Roll Cage and Racing Seats?

[krisk]

I'm looking for some advice on whether to add a roll cage and switch to racing seats in my 2024 Mustang. I'm just doing HPDE events, but I have the leather (non-Recaro) seats in the car and am using the factory three point harness. I had been looking at swapping over to the Schroth Quick Fit Pro to help reduce the sliding around and need to brace myself with my knees in the car because of its ability to use the factory seats and be taken in and out of the car. I've read many threads on those belts, and the general comments I've seen are they are better than stock seatbelts for holding you in place, but definitely not a race seat.

That has led me to consider actually swapping over to a race seat in my car and I would like some feedback. My current consideration is to install a Watson four point roll cage, swap out the driver's seat for a racing seat and install a true racing 6 point harness for the driver. I figure I would leave the factory passenger seat and possibly install the Schroth Quick Fit Pro on that side in the event I have a passenger.

Here are my concerns, which I can't find much feedback on.
1. Is it safe to run the racing seats, 4 point cage, and 6 point harness (with HANS) with the factory airbags?
2. Is it feasible to swap the racing seat and factory seat back and forth on occasion if I am not going to be doing HPDE for several months, and just want to use the factory seat for weekend cruising? How big of a pain is it to swap?
3. Are there any issues with leaving the passenger seat stock while running a driver's racing seat?
4. I know the 6 point shoulder straps mount to the roll bar. Do the lap belts mount to the factory seat belt location? I've seen there are adapters for the sub straps that can mount to the stock seat mounts. Any issues with that? I'm trying to avoid drilling to mount the straps.

I appreciate any other feedback or recommendations people can provide as I am new to this. Thank you!

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[Rocket Man]

are you still going to drive on the street? are you going to wear a helmet at all times. Lots of people get hurt or killed by hitting their head on the cage in a street accident. Might also not be covered by insurance for adding a cage to your street car.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a39993241/dont-put-a-roll-cage-in-your-street-car/

 

[krisk]

I appreciate the feedback and link to the article. I probably should have given more details of my plan. If I go this route, my intent is to go with the Watson four point roll cage which is a direct bolt in for the car and is removable. I plan to use the car almost exclusively on the track from May through November each year, then drive it occasionally on the street from December through April when I'm too busy with work to be able to go to the track on weekends. I would plan to remove the roll cage after the track season and put the stock seat back in as well. So during the road driving portion of the year I wouldn't have the cage, race seats or 6 point harness installed.

I trailer my car to the track, so other than a drive or two each month on the street during the track season, the car is primarily a track car from May through November. The way I see it, the risk of being injured due to having the roll cage in the car for the 500 miles a year it is driven on the street with the cage in is significantly lower than the risk of being injured on the track with the cage, helmet, 6 point harness and HANS. I do see the danger in having a fully caged car without a helmet, but the risk of hitting my head on the 4 point cage would be extremely low. Again, it's a matter of weighing the risks. If I planned to completely eliminate risk I wouldn't drive at all and certainly wouldn't drive on the track.

 

[Rocket Man]

okay, that sounds reasonable. good luck and have fun with the car. I'm a little jealous that you can buy a brand new car and make it into a track toy

 

[krisk]

okay, that sounds reasonable. good luck and have fun with the car. I'm a little jealous that you can buy a brand new car and make it into a track toy

I'm finally at the stage in life where it is feasible to have a car just for fun. I raised my kids and only had vehicles based on what was needed at the time with no concern for fun. Now that my kids are grown I am in a place where I can actually do some of things I never would have dreamed of ten years ago. There's a reason there are so many old people on the track.

 

[Rocket Man]

At 72, I can relate. I had most of my fun in my youth. I roadraced motorcycles for about 10 years in the 70's. Then I drag raced cars and bikes for the next 10 years or so. Now I have to settle for taking my car to the local strips 4 or 5 times a year. And of course some spirited street drives in the country a couple of times a month.

 

[krisk]

At 72, I can relate. I had most of my fun in my youth. I roadraced motorcycles for about 10 years in the 70's. Then I drag raced cars and bikes for the next 10 years or so. Now I have to settle for taking my car to the local strips 4 or 5 times a year. And of course some spirited street drives in the country a couple of times a month.

I'm only 47, but figure I better have my fun on the track while I can!

 

[RLE55]

Here are my concerns, which I can't find much feedback on.
1. Is it safe to run the racing seats, 4 point cage, and 6 point harness (with HANS) with the factory airbags?
2. Is it feasible to swap the racing seat and factory seat back and forth on occasion if I am not going to be doing HPDE for several months, and just want to use the factory seat for weekend cruising? How big of a pain is it to swap?
3. Are there any issues with leaving the passenger seat stock while running a driver's racing seat?
4. I know the 6 point shoulder straps mount to the roll bar. Do the lap belts mount to the factory seat belt location? I've seen there are adapters for the sub straps that can mount to the stock seat mounts. Any issues with that? I'm trying to avoid drilling to mount the straps.

I appreciate any other feedback or recommendations people can provide as I am new to this. Thank you!

#1. Yes, I did it for years before going all in and eliminating air bags, etc.
#2. You can, but swapping out factory seat to race seat all the time can be a PITA.
#3. See attachment below on how 6-pt harness gets installed, and yes, you should be able to use the anchors for factory lap belts to attach race harness. You will however need to drill and attach eye bolts & anchors for anti-dive belts, and of course use of roll bar for shoulder belts.
https://www.schrothracing.com/doc-share/competition_instructions.pdf

 

[Paul's stable]

I'm finally at the stage in life where it is feasible to have a car just for fun. I raised my kids and only had vehicles based on what was needed at the time with no concern for fun. Now that my kids are grown I am in a place where I can actually do some of things I never would have dreamed of ten years ago. There's a reason there are so many old people on the track.

I'm the same retired kids are gone so I bought a Dark Horse with the tremec and first mode was a Whipple supercharger It's my go out on sunny days and have fun car. The kids are dying to drive it LoL.

 

[krisk]

Update: After lots of research and considering options, I decided to go with the Cobra Nogaro seat with the Schroth Quick Fit Pro. I can run this setup without the roll cage, so it will be less hassle to just swap seats without having to pull out the cage.

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