1 Topic by FDWheelMan (edited by FDWheelMan 2011-03-06 05:30 AM)

  • From: Charleston, SC
  • Registered: 2011-01-08
  • Posts: 243

Topic: Seat questions...

Having looked thoroughly at the LeMon's Laws for seats, I am left with a question...

Is there a clear definition of LEGAL and ILLEGAL?

Meaning...  I am looking for something that would be beneficially legal for Lemons use.  And after looking at it, the roll cage has to be up to spec, the harness certified, the racing suits certified, and other little safety bits.  So, wouldn't it be wise to have a seat that carries some high council's humina-humina?

I am looking for a seat and would like it to be as legit and legal as possible, but don't want to go broke throwing a seat in.  After all, a $500 car with a $900 seat is like porn with a story line.

2011 - "Southern Discomfort" / "Shine Country Classic - Charleston "9" 88 Mustang
2011 - "Where the Elite Meet to Cheat" - Official Pace Car - 1978 Olds Holiday 88
2012 - Fall CMP - WE MADE IT!  - 90/86 Mustang
2013 - "Southern Discomfort" - #21 Purolator Mustang

2 Reply by EyeMWing (edited by EyeMWing 2011-03-06 11:28 AM)

  • From: Baltimore, MD
  • Registered: 2010-05-20
  • Posts: 1,745

Re: Seat questions...

Required:
- 3 holes - two in roughly the right place for shoulder belts, one at or behind crotch for the sub belt. You can cut these. (Virtually all OE seats have horrible belt routing even if modified)
- A headrest or something going all the way up to back middle of properly belted (that is, sitting WAY upright) driver's helmet. (Most OE seats fail this The seatback should )
- Not a failure risk in a crash (Most old OE seats are so caked in rust and boogers that they look dangerous)

Almost certainly going to be necessary:
- A solid seatback going all the way up to the back middle of the belted driver's helmet
- Either a VERY strong, no-play or a welded-up seat back adjustment.


Our solution to the Comfort/Legality/Cheapness tradeoff seems to have worked rather well. It's a Sparco R100, which is technically a road car seat. Since it's only configured for 3 and 4-way belts, we had to cut a hole in the squab for the nutcrusher belt, but that worked well.

Almost everyone else with a seat in that (Roughly $300) price bracket is running a Kirkey or a Corbeau. Just avoid really, really cheap drag buckets. They're made for sitting in a quarter mile at a time and are NOT comfortable.


That said, don't be afraid to make an investment in a good seat. It might save your life and it's most definitely portable between your current heap and whatever you do next (be forewarned: You WILL get addicted to this.)

Driver, Pit Monkey, Rod Buster and Engine Fire Starter
Team FinalGear
  • From: Houston (Spring) Texas
  • Registered: 2010-02-22
  • Posts: 1,624

Re: Seat questions...

I picked up an OMP seat that was FIA certified and on clearance for $200

look around

Yee-Haw 2010 "Most Heroic Fix" & "I Got Screwed" -2 trophies for 1 lap, but I took checkered on my lap.
Gator-O-Rama 2012 "Organizers Choice" -2 laps 1 trophy, but i still finished ahead of an E30
Yee-Haw 2013 No trophy -26 laps, I think I see a pattern here
Gator-O-Rama 2014 "Waiting for the Last Minute Call from the Governor Award" -who's counting? John

Hoonatic Racing's Website

  • Mulry
  • Mulry
  • Ayatollah of Rock-n-Rollah
  • Offline
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 4,607

Re: Seat questions...

The other problem with most OE seats is that they are designed for comfort for normal, everyday driving in a crapcan car, rather than sideways-throwing racing in a crapcan car. Seats for racing are designed so that they keep the driver in place when strapped down so the driver can use their hands and feet to control the car and don't have to use them to stabilize themselves in the car while racing.

I'd suggest looking for a used Kirkey or Butler seat on the various auction and race parts sites. You can usually find one used but not beat up for just a couple hundred bucks, sometimes even with the foamy seat cover.

Pat Mulry, TARP Racing #67

Mandatory disclaimer: all opinions expressed are mine alone & not those of 24HOL, its mgmt, sponsors, etc.
  • From: Charleston, SC
  • Registered: 2011-01-08
  • Posts: 243

Re: Seat questions...

Thanks for the input...

Believe me when I say this, but there would be no way on this earth I'd run a OE seat.  I have a 2001 Bullitt that has AWESOME seats in it.  Heavy side bolsters, very nice support.  It felt great for a 1500 mile road trip.  But even those seats would never make give me a Lemonzee fresh feeling.

2011 - "Southern Discomfort" / "Shine Country Classic - Charleston "9" 88 Mustang
2011 - "Where the Elite Meet to Cheat" - Official Pace Car - 1978 Olds Holiday 88
2012 - Fall CMP - WE MADE IT!  - 90/86 Mustang
2013 - "Southern Discomfort" - #21 Purolator Mustang
  • From: Hayward, CA
  • Registered: 2010-03-23
  • Posts: 1,762

Re: Seat questions...

shop craigslist in your area and some of the major cities near by. Shop for race seat, or Sparco, or some of the other brands and you'll find plenty of fixed back good FIA rated seats available for ~~$200-300.

Dudes Ex Machina: https://www.facebook.com/dudesexmachina

?Everyone who has ever built anywhere a 'new heaven' first found the power thereto in his own hell- Frederick Nietzsche