I just did a polish with Zaino on sat morning and did not want to get it out in that torrential rain. Next time will be there.
Ha tell me about that man, a connector got wet in my engine compartment & couldn't start so I had to dry it. No wonder they put a glass on the back instead of vents. Looks like I got to buy a big rain jacket for my car next time it rains! Buy you a meal when we meet.
You can easily buy racing (rather than motorcycle) helmets here in Singapore. Bell, Aria, etc helmets are Snell approved (SA markings) that are track approved for a certain period of time (usually 5 years from the approval date) after which they will fail scrutineering. Definitely go to try a helmet on to find out the right size and manufacturer that suits your head size and shape. Why do you want those particular (boring IMHO) designs? Buy a plain white one and have it painted in your own unique colours and logos, see Lung's or mine or http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45437 A basic design will cost about S$300 but it is YOURS!
I have a HANS device and I wear it for all my track days..I've seen too many events at track events that I dont want to take the risk.. Bear in mind, if you dont have a rollbar/cage, fixed back seats and 6 point harnesses, its quite usless..might be more harm than good. http://public.fotki.com/fong/roadracingdays_norc/safetyequipment/
You don't need the rollbar/cage, a 5-point harness and fixed-back racing seat is enough for the hans device to be effective (provided you don't roll the car...). It is all about limiting the effect of G-forces (e.g., whiplash) during a crash. It is a remarkably simple idea and device, don't know why they charge so much for it.
I guess the "Hans" guys have no choice as it's a very small market out there for the product & I can foresee much trouble with tests results, patenting, getting the authorities to approve it etc. Not to mention costly legal implications should anything fail. Clive have you been using a Mondial before the current ones you have? How's the experience. Looks aside, what do you think can be improved within means? The silver one is in my list again & I saw the Red cabriolet on the road on my way to work earlier. Very tempting....
Oh, so you must be the new owner? Yes, please go through with me. I'm free in late evenings or early mornings oh well....anytime since motoring is more in my blood. Perhaps I should really get the silver one & we can hang out together? BTW, is yours a QV or 8? I can't really remember but I would be using the Mondial as a daily ride & I remembered it can be exciting but I'm more worried about getting issues with a classic.
On top of the reasons mentioned above, if you actually see a HANS device, you will notice that it is certainly top-notch equipment. Layers and layers of pre-preg carbon fibre. A work of art indeed. Each one has to go through quite a multitude of tests, and each has a certification stamp of FIA approval on it. This looks like a sticker, but upon closer inspection is actually UNDER the lacquer/laminate, so that it can't be rubbed off. As I understand it, the Schroth version is slightly cheaper than that available from http://hansdevice.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.43/it.I/id.114/.f which is 995 Euros!!! Having read Spaing77's post, I might just get one for myself now.
I beg to disagree, if you are strapped in, with a 5 point harness, and a fixed back seat and without a rollbar/cage, dont drive on the track. Imagine rolling over and having you strapped in like that, should the roof cave in, your neck would be like a little stick. If you get into an incident on the track where there is enough G-forces to justify the hans device, you should also expect that you would likely be thrown off the track and thus more likely to roll. Another reason why we have rollbars is the ability to employ a harness bar that is closest to the seats, this eliminates any form of "slack" from the belts. The key to having protective equipment like that, is to have them work together and give you the best protection possible. If you eliminate one safety element, might as well stick to the regular 3 point seat belt. There has been many incidents where HANs could have saved lives, including that of Dale Sr in Nascar. There have been a fair number of deaths on tracks here in the US, including that of both track days and race days. I am getting as much safety equipment as I can. I am one of those who believe that if you cant spend an equal portion of your car funds on safety equipment, dont drive fast nor hit the track.
Oh ok, seems that many local guys don't bother anything about safety on the tracks, did I hear some people even turn up in burmudas/T-shirt?
Dont get your knickers in a twist Didnt you read my disclaimer about provided you don't roll the car I completely agree about spending money on safety. What I was doing was discussing a discrete point about hans device operation. You seem to be of the opinion that I disagree with hans devices or that I think they are pointless, where did I say that? I think they are a clever and elegant design that does a great job: It is a remarkably simple idea and device I dont really agree with taking road cars on track except to become more familiar with the cars handling in a controlled environment. Generally a road car is too heavy and not setup for track driving in short it is too compromised for efficient lapping of a circuit. If you try to optimise a road car for the track it becomes a lousy everyday road car. Buy a race car or trackday car that will be more fun, faster, better handling and usually cheaper to fix if things go wrong (and they inevitably will). Take a look at the Radical SR8 as a nice circuit car. A roll cage is primarily designed for protection in case the vehicle rolls (hence the name) whereas a hans device is designed to protect the head and neck (hence the name) from g-forces generated through rapid deceleration (or transverse acceleration). They work completely independently of each other and are not more efficient in relation to their design purpose when combined. It is of course possible to fit a full harness into a 2-seater car with a bulkhead directly behind the seats and have no slack in the belts I know as I have done this. Although what I think that you are referring to is stretch, which is a completely different issue however in practice you dont tighten the belts any more because a harness bar is directly behind the seat (tight is tight). Bollocks
Zertec, I did notice your disclaimer and we can both conclude that the HANs is a wonderful device that adds to safety. I agree with most of your points, but I doubt I would drive a car on the track with a Hans, harness yet without a rollbar/cage. Thats my personal opinion. You are entitled to your opinions but I just think its strange having all that safety equipment yet lacking the most basic... Abt the 3 point seat belt. I have to add a little more detail as to my choices I refer mainly to people who slap on 2 inch 4 point harness, strapped into a car without rollbars. If given a choice, would you take 3 point seat bets or 4 points? where the 4 points has the potential of submarining the driver/passenger? and I dont wear knickers, so they cant be in a twist. http://public.fotki.com/fong/carsusasingapore/gt3/_mg_1428.html this is my GT3 with a rear roll bar, I have the GT3 Euro fixed bucket seats, 6 point scroth Hans specific harnesses with the Porsche OE sub-belt bar http://public.fotki.com/fong/carsusasingapore/1995_project_e36_m3/arrived_home/img_0855.html My M3 LTW with a similar rear only rollbar, recaro SPGs and similar 6 point Hans specific harness, sub belt mounted to the floor. I am not trying to "shoot" you down, it is just that I spend alot of time on the track and invest alot of time and money onto what is deemed "enough" safety equipment while on the ttrack. I have witnessed many accounts of accidents on the track where there could have been more safety equipment, thus I just want to warn people of what is safe sometimes isnt exactly what it seems to be.
I take safety seriously and therefore I don't drive a road car on the track but I do enjoy my 250cc kart. Mind you, your BMW & Porsche don't look much like road cars in those pictures A 4-point harness has the possibility of submarining which is not a great idea. Go for at least 5. I designed the "Le Mans" TVR seats to take 5 & 6 pointers. I am also doing the same for my new Mondial Z seats. Here is an interesting device: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Interesting My M3 is mostly stripped out while the P-car has the full leather interior in it, no intention to strip it out. They are both "street legal" here in the US. Well, at least it passes Smog
Spaing77, Just wondering... When you're on the track, and strapped in with harnesses, what do you do with the street belts to stop the seat belt warning from coming on? I'm taking my newly acquired GT3 RS down to the track, and was curious about this. Thanks in advance!
hee. You either live with the buzz, or you can stretch the passenger seat belt over and click it into your driver side. Or get a spare clip and keep it in the car.. Were you at Sepang with Porsche club HK a few months back?
No man! I'm really anal about these things. That buzzing will irritate the hell out of me! Even the fact that I've got red harnesses bugs me, since its a "blue" RS. I nearly spent more than 700 Euros to get blue harnesses! I really like the spare clip idea though. Thanks! Yes I was. I helped a friend drive his 360 CS up (tough job... haha) to KUL. At the track, I drove a 996 TT, GT3, and the 360 CS. Loved every minute of it, apart from early in the morning when the track was a bit damp, and the 360 CS was mis-behaving like a rock star in a hotel room. Were you there?
Get a spare clip, if you need help,let me know, I should be able to dig some out Yes, I was in the white R33 GTR.. I was following the CS and Weng(GT3) in the last few sessions of the day. It was one of the best experiences in my life following(or trying to) the two cars....
Cool man! Yes, I drove Weng's GT3, and it was super-solid since it was on slicks. You might have been following me round for a couple of laps too! We should have met up, hopefully next time. : )
hey , fong, were these yours ? I was up at sepang the other day and there were these pair of GT3 cars tearing up the tarmac. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Can't see quite clearly. Are they 997 Cup cars? I know they did a launch recently in Sepang. Spaing77: I'll be glad to meet up when you're in HK. Look forward to it. PM me!
