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Personal Safety Equipment
Touring Division:
Belts/Harnesses: Factory stock belts, OEM or better, in good condition, no frays or excessive wear, are the minimum standard. A proper 5 or 6-point safety harness is recommended. See Harness Mounting Requirements below. Factory OEM belts should not be over 10 years old. Cars in these Divisions greater than ten years old should have their original OEM belts upgraded to newer belts.
Helmets: A SNELL Foundation M2000 (or later) helmet in good condition with shatterproof eye protection is the minimum standard. (Shatterproof eyeglasses will be considered the minimum standard). An SA 2000 helmet is highly recommended. If an “M” helmet is worn, a Nomex head sock (balaclava) must also be worn.
Clothing: Non-synthetic clothing (cotton, wool, leather, etc.), covering torso, arms, and legs, plus gloves and leather topped shoes without holes are the minimum standard. Golf gloves and athletic shoes with holes are not considered appropriate. A Nomex Driver/Co-Driver's suit is highly recommended.
All Other Divisions:
Harnesses: A 5 or 6-point safety harness is mandatory, with 3-inch lap and shoulder belts except as noted in paragraph 1h below. A cam lock safety harness latching system is highly recommended. If a sternum belt is used, the lap belt must at the proper position at the pelvis and the crotch belt must be used to keep the lap belt down and in the proper position.
1. Harness Mounting/Age Requirements: Harnesses must be mounted at or on the roll cage, roll bar, frame member, or body panel (with adequate spreader plates).
a. The shoulder belt mounting height (or roll bar crossover height for floor-mounted shoulder belts) should be no more than 2” +/- from the driver’s shoulder height when seated in a driving position to reduce the possibility of spinal compression injuries. Shoulder harnesses must be secured or stressed over a steel tube at the proper height.
b. The shoulder harnesses should be attached to the horizontal bar on roll bars.
c. The belts should be mounted so as to not cause undue spinal compression.
d. Adequate spreader plates must be used when mounting harnesses to a body panel. Mounting to fiberglass or other non-metal panels is strictly prohibited.
e. Harnesses must be mounted to the roll cage or frame member in the Super Sport Division. OEM seat or belt mounting points can be used in the Touring, Grand Touring, and Grand Sport Divisions, but proper harness installation is difficult without a roll bar or harness mounting bar. Consult with the Chief of Tech if you are entering a car with harnesses and no harness or roll bar.
f. Manufacturer’s labels cannot be located under the adjusting mechanism when the driver is buckled in the seat and has tightened the seat belts and shoulder harness, as this could cause the belt to “dump” on one side and tear under stress. This will be checked at Tech Inspection.
g. All harnesses must be permanently dated and be no more than five years old for Touring, Grand Touring, and Grand Sport Divisions, and no more than 2 years old for Super Sport Division. Worn, damaged, or frayed belts will be rejected for use regardless of age.
h. FIA-approved 2” lap belts with proper certification will be accepted. 3” shoulder straps are still mandated with the exception of the new 2” into 3” HANS-specific shoulder harnesses. Please consult with the Chief of Tech if you desire to use these belts.
i. Crotch Strap Adjustment: Crotch Straps must be adjusted to ensure the lap belts tighten properly across the pelvic girdle (known as the Iliac Crest) and not the soft part of the abdomen. This adjustment will be checked at Tech Inspection. For co-driving teams where the drivers' physical size differs, the team must demonstrate to the Tech Inspectors their ability to quickly re-adjust their crotch straps at the turnaround. Or, if they choose, they may attach two crotch straps to EACH mounting point properly adjusted for each driver.
Helmets: A SNELL Foundation approved SA2000 (or later) helmet with shatterproof eye protection is required.
A. The use of a full-face helmet, with visor, is required in the Super Sport Division and highly recommended in all other Divisions.
B. A Nomex head sock (balaclava) is required for Driver/Co-Drivers with long hair (or facial hair, except for small, trimmed mustaches) and recommended for everyone.
Clothing (Grand Touring Division Only): Non-synthetic clothing (cotton, wool, leather etc.), covering torso, arms, and legs, plus gloves and leather topped shoes without holes are the minimum standard. Golf gloves and athletic shoes with holes are not considered appropriate. A Nomex Driver/Co-Driver's suit is highly recommended.
Clothing (Grand Sport and Higher Divisions): A fire-resistant Driver/Co-Driver's suit, shoes, socks and gloves (leather palms O.K.) are required. Treated cotton suits of any kind or rating,
i.e., Proban, will not be allowed. A one-piece suit is recommended.
A. For Grand Sport, a suit meeting SFI 3-2A/1 specifications with Nomex underwear will be considered the minimum standard, and a suit meeting SFI 3-2A/5 is highly recommended.
B. For Super Sport, a multi-layered suit meeting SFI 3-2A/5 specifications with Nomex underwear is the minimum standard, and suits with an SFI rating of 3-2A/10 or greater are highly recommended.
Helmet Restraints: Padded helmet supports (“horse collars”) are mandatory in the Grand Sport and recommended for all Divisions. A helmet restraint system (HANS, Hutchens, Simpson, or similar) is required in the Super Sport Division and highly recommended for all Divisions. All HANS device users must ensure their harness mountings are in exact conformation with the device requirements. Any racer using a HANS device must coordinate with the Chief of Tech and be prepared to provide supporting documentation that their installation is in compliance with HANS requirements
Arm Restraints: Arm Restraints are mandatory in all Divisions GS (130 mph) and above, and are highly recommended for all other classes. Arm Restraints are also mandatory for open cockpit cars in GT Divisions or higher.
Window Nets: Highly recommended in all Divisions and required for any closed cockpit vehicle without glass or Lexan window covering.
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