My permanent modifications to the car are all under the carpet the way I did things.

Sprint seats and custom brackets, no sliders. The front mounting points connect to the OE point. The rear OE points were shaved and re-welded to allow for the custom bracket to sit lower. The rear bolting points for the custom bracket sits further back than OE and have a backing plate and bolt welded to the floor of the car. Then, when bolting in the race seat, you bolt from the bottom, using another backing plate that is not permanent. When not in use the holes are filled with a simple rubber plug. The OE seats bolt in as usual.

The mounts for the harness are of similar design. I can bolt in and out the racing seats and harness attachments and belts for the OE seats in about 30min for both sides. Sliders would be ideal, but with the OE front hump on the NB and being 5'10" with a helmet I can't pass a height test using the blackbird bar...b/c that bar works with both the hard and soft top. Also, I got a roll bar cover from harddog with no slitting and made the cuts myself to work with my bar along with the padding.

It was a lot of custom fab work I paid a local rally shop to do, but the end result is such an easy seat swap there is nothing to complain about. And, you can't tell any of it is there with the OE seats in place.

SFI padding is required, but generally not enforced. Since you are only running a roll bar, you won't need much. I would definitely go with SFI, but I have seen plenty of people get away with pool noodle stuff. Definitely make sure you have SOMETHING for padding though.

Our local club requires SFI padding anywhere where your body may hit the roll cages. Two of NASA mid atlantic tech guys suggested that SFI padding is still better than pool noodle padding for your hands, knees, etc. (ie non-helmet body parts that could hit a roll cage). I haven't been able to research this, but SFI padding does give with a big enough impact...so maybe.

We put SFI around most places, then pool noodle around the nascar bars, but we are discussing changing that before our Sept. race.

good ideas and products to think about.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1430415344

foamectomys are good way to get lower but a aluminum seat is the best way to get lower. at 250 a seat these are inexpensive. make sure you brace it.


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1430415344
for roll bar padding on a street/race car the bsci padding is the way to go. it's dual foam density makes it a less of a headace if you knock it while entering or exiting the vehicle.
i made a thread that covers it. FYI one stick was enough to cover the important parts of the roll bar.
https://www.miataturbo.net/race-prep...-racing-79356/

Thanks for the padding info, ill look into that and pick some up. Signed up for the Milwaukee Mile Track Night in America. Should be a good time.

According to SCCA for a HPDE with a hardtop there is no broomstick test, in fact, they don't even require a rollbar. I'm not saying I agree with their position but it is the way it is.

Mounting a race seat to a Track Dog mount and swapping for track days is a good idea. Then swap your stock seat back in for street driving.