Not that I have any room left in the garage for now, but I was wondering if maybe I should get a passenger seat for the civic.
I will need to attend driving schools to get my license (with whichever organization) and having an instructor in the car to get feedback is always good, IMO.
I just don't know if I want to spend the 200-300 bucks for a seat and mounting + the 80-100 bucks for harness.

In all of your collective and esteemed opinions, is it worth it?

 

I say get the seat and let me, and other HC wana-bees ride with you for the practice sessions.

 

I have a stock seat in my passenger side for anyone who wants to ride along. It's up to them. I'm an instructor though, so I'm not "required" to have anyone in the car with me. I don't know what your status is with HPDEs. My guess is that you'll never have a ride-along instructor for a racing school. NASA didn't do it, and from what I hear of SCCA, they don't either. I'll know for sure in April.

YMMV

 

Although instructors are allowed to ride during SCCA comp. schools (if provided the proper safety gear per the GCR), they rarely, if ever, do so.

So, I'd retain the stock seat and add a harness for HPDEs and non-formal lapping. Anytime theirs a clock on you, the instructor stays safe in the paddock.

 

interesting. As far as HPDEs are concerned, I recall you were recommending I go in Intermediate Permanent Solo group with NASA, and Bryan signed me off to go solo at the last FATT and signed me off to move to group 2.
I think I need to get in the advanced HPDE group with NASA - and I will need to talk to Laura on what my best path for licensing will be. I do want to have the car done first, though.
Thanks for the input. I'm sure I can find a cheap stock seat and mounting brackets as I am not sure I want to put anyone in the seat that came with the car (anyone wanna sit in slippery vinyl?)

 

In Norcal NASA you only need a passenger seat twice, your first group 1 and your Comp License Test. But every instructor that ever got into my car, upon seeing the kirkey seat and 4 point belts would say "Hey thanks, this means alot". I mean if you won't go out in a group 4 with out seat and belts why should your instructor have to? Kirkey's are cheap, and so are G-force harnesses. I say get some and put them in when you need them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">interesting. As far as HPDEs are concerned, I recall you were recommending I go in Intermediate Permanent Solo group with NASA, and Bryan signed me off to go solo at the last FATT and signed me off to move to group 2.
I think I need to get in the advanced HPDE group with NASA - and I will need to talk to Laura on what my best path for licensing will be. I do want to have the car done first, though.
Thanks for the input. I'm sure I can find a cheap stock seat and mounting brackets as I am not sure I want to put anyone in the seat that came with the car (anyone wanna sit in slippery vinyl?) </TD></TR></TABLE>

The "permanent solo intermediate" recommendation was based on comments you made about not making it to the track often enough to feel comfortable in the advanced group. If you start racing, the advanced group will be cake.