but this does not mean you have to wear them as you can wear the harness as long as it is adr complient and approved for its mounting points etc. This is for QLD.

from what i understand from my research as long as the belts are ADR complient they should be fine if fitted correctly with correct mounts and engineer checked.

5 or 6 point may not be the legal though.

thats in Qld though.

(I still think its safer to have a 4 point harness than a fixed lap and sash.

Just make sure harness is aussie made, any thing UK ,USA you will have troubles.After having my car logged book done, my harness in my car was 5years old and only passed because they were Aussie made.Other makes 3year old wont pass cams scruiteneers report.JVLRacing

does this mean fixed bucket seats are illegal?

so on your next rego you just say to the guy doing your rego/roadworthy that its only a 2 seater it would be ok then?

Hey guys i'm new but have rallied all sorts of things and have a rwc licence here in QLD. Its amazing no-one mentions the COMPLIENCE PLATE on post ADR vehicles(1971) The fitting of harnesses to a post ADR vehicle is quite illegal in QLD for road use! It MAY be allowed if the owner has an DOT approved engineer to inspect and privately certify the MODIFICATION on a MODIFICATION plate. Vehicles built pre ADR are largely exempt because no fixed guidlines were in place for standardization of manufacturers before then.HOWEVER if The rear seating position is compromised on BOTH pre and post ADR vehicles they should be either removed for road use or MOD plated and used acordingly.

Welcome rallydave,it sounds like we would be better of all being cams log booked.JVLRacing

You can only have fixed buckets in the front of a car if the car is a 4 door or a 2 door with no rear seat. So a beetle with fixed seats would need the rear seat removed and the seats complianced with a seating capacity change.

Pete, you buggy doesn't have doors, but access to the back is via the top as there is no roof. That is why yours would be OK.