What safety gear do I need to track my boxster? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Mike_Yi · 03-11-2009, 09:42 PM

I did my first DEs without any AXs. Having said that, I will be participating in an AX school next month.

Roll-bar extension is a good plan to protect your spine. Helmet, gloves and shoes for sure. A racing seat and a SIX-point harness are good too. DO NOT get a 5-point harness. Get a 6. If you keep it nice and tight, it will protect your neck in any kind of impact much more than a 5 point. The 6-point harnesses keep you planted in the seat more than the 5. That keeps your upper body from moving forward.

mdex · 03-12-2009, 09:08 AM

First check the rules for the track and the group you will be running with. They can run the gamut from no real requirements to over the top crazy.

Since you are new to the track all I suggest is make sure the car is in good shape (brakes, tires etc etc etc) and a proper helmet (if required by the organization). Then make sure you have qualified instruction for your first times on track. Learning the proper way to drive on track will improve your safety way more then any seats, belts, or fancy nomex race suits ever will.

Marc

jmatta · 03-12-2009, 03:01 PM

"I did my first DEs without any AXs. Having said that, I will be participating in an AX school next month."

Mike,

I will be one of the instructors out there next month...I'll have to say Hi.

Mike_Yi · 03-15-2009, 06:39 PM

Cool. Yeah. It'd be great to meet you.

jmatta · 03-16-2009, 06:47 AM

"Get a 6. If you keep it nice and tight, it will protect your neck in any kind of impact much more than a 5 point"

The difference between a 5 point and 6 point is the sub-belt. A 5 point mounts to the floor and a 6 point mounts to the lap belt points; both hold your pelvis to the seat (aka as crotch belt). Both are sufficient to keep you planted, though most DE drivers utilize a 6 point so they don't need to drill holes in the floor pan.

Neither belt system offers protection to your head in the case of impact...you'd need a HANS (head and neck restraint) to keep your neck from snapping. Of course, if you are just starting out in DE, you probably won't pop for an $800 HANS device.