Works Bell Rapfix GTC Hybrid Tilting Tilt Steering Wheel Quick Release ON SALE
Price: Australian$339.00
We ship products worldwide from warehouses in Australia, the US and Japan. Prices are in Australian Dollars.
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Currently on sale at special reduced pricing
Due to a change in the Japanese Yen exchange rate, we are passing on the saving to our customers with special sale pricing on this product.
Our sale price is well below the Japanese tax inc retail price. The normal full Japanese ex tax retail price on this product is Japanese Yen 34,800 which is Australian $434.67 on 6 October exchange rate. So our special sale price saves you a massive $85.67 off the normal Japanese retail price.
Our old price on this product was $418.45, so the special sale price saves you $69.45 off our old price.
This special sale pricing is only available for a limited time, so if you want to grab one for your car, click on the Add To Cart button above to place your order while this special sale is on.
We are one of only two factory authorised exclusive national distributors for Works Bell worldwide outside of Japan.
We ship worldwide !
Product Info
In a driver change pitstop, every second counts, so potentially the difference between victory and second place in an endurance event could come down to whether your team runs a Works Bell tilting quick release or not.
It's that simple.
Product Info
Genuine Works Bell products are engineered and manufactured in Works Bell's state of the art production facilities in Japan, by highly skilled fabricators and engineers
Released in December 2008, and featuring Works Bell's patented ball locking system, the tilting Works Bell Rapfix GTC Hybrid steering quick release is a very special product which was developed specifically by Works Bell in response to demand from The Tuners Group's racing customers.
It potentially has significant time saving advantages in driver change pit stops, particularly in endurance events.
The Works Bell Rapfix GTC Hybrid is 100% made in Japan and is machined and assembled with precision by Works Bell's engineers at Works Bell's production facility in Nagano, Japan.
Advantages In Endurance Event Driver Change Pit Stops
The advantages of tilting quick release systems in driver change pit stops in endurance events have been experienced by many teams around the world, and have been noted by TV commentators.
The Works Bell GTC Hybrid Tilting Quick Release ...
- Can potentially provide a significant competitive advantage in minimising pit stop duration during driver changes in endurance events,
- Can potentially make it simpler and faster for drivers in endurance event driver changes: (1) by simplifying the awkward and potentially time burning job of the driver maneuvering between the steering wheel, seat, and over roll cage side intrusion bars, and (2) by simplifying the job of getting belts done up during driver changes.
- With the steering wheel tilted up out of the way, both the driver and anyone helping the driver get the belts done up have more room to get the driver change done quickly.
- Can potentially help improve driver safety by helping minimise the time needed to exit a car in the event of an accident, particular in incidents where a driver needs to exit the car as fast as possible.
- As noted by TV commentators it is particularly useful in addressing the driver mobility issues when getting in and out of a car and getting belts done up during driver change pit stops when wearing a head restraint device.
- A simple pull on the glove friendly release handle unlocks the system, allowing the steering wheel to be quickly tilted upwards.
- When your driver is ready to leave the pits after the pitstop, you just click the steering wheel back into place and go. It locks automatically with a very postive feel and action. There are no fiddly locking mechanisms to deal with when locking or unlocking the system - just a solid, well engineered glove friendly release handle.
Steering Wheel & Steering Column Compatibility
The Works Bell GTC Hybrid can be used:
- With 6 bolt steering wheels in both 6 bolt Momo bolt pattern steering (PCD 70mm), and 6 bolt Nardi bolt pattern (PCD 74mm), and ...
- With 3 bolt steering wheels and 3 bolt steering columns by using the optional 6H adapter
Full info on steering wheel and steering column compatibility is further down this page.
Operation Photos
Please note that the operation photos above show the Rapfix GTC version. The GTC Hybrid does not use the additional red locking pin shown in the GTC version - instead the GTC Hybrid uses the glove friendly release handle instead of the additional red locking pin.
TV Coverage
If you have the TV coverage of the 2008 V8 Supercar L&H 500 Phillip Island at your workshop, have a look at the Tander / Skaife pit stop on lap 34, where TV commentators Neil Crompton & Matt White made some comments about the difficulty of getting in and out of a V8 Supercar quickly in driver change pit stops.
Then on lap 35 of the L&H 500 there is a driver change pit stop (Morris / Ingall) which shows the in car footage of that pit stop with a tilting quick release, and during that pit stop Neil Crompton made some comments about the tilting quick release.
If you have the 2008 Bathurst 1000 DVD, on lap 33 there is a driver change pit stop (Morris / Ingall) which shows the tilting quick release on the in car camera, again with comments from Neil Crompton about the tilting quick release.
We're not suggesting that Neil's or Matt's comments are an endorsement of the system in any way of course (they aren't an endorsement and Neil's and Matt's comments were unsolicited of course), but the comments during the telecasts about the tilting quick release system were very interesting.
Specifications
Specifications on this system are ...
- Total Length: approx 57mm
- Diameter of body at flared mounting surfaces: Approx 83mm
- Weight: approx 500g
- Main body material: Duralumin (hardness higher than cold forged materials)
- Surface Alumite processed
- SUJ Stainless Steel Ball Bearing (JIS Industrial Standards)
- Stainless Steel SUS XM7 standard head screw and cap screw as defined in JIS Industrial Standards
Please see the "Manufacturing quality and safety testing info" section further down this page for more info on materials, manufacturing process, quality control and safety testing procedures.
Speeding Up The Driver Change Pit Stop - With Demo Video
Front view - release handle closeup
When your driver stops in the pits and is ready to exit the car, a simple pull toward the driver of the precision machined glove friendly release handle behind the steering wheel releases the locking system. The glove friendly release handle is pictured at right - click the image to enlarge it.
This simple pull on the glove friendly release handle then unlocks the system, allowing the steering wheel to be quickly tilted upwards.
Or you can even turn the steering wheel 90 degrees and tilt the steering wheel sideways towards the centreline of the car (like opening a book) to provide even more room for the outgoing driver to exit and the incoming driver to get in.
More info on the attention to detail of the precision machined release handle can be found further down on this page.
Because the GTC Hybrid tilting quick release uses Works Bell's patented ball locking system, there are no splines to line up.
Time is therefore not lost lining up splines - the drivers change and the steering wheel is simply folded back into the driving position - so this can save valuable seconds in driver change pit stops.
With the GTC Hybrid the steering wheel does not detach completely from the steering column column, so it is always attached to the steering column and ready to be folded quickly and simply back into the driving position.
When your driver is ready to leave the pits after the pitstop, you just click the steering wheel back into place and go. It locks automatically with a very postive feel and action. There are no fiddly locking mechanisms to deal with when locking or unlocking the system - just a solid, well engineered glove friendly release handle.
Click on the video above to view a demo video of the Rapfix GTC to see just how simple it is to use. Please note that the video above show the Rapfix GTC version for road cars.
The GTC Hybrid does not use the additional red locking pin shown in the GTC version for road cars - instead the GTC Hybrid uses the glove friendly release handle instead of the additional red locking pin.
Works Bell's History
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Works Bell is recognised worldwide as the premium Japanese manufacturer of the very finest quality steering wheel quick releases, steering wheel boss kits, steering wheel spacers, and paddle shifters.
Founded in 1950 in Tokyo as "Miyashita Manufacturing Co. Ltd", Works Bell has a 58 year history with a reputation for the finest engineering and innovation of any aftermarket manufacturer in the world.
As far back as 1969, Miyashita Manufacturing were doing fabrication work for both Momo and Nardi.
In 1983 Works Bell Co. Ltd. was founded. Since 1983 Works Bell has made an incredible number of innovations - such as wheel spacer manufacturing in 1993, winning the RV Grand Prix in Tokyo in 1996.
Works Bell invented and holds a huge portfolio of patents for automotive innovations, including the patents for ... harness bosses for car use, the convertible long handle boss, the 24 hole boss spacer, the crushable boss, air passage through headlight housing, jumper parts to silence airbags warnings, the full harness seat belt, the steering wheel boss anti-theft cap, the seat position sensor, auxillary parts for removing the steering wheel, the shift switch, and the steering wheel contact coupler.
Inventors of the ball lock quick release system
Close up of the patented ball locking system in the detachable Works Bell Rapfix Racing Quick Release - click the photo to enlarge
In 2001 Works Bell invented and patented the ball lock quick release.
Works Bell holds numerous patents including the patent for ball lock quick release systems. Works Bell quick releases are the original, genuine, real deal products.
We can supply the full range of Works Bell Quick Releases, including the "no splines" Works Bell Rapfix Racing Quick Release shown above.
Click here to view our range of Works Bell steering quick releases.
Industry Association Memberships
Works Bell are members of:
- SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association),
- ASEA (Japanese Autosports & Special Equipment Association),
- NAPAC (Nippon Auto Parts Aftermarket Committee) and
- AAAL (Automotive Aftermarket Action League).
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Who Uses Works Bell Products ?
Mr. Kumakubo the leader of Team Orange (click image to enlarge)
Works Bell products are used extensively in D1GP in Japan, Formula D in the US, and in a range of racing series all over the world.
They are used extensively by Formula D and D1 drivers like Nobushige Kumakubo (Team Orange), Kazuhiro Tanaka (Team Orange), Naoto Suenaga (Team Orange), Drift Samurai Imamura, Kenji Yamanaka (Team Hankook), Toshiki Yoshioka (Team DROO-P), Gen Terasaki (G.T WORKS), Yoshinori Koguchi (Team I&D), Hiroshi Fukuda (Fluke), Tetsuya Hibino, Yukio Matsui, Michihiro Takatori, Daigo Saito, Chikara Mizuhata (HPI), Takashi Tanaka (T-DEMAND), Tomohito Murayama, Shinichi Yamada, Takanari Kato, Hirotaka Hoshino, Shirou Deura, Hisashi Kamimoto, Kazuya Matsukawa & Waki Yoshirou, in circuit racing by Team Prova, as well as Option, ORC, Tamon and Road&Ster.
That's a long list of formidable racers, and top level racing teams, and it just shows the kind of reputation that Works Bell has in Japan.
Works Bell Quick Releases are used on the Team Orange cars in Japan. Team Orange is an iconic Japanese team, widely considered to be one of the top D1 team in the world (if not the top D1 team in the world).
JUN Mitsubishi Evo X
In addition, Works Bell products are what iconic world reknowned Japanese tuner JUN Automotive chose for their Mitsubishi Evo X project car (pictured above). The JUN Evo X uses a Works Bell quick release and Works Bell steering wheel.
Quite simply, in Japan the question is not "which brand of steering wheel & quick release will I use ?", but "Which Works Bell steering wheel and quick release will I use ?"
Click here to view the gallery of Works Bell Support Drivers & Machines
Steering Wheel & Hub / Boss Kit Compatibility
Side view - note 2 sets of precision machined threaded mounting holes for both standard Momo bolt pattern and standard Nardi bolt pattern steering wheels, and machining on release handle
There is no welding required to fit a Works Bell Rapfix GTC Hybrid Quick Release to your car - it is strictly a bolt on product with no welding required. It even has built in contacts for your car's steering wheel horn button.
At the steering wheel end, the Rapfix GTC Hybrid ships pre-machined with bolt holes in both standard 6 bolt Momo bolt pattern steering (PCD 70mm), and 6 bolt Nardi bolt pattern (PCD 74mm) - see photo above. It can also be used with 3 bolt competition steering wheels by using the new Works Bell 6H 3 bolt to 6 bolt steering wheel bolt pattern adapter (see photo at right).
Of course it is compatible with all Works Bell steering wheels, including the Works Bell Team Orange Steering Wheel.
Click here to see our range of steering wheels.
Boss / Steering Column Attachment
Rear view of surface which mounts to steering boss, note machining on back of release handle for enhanced grip with gloves on
The end of the Rapfix GTC that attaches to the steering boss / hub or steering column (see photo above) has a 6 bolt (PCD 70mm) bolt pattern, the same bolt pattern as used on Momo steering bosses / hubs and for 3 bolt steering columns the Works Bell 6H 3 bolt to 6 bolt steering wheel bolt pattern adapter can also be used to bolt the GTC Hybrid to 3 bolt steering columns.
Works Bell bosses are also 6 bolt (PCD 70mm), so the GTC Hybrid bolts straight to all Works Bell boss kits / hubs.
The end that attaches to the steering boss / hub can also be attached to many compatible 6 bolt Nardi bolt pattern steering bosses / hubs (PCD 74mm), by using the Works Bell Conversion Spacer (see photo). The conversion spacer is a very useful product which allows you to fit compatible Momo bolt pattern products to Nardi bolt pattern products and vice versa.
The Rapfix GTC Hybrid is available in black.
It has a glove friendly competition release handle like the 3 bolt only GTC-R version.
Release handle info
Front view - release handle closeup
The release handle on the Rapfix GTC Hybrid is a beautifully machined example of true precision Japanese Engineering.
The front of the release handle features precisely machined reliefs both to provide an easily gripped front surface for your thumb, and to save weight.
The rear surface of the release handle features precision machined reliefs to enhance your grip on the release handle when wearing gloves.
The release handle design is yet another example of the extreme attention to detail and quality machining that Works Bell has built it's reputation on over many years at the very highest levels of motorsport.
Racing in a series that has rules requiring a working horn ? Your horn still works
For teams competing in series with rules requiring a functioning horn, a “horn button” may also be used. The horn terminals are built-in inside the main body of the Rapfix GTC Hybrid and in the tilt-up section (socket). When tilted up, electric current to the horn switch is cut-off. When tilted down current is restored through a contact point specific to the purpose.
The horn contacts of course can also be used for applications like a steering wheel mounted car to pit radio button etc.
If you are currently using a steering wheel mounted car to pit radio button, we consider the Works Bell Paddle Shifter NEO Universal as used in The Enduro System to be a superior solution to steering wheel mounted buttons - click here for more info.
Superior advantages over existing products
In many of the products of other companies with similar functions, suppression of chatter due to radial load for steering is made difficult by structural problems and sacrificing reverse, steerability, steering feel and other factors that bring about the comfort of tilt up.
In Rapfix GTC Hybrid, however, the use of B.L.S. (ball lock system) made it possible to realize surpassing quality in existing products.
Manufacturing, quality and safety testing info
At Works Bell, when new products require new fabrication systems, new materials, and new design values, all tests are done at the testing centre in the factory to ensure safety.
Major tests conducted include:
- Materials hardness test
- Material tensile test
- JASO C713 Static Load Bending Test On Steering Wheel
- JASO C713 Static Load Torsion Test On Steering Wheel
Test Methods regarding car steering wheel (including boss parts) inside Japan are defined only by the public JASO Standards (see note 1 below) and JIS Standards (JIS defines health and safety matters only).
In Rapfix GTC, static load tests beyond what normally is expected during accidents are conducted.
Note 1: JASO defines what the Japan Automotive Industry Organisation consider as the ideal conditions of car parts and also defines the test methods themselves and serves as reference standards in transactions between car parts manufacturers and car manufacturers.
Works Bell has an extensive "Quality Library" website with manufacturing, quality control and standards info about the Rapfix GTC.
To view the quality control and manufacturing info of the Rapfix GTC, please click on the link below then click on the Rapfix GTC image on the right of the page that opens ... (please note that the GTC Hybrid does not use the additional red locking pin shown in the GTC version for road cars - instead the GTC Hybrid uses the glove friendly release handle instead of the additional red locking pin) ...
http://www.worksbell.co.jp/en/products/night_pager/quality_lib/
Additional Product Photos Of The GTC Hybrid
Side view, open position 
Close up view of eletrical contacts for horn or other electrical systems 
View of the Rapfix GTC Hybrid in the fully open position
Our Pricing
We are one of only two authorised Works Bell distributors worldwide outside of Japan.
Our ex-tax pricing is equivalent to the price that this product sells for in Japan where it is made. So by purchasing from us you get true Japanese market pricing, without the cost of an plane ticket to Tokyo !
Genuine Guarantee & Counterfeits Warning
Say no to fakes, counterfeits & knock-offs !
We are one of only two authorised Works Bell distributors worldwide outside of Japan.
By purchasing from us you are absolutely assured of getting the genuine, real deal, Works Bell product.
Click here to read our consumer warning about counterfeit, fake and knock off copies of Works Bell products
We Ship Worldwide
We ship worldwide !
The full range of genuine Works Bell products are available directly from us.
We ship Works Bell products worldwide, so we can deliver any of Works Bell's products to your door !
Prices are in Australian Dollars and include GST (Australian Goods & Services Tax). Click here for the Universal Currency Convertor to convert our price into your local currency.
How To Order
Simply select the quantity you want in the menu at the top of this page, and click the "add to cart" button.
Category: Steering Wheel Quick Releases
Product Code: WB-RAPFIX-GTC-HYBRID
Manufacturer: Works Bell
Model: Works Bell Rapfix GTC Hybrid Tilting Tilt Steering Wheel Quick Release ON SALE
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