Crotch strap difficulties
Discussion
Posted this Q last week on trackday forum, but got little response, so trying here (where I should have tried first anyway!)
I have a Schroth 4 point harness which is upgradable to a 6 point harness with the simple addition of the crotch bit (one clip into buckle, holding two adjustable straps with clip fasteners on the end).
Now, when positioning myself in my bucket seat to see where I'd need to weld eye-bolt plates to attach these to, the crotch straps don't seem to have room to clear my family jewels.
It's as if the slot in the seat isn't wide enough, so the belts and plastic adjusting buckles 'bunch' together somewhat, leaving little clearance for 'gentleman's comfort'.
The hole in the seat looks pretty standard, about 3" wide, but the straps are about 1" wide, and pretty stiff.
Anyone else solved such a problem?
I have a Schroth 4 point harness which is upgradable to a 6 point harness with the simple addition of the crotch bit (one clip into buckle, holding two adjustable straps with clip fasteners on the end).
Now, when positioning myself in my bucket seat to see where I'd need to weld eye-bolt plates to attach these to, the crotch straps don't seem to have room to clear my family jewels.
It's as if the slot in the seat isn't wide enough, so the belts and plastic adjusting buckles 'bunch' together somewhat, leaving little clearance for 'gentleman's comfort'.
The hole in the seat looks pretty standard, about 3" wide, but the straps are about 1" wide, and pretty stiff.
Anyone else solved such a problem?
Not played cricket for many years, but I do recall having to re-adjust the box after every movement.
Not a good idea doing this driving round a track, I wouldn't have thought.
So box has ridden up. Tackle half in, half out. Have a shunt. Crotch strap tightens with force of impact, and bisects said tackle.
That would be my major concern over your suggestion.
Do you actually use a box!?
Not a good idea doing this driving round a track, I wouldn't have thought.
So box has ridden up. Tackle half in, half out. Have a shunt. Crotch strap tightens with force of impact, and bisects said tackle.
That would be my major concern over your suggestion.
Do you actually use a box!?
Some crotch straps come with a T piece which spreads them slightly. However anything which come up between your legs when in a seated position is, by definition, going to interfere with your wedding vegetables.
It feels quite odd and disconcerting at first, having a harness strapped over that part of your anatomy but you'll soon get used to it and not notice. That is until you have a head on crash and then you'll experience some 'discomfort'.
The crotch strap isn't there to take the full impact, its just intended to stop you submarining out under the main shoulder and waist straps. So you will feel an impact 'down there', but it isn't going to cause you serious damage.
I don't know anyone who races in a cricket box, and I wouldn't use one for the reasons you set out
It feels quite odd and disconcerting at first, having a harness strapped over that part of your anatomy but you'll soon get used to it and not notice. That is until you have a head on crash and then you'll experience some 'discomfort'.
The crotch strap isn't there to take the full impact, its just intended to stop you submarining out under the main shoulder and waist straps. So you will feel an impact 'down there', but it isn't going to cause you serious damage.
I don't know anyone who races in a cricket box, and I wouldn't use one for the reasons you set out
teamHOLDENracing said:
Some crotch straps come with a T piece which spreads them slightly. However anything which come up between your legs when in a seated position is, by definition, going to interfere with your wedding vegetables.
Yes, mine has the T piece, which keeps it off the 'meat', it's the 'two veg' that feel nervous being in the firing line of the two straps converging on the seat-hole.I agree that the function of the crotch strap is mainly to keep the lap belt sitting in its intended position on the pelvic bones (and prevent submarining).
I am comforted by your observation that 'they all do that'. I was concerned that I was missing a trick somewhere.
Thanks.
jellison said:
Can't really see (even at very high speed) how you can submarine in a upright race seat (I could be wrong! - It does happen), not talking F1 Lotus 72 here (you know what I mean).
I know what you mean, but I think the main purpose for a 6 pointer for me would be to keep the lap belts down over my hip bones.As a 4 pointer, the lap belts ride up and, in the event of a big impact, would compress my lower intestines and other soft tissue leading to horrendous internal injuries.
The Schroth instructions make for some interesting reading on the subject:-
http://www.schrothracing.com/docs/Competition_Inst...
Its no joke! 
http://briskoda.net/motorsport-discussion/h-s-caut...
Probably not work safe but illustrates the problem well
http://briskoda.net/motorsport-discussion/h-s-caut...
Probably not work safe but illustrates the problem well
Edited by Seademon on Tuesday 9th December 15:20
Seademon said:
Its no joke!
http://briskoda.net/motorsport-discussion/h-s-caut...
Probably not work safe but illustrates the problem well
How can his plums come out of the sack?http://briskoda.net/motorsport-discussion/h-s-caut...
Probably not work safe but illustrates the problem well
Edited by Seademon on Tuesday 9th December 15:20
If the lower 2 straps on a 4 point harness are tight in a convensional 100deg typical race seat (not inclined like in single saters) can see how that could happen or submarining.
IF all done up properly and tight that is.
Just to add some real-life experience as well:
I use 6 point harnesses in my saloon race car and yes they appear to be situated right on the crown jewels. However in my previous saloon (a BMW 3.8 M5 race car in the Kumho Challenge) I managed to to have a major off, at Snetterton, on the end of the start/finish straight in monsoon conditions I didn't even attempt the corner and went sailing on at 100mph+ expecting to end up in Norfolks finest crops.
Unfortunately an Escort Cosworth ex-WRC had done the same thing a lap earlier and was beached in the sand trap. I hit it at full whack, enough to remove the rear of the escort up to the rear suspension turrets. Its bag tank burst etc, my engine was hit so hard it kinked the gearbox tunnel. I went from motion to full stop in about 5 metres all whilst wearing my close fitting 6 point harness.
Genuinely I had no damage. No damage to the jewels, no whiplash, some slight redness on the shoulder where the straps held. But that was it, I attribute this to that fact that I have my belts damn tight, no slack and almost no body movement.
So don't worry about the crotch area, it seems vulnerable but it isn't an impact area in an accident.
I use 6 point harnesses in my saloon race car and yes they appear to be situated right on the crown jewels. However in my previous saloon (a BMW 3.8 M5 race car in the Kumho Challenge) I managed to to have a major off, at Snetterton, on the end of the start/finish straight in monsoon conditions I didn't even attempt the corner and went sailing on at 100mph+ expecting to end up in Norfolks finest crops.
Unfortunately an Escort Cosworth ex-WRC had done the same thing a lap earlier and was beached in the sand trap. I hit it at full whack, enough to remove the rear of the escort up to the rear suspension turrets. Its bag tank burst etc, my engine was hit so hard it kinked the gearbox tunnel. I went from motion to full stop in about 5 metres all whilst wearing my close fitting 6 point harness.
Genuinely I had no damage. No damage to the jewels, no whiplash, some slight redness on the shoulder where the straps held. But that was it, I attribute this to that fact that I have my belts damn tight, no slack and almost no body movement.
So don't worry about the crotch area, it seems vulnerable but it isn't an impact area in an accident.
apguy said:
Just to add some real-life experience as well:
I use 6 point harnesses in my saloon race car and yes they appear to be situated right on the crown jewels. However in my previous saloon (a BMW 3.8 M5 race car in the Kumho Challenge) I managed to to have a major off, at Snetterton, on the end of the start/finish straight in monsoon conditions I didn't even attempt the corner and went sailing on at 100mph+ expecting to end up in Norfolks finest crops.
Unfortunately an Escort Cosworth ex-WRC had done the same thing a lap earlier and was beached in the sand trap. I hit it at full whack, enough to remove the rear of the escort up to the rear suspension turrets. Its bag tank burst etc, my engine was hit so hard it kinked the gearbox tunnel. I went from motion to full stop in about 5 metres all whilst wearing my close fitting 6 point harness.
Genuinely I had no damage. No damage to the jewels, no whiplash, some slight redness on the shoulder where the straps held. But that was it, I attribute this to that fact that I have my belts damn tight, no slack and almost no body movement.
So don't worry about the crotch area, it seems vulnerable but it isn't an impact area in an accident.
Well said. I use 6 point harnesses in my saloon race car and yes they appear to be situated right on the crown jewels. However in my previous saloon (a BMW 3.8 M5 race car in the Kumho Challenge) I managed to to have a major off, at Snetterton, on the end of the start/finish straight in monsoon conditions I didn't even attempt the corner and went sailing on at 100mph+ expecting to end up in Norfolks finest crops.
Unfortunately an Escort Cosworth ex-WRC had done the same thing a lap earlier and was beached in the sand trap. I hit it at full whack, enough to remove the rear of the escort up to the rear suspension turrets. Its bag tank burst etc, my engine was hit so hard it kinked the gearbox tunnel. I went from motion to full stop in about 5 metres all whilst wearing my close fitting 6 point harness.
Genuinely I had no damage. No damage to the jewels, no whiplash, some slight redness on the shoulder where the straps held. But that was it, I attribute this to that fact that I have my belts damn tight, no slack and almost no body movement.
So don't worry about the crotch area, it seems vulnerable but it isn't an impact area in an accident.
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