3-point belts in Spider

["n" <twobees@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

My $.02 worth:
I've had belts in cars since I drag raced in 1960.  And, my family & I use
them all the time.  During those years, I've never had an accident bad
enough to have tested any of the belt systems to their limits.  But, I had
enough minor ones to learn that you need the very best that's available.

My daily driver MGB is a '66 that came with just lap belts.  It also came
with a cute little wood rim steering wheel.  I can only imagine what my face
and arms would look like if I had hit anything head-on.

The B now has a well-padded metal rim steering wheel, and 3-point
inertia-reel belts from a late-model MGB.  The reinforced threaded mounting
holes from the lap belts are in the same position as in the later MGB's so I
used them.  And, Moss sells reinforcement plates, or you can make your own
as I did for the bracket that holds the retractor.  That mounts to the rear
fender well in the B.  I don't know how different a Spider's rear
compartment is.  The major drawback to this system is that the 18" - 24"
between my shoulder & the end of the belt at the retractor is going to
streatch in a crash.  Not much, but enough to cause some problems.

The next step is 5-point racing harnesses.  And, since I have a roll bar
with integral shoulder-strap bar, I'll be able to avoid the afore-mentioned
stretching problem.  Yes, less convenient than the current system.  But, I
have but one life to give...

My suggestion to other Alfa owners - upgrade to 3-point belts at the least.
If you have a show car & don't want to deviate from "stock," that's your
choice to drive in danger.

And, yes, I do recommend a roll bar in spiders.  I still vividly remember
the Friday night my family & I were heading to Mt. Snow for a ski weekend
when I helped turn an MGB back up on its side after it rolled over. The
windshield frame & top bows were flattened.   I don't know if the driver
survived.  We left when the ambulance arrived.  The driver still wasn't
conscious.

Play it as safe as you can.

Norm Sippel
'61 Sprint Veloce
'66 MGB

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