Seats
 

Please post pictures, specs, where to buy, and any special installation notes, and your personal review for your hawt pro racecar seats for those of us who are looking to copy your build.

I'll bite.
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Older pics from when I first installed it, but you get the point. MOMO Start bought off criagslist from a 6'4" SM guy that ended up having to bolt an aluminum seat to the floor. Brand new condition, not even a year old, $80.

Installed on stock sliders, which are held at a slightly different angle than stock, requiring one of the holes to be dremeled out a bit. That's about it. the wire for the slider interferes a bit with the 5/6th point, but I shouldn't be using it anyways.

On those stock sliders its a good bit shorter than the stock seat, I'll have to measure off my passenger seat sometime to get a more definite answer.

Sparco sprint 5, 2007 version IIRC. Bought from Kelly @ speedware motorsports.

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Now I have a sparco circuit on a bracket that sits the seat basically on the floor.
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Snowboarder,

How do you like the Sparco Circuit as far as space and seating position being near the floor? I have one, just waiting on some parts from Axis Power Racing to begin my cage build and mount the seat.

Bride Vios III LowMax (not the eBay knockoff), it was traded for turbo install labor and sits on the Bride LF-Type slider rail. It's more comfortable than the stock seat, even on long drives, but doesn't breathe as well as the stock seat, so you end up with a warm back on hot days. It's much lower than the NA stock seat even at the mid-height, the rail has 3 height settings. But beware if you have a waist larger than 32", this seat can become uncomfortable, or so some people have said.

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http://www.boostedmiata.com/gallery2...install004.jpg

http://www.boostedmiata.com/gallery2...install007.jpg

Cobra Monacos. Used a square 1/8" SS plate on each corner and bolted the stock rails to them.

Please measure that and get back to me. If that seat is indeed shorter than the stock seat on the stock rails than I found my seat.

Im pretty sure it is.

Not as much as I'd hope, but take from this what you will.
10"
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6"
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7"
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3"
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So where your butt sits is apparently at the same height (4" off the floor), yet putting that rod right across the crotch of my jeans resulted in a 1" difference. Not terribly accurate I know, so take from it what you want. I eyeballed level with all the pictures, and I have no carpet so at least the measurement off the floor is fairly repeatable. If I get really ballsy I'll ziptie a level to my rod and get a more accurate reading. The real difference comes from your thighs sitting 3" lower in the front. Get down here and try it out yourself.

So...many...penis...jokes...

I love it, I couldn't get a wallett or anything out of my pockets while sitting in it that's for sure.

I concur... I'm the same way when sitting in mine. Do you happen to have any pics of the mounts you used/fabricated. Just trying to get an idea on what I have ahead of me on the install. Thanks!

Thanks curly. thats really good to know. How snug is it around the waste? I'm a husky ~34" waste.

I'm 32-33", and I don't think it's snug. Can't reach in and grab a wallet or keys, but it's not a glove.

I have found if you are over a 32" waist, you will not like the Sparco Circuit and will probably not fit in it. I have a 32" waist and barely get into it, fit is nice and snug like I want though. So be fore-warned about this fact...

Here is the seat with harness sitting on top of my beer fridge currently... Ignore the big pile of crap to the left of the photo. Got it off a SPEC Miata racer who raced with it for one weekend and wanted something more roomy, for $575. I already had the harness and beer fridge. :p
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About to install my Kirkey economy drag seats. Pics to follow later.

Sparco Sprint V from Speedware on stock sliders

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I tried these lazy boys but they were too big - in every direction.

http://www.boostedmiata.com/gallery2...2/CR1_seat.JPG

Wayne Curr would like to know how much lower they are.

As soon as I get a stripped bolt out I'm putting in a ultra shield spec miata seat. Then I'm making a harness bar to go where I removed the seatbelt tower brace. I'll post my pics then.

I won't be near the car for another month, but I'd say ~1" lower than stock. I'm 5'10" and my head is pretty much right at the top of the seatback. Rollbar is a Boss Frog Clearview Maxx for reference.

Thanks. I fear they are actually higher than my current seats with the foamectomy unless you're talking 1" lower than a foamectomied seat.

The Sprint Vs are the best looking seat I can imagine putting in the car, but i've heard negative comments on the comfort. My seat goals are:

-Comfort (improvement over stock)
-Atleast equal height as stock foamectomied seat while mounted to sliders
-Sub belt compatible

I'd be less picky if I could bolt a seat to the floor but my girlfriend will never get to drive the car again and I will get less sex as a result.

My stock seats were unmodified, and in my opinion the Sprints are more comfortable than stock (which isn't really saying that much).

I'll keep that in mind. I really need to sit in them.

Word.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs186...._7927569_n.jpg

I have a seat from MIATACAGE.COM. USRP Pro Road Race Seat I Love it! It was a 16" seat that fits me well. No serious modification to the car. Drill a couple of holes, install some bolts, and you're DONE!

That shit gonna be fast Jake? You gotta be quicker than the s2000 powered Miata.





and me!

I have a sparco speed and i was wondering how you guys mount it with stock rails. I drilled holes into the stock rail and mounted the seat on the rail. But the with of the rail now is different. Do you guys grind down that "pointy thing" in the front?

O/T:

Before the MX2000 blew up, it was slightly faster than my Miata. We'll see what happens once everything's sorted.

Momo T-Clubs

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Strangely, I have yet to see these seats in another miata or any other car in general.
I really like them but they are a pretty tight fit in ym NB

I mounted a Kirkey Intermediate 20 Degree Layback in mine by modifying the stock rails using welded-on steel plates. It is very solid and I still have adjustability. It sits high on the stock rails so it might be too high for taller drivers and thus would require a floor mount.

This Kirkey is definitely a track oriented seat. It is difficult to get in and out of, but when you are in, you are IN. Very snug. Pretty much have to have a removable wheel IMO for the clearance getting in and out (assuming you have a hard-top like me). Pictures to follow.

Momo Starts are going in the daily driver. I also agree they are excellent for the price. Some slight trimming required for door bars, at least the Hard Dog ones.

Is that the ebay seat?

^ They look like Corbeau reclining seats.

Will have to copy, sorry... hella lot nicer than my Kirkeys and it gives you a functional Halo. I know Kirkey has a halo I can add... but your's just badass. I wouldn't mind getting a Sparco Pro-Adv Aluminum... about the same price wise, maybe a little more comfy.

Mine has the halo as well, should be nice on the track. Would be crap on the street :)

anyone have experience with the buddy club width? the ones that are fatboy approved?

2 Newb questions on halos:

1) Are they great for the track in terms of useing a Hans device or for keeping your head in place with a bit less strain on your neck or both?

2) Do people doing say a 20 minute lap session get issues with neck fatigue on a track like say Limerock? What physical condition are you in if so?

The halos arent really meant to "rest" your head on (the 5 or 6 i've been in the 'halo' is to far away to do that anyways). They are there for any sort of impact (ex. roll overs) to keep your head from slapping your shoulders. Watch the recent Miata roll over video from Buttonwillow that has been circulating. Watch his head each roll.

Makes sense. Not spraining my neck does sound awesome. Thanks.

I have had neck fatigue after a weekend, esp from very 'curvy' tracks, like Barbers. I got a neck brace this last one and it helped much. But yeah, I talked with a buddy who's has a friend that's a spec miata racer who broke of one his neck vertebrea from a side impact into tires, and he was wearing a Hans. Hans doesn't do anything for side impacts... I think the guy in the vid was quite dazed and confused (good movie) and I'm sure his neck hurt in the morning!

Here are my current two:

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Do either give you any peripheral vision, or do you solely have to rely on your mirrors? I may have to try mounting my wink forward of the bar, then again, your bar is set further back than mine. That's a nifty way to help grab you harness... I always have trouble getting mine. So why 2 track miatas? Well, hell... if I could have 2 I'd be there with ya!

Different years, different race classes. Vision is blocked some yes, but I don't notice it. You would be surprised how much becomes "sensed" in a racing environment.

OK, I ordered a set of Sparco Sprint 5's but they tell me they are on backorder for another four weeks. He offered a discount on the Cobra Monaco Pro that made it attractive.

I searched and didn't see anything about anyone using these seats. They are comparable to the Sparco Sprint 5's on all dimensions except the shoulder width. The Monaco Pro is 1" wider total. Height is the same and seat bottom is 1/4" narrower than the Sprint.

Still tube frame, bottom and side mount, 5/6th belt slot in both, comparable pricing. He says that it is actually more comfortable and has better fabric than the Sparco.

Sparco's were $287 shipped. Monaco Pro is $329 but he will do $296 shipped to switch me over if I want to and can get them sooner. I can waid the four weeks but wanted to run it past those that know.

FYI, they have free FR Saver shipping on seats - 5-9 days.

Here's the seat: http://www.frsport.com/Cobra-Monaco-...t_p_15046.html

I read that thread whole thread earlier today. Yours was the only reference to Monacos that I found. Yours are essentially Monaco knockoffs, right?

I'm just surprised that no one else is using them if they are indeed a good fit. I suppose that I can wait for the Sprints as I already have them on order and my car won't be done and out of paint in four weeks anyway. I was more interested if they indeed were better fabric and more comforable and if so I'd go to them. I'd need someone with the real thing to comment on those two topics.

I found a few people on m.net rocking them. and yes mine are the same exact frame cover in ricer yellow felt.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...light=v-racing

If they are wider, you may have some issues from the shoulder wings to to the door bolster.

I'm going to just wait for the Sparcos to come in, or switch to Momo Starts that are supposed to restart shipping in May. The only downside to the new Starts is that I heard they dropped the bottom mount and are side mount only. I really want to retain the stock rails. I know both of them fit.

Yup, the new ones are side mount only. I was lucky to find a brand new one in an old SM racer's garage. $85 :)

The Starts are a good fit and pretty nice for the price IMO. I got some of the closeout bottom mount types and am installing them in my NB daily driver. Right now I am using modified stock rails. I think you can still make the side mounts work but it will be trickier.

How do you like the RaceTech seat compared to your older seat?

Slight thread hijack:

I'm 6'3 with a fairly proportianate torso lenght. I can fit my hand between my hardtop and my head but it's close(factory seat). I'm wondering if I'll be able to wear a helmet (safely) with any of the seats mentioned in this thread. Measurements from seat bottom to harness openings would be nice too. I've noticed that measurement seems to be lacking in most manufactures data sheets ( or I'm really bad at reading tables). I also have rollbar height questions, but I'll save that for a thread I'm not stealing.

Pretty much any of the seats above will drop you a couple of inches when bolted to the floor when compared to stock seats. You will lose the slider but shouldn't matter if no one else drives your car. That's what most of the tall drivers do.

Forgot to mention that I'm wanting to keep my sliders as my 5'6 girl friend drives the car occasionally. But thanks stein :)

I just bolted in my Sparco Sprint 5, so here's my $0.02...

When I first got the seat, I set it directly on the floor of the car to see how much lower it was than stock. I could barely see over the wheel, so I figured (correctly) I would have plenty of room to keep the stock sliders. So I jerry-rigged the seat onto the sliders and set that rig into the car. It was still at least an inch lower than stock (by butt feel, not a scientific measurement), so I decided to make myself an adapter bracket out of beefy aluminum angle stock. I ordered enough 3 x 1/4" stock to make two sets of brackets in case I screwed up or changed my mind (thank you, OnlineMetals.com). Basically, the idea was to bolt the brackets to the seat using the side mounts, then bolt the bottom of the bracket to the OEM sliders - pretty straightforward stuff.

As it sits right now, the rear bottom-mount bosses are sitting on the bracket, which is sitting on the OEM rail. I've got the front of the seat raised up by about 1/2" so it's not bolt-upright. I'm still planning to order more metal and build a revised bracket that will set the rear bottom-mount bosses directly on the OEM slider. However, it's pretty comfortable as-is. Also, the Sprint 5 is narrow enough to fit in the car with zero modification to the seat.

My complaints about the seat? I'm short-legged (5'4"), so the front thigh support can be kind of a pain on the left leg if I'm sitting in traffic with the clutch in. I think getting that last 1/4" inch back with a notched bracket will fix that problem. Under normal driving circumstances, the seat feels fine and the thigh support doesn't really intrude.

Anyhow... here are some pix for your enjoyment...
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9348/simg0321.jpg
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1365/simg0324.jpg
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5479/simg0458a.jpg
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/647/simg0456.jpg
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1744/simg0451.jpg
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8643/simg0448.jpg
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6697/simg0460.jpg

i don't know of anyone who has used them, but i'm looking at the scat pro car seat from summit. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SCA-80-1790-61 pretty good price.

I had one of those SCAT seats in a Rabbit years ago. The seat fit me fine (5'10", 195lbs), but the material was like a lint brush. It was constantly covered in all sorts of crap. It did keep my clothes lint-free, tho!

BTW: SCAT - great machine shop; too bad about the Dutch-porn name.

are those SCAT seats certified?

I don't recall if they were or not, I wouldn't bet on it though.

I think they were just some generic seat with the Scat name sewn into the covers.

http://www.procarbyscat.com/Products_ProSports.asp

i'm not so worried about certification (no road course in maine) i just need something to hold me in place while i try not to hit cones.