I fail to see whats so cool about them !

they look like in an accident you would be beaten up pretty badly. I discuessed it with someone on AIM and he thought it was the price. But i cant see how someone would pay big $$ for a fire system and skimp on a seat... So I doubt its that

Whats the possible reason ?

 

Is there a question in there somewhere or are you just criticizing?

Kirkey makes many different styles of seats for many different applications. A lot of people buy them by choice. To make the ***umption that they're trying to save a buck makes you...

 

nope, and i dont like your tone

I wanted to know, thus the title, what makes people buy them. Whats the attraction to them ?

I havent ever owned one or driven in 1 so i had no basis for comparison yet i see them in many pictures on this board.. i want to know why!

 

There was another thread about this, but its easier to repeat this than look for it.

Kirkeys are light, thick, aluminum, supportive, and cheap. In that order.
I could spend 2 to 3 times as much on a Sparco seat, but since I'm happy with the Kirkey that manuever would just make me kind of dumb.

And have you tried the Kirkey deluxe road race seat?
No, I didn't think so.

Are you doing research or are you just blabbering?

 

First of all, it's Kirkey, not Kirley.

Who knows more about saftey: you? Or people who race for a living (and don't like to die) - like Nextel Cup; Bush; Craftsman Trucks, etc.

Take a look at what kind of seats they use. The vast majority are Butler Built or Kirkey.

You won't see any Sparco, Recaro, Corbeau

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And have you tried the Kirkey deluxe road race seat?
No, I didn't think so.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have and I don't care for them. Or some of their other models. I also don't care for the new Sparco line up as they don't fit me correctly.
The Recaro SPG does fit correctly but costs $$$.
Bottomline is to go fast you must first be comfortable. The drivers seat is one of the most overlooked performance parts in racecars. Get what supports your body, feels good, and provides the protection you require.
If that can be done with an inexpensive seat, all the better. If not, hold off on the next set of tires, engine development, wheels, etc.

Rick

 

bit of blabbing, trying to get down to researching

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pcorad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">First of all, it's Kirkey, not Kirley.

Who knows more about saftey: you? Or people who race for a living (and don't like to die) - like Nextel Cup; Bush; Craftsman Trucks, etc.

Take a look at what kind of seats they use. The vast majority are Butler Built or Kirkey.

You won't see any Sparco, Recaro, Corbeau</TD></TR></TABLE>

my mistake, i knew the name, just screwed up the spelling!

As for the seats, Some pleace like BTCC, SATC,GTC and ATC as well as FIA Rally I see nothing besides sparco,recaro and corbeau type seats.

Then as you mentioned, nascar and others use kirkley type seats, So there has to be more to it than just that!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pcorad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">First of all, it's Kirkey, not Kirley.

Who knows more about saftey: you? Or people who race for a living (and don't like to die) - like Nextel Cup; Bush; Craftsman Trucks, etc.

Take a look at what kind of seats they use. The vast majority are Butler Built or Kirkey.

You won't see any Sparco, Recaro, Corbeau</TD></TR></TABLE>

What you fail to mention is that NASCAR is working very quietly away from aluminum only seats and towards composite for driver safety.

To my knowledge, NASCAR rules still do not require a helmet. I know that was the case 3 years ago.

Leather helmets were quite in vogue at some point in history as well.

Rick


Modified by turfer at 12:06 PM 2/4/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just blabbering</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you'd asked if anyone used one and what they thought about it you would have gotten some good feedback. As is, it sounds like you want people to tell you why they bought some "POS seat".



This is not the only style seat they make, although I do see a lot of them in the spec miata's, but that seems to be a space issue.



This seats costs as much as most fiberglass shells on the market. That sortof goes against your "skimping" theory.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JeffS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

This seats costs as much as most fiberglass shells on the market. That sortof goes against your "skimping" theory.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

It wasnt my skimping theory, Thats the conclusion of an Autoxer when we discussed seats and seat options

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Want2race &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thats the conclusion of an Autoxer when we discussed seats and seat options</TD></TR></TABLE>

So if i take a dump in a box and put a "guaranteed" sticker on it.....

 

Light and affordable was the reason I bought my kirkey's, since there were to be two seats in the E-Prepared integra. So I bought two seats which weight the same as one sparco fiberglass seat and cost half as much for each.

But now I really don't need them anymore, so I have two perfectly good, brand new, Kirkey intermediate LW seats sitting in the garage doing me no good.

- why can't I ever start or invest in a car project correctly so I won't buy stuff I don't need...

 

opinions are like ********, everyone has one and they all stink!

But thats why i asked here.. it appears that the day crew is nothing but agrressive as of late!

 

I'll assume (there's that *** and u and me thing again) that we're discussing seats for wheel-to-wheel use (and not rally or autox, which have their own needs).

I don't like the Kirkey Intermediate and other similar style seats. The reason I don't is I think they are unsafe. This is due in part because of the wrap-around rib support. I'd prefer to be supported laterally at the shoulder and hip, which are stronger body parts.

So, I chose a basic, but still FIA approved Momo. If I had spent $500+, I would have also considered the Kirkey RoadRace.

Next time around, I will spend $500+ on a really nice seat. I'll also spend more on harnesses and install them better. Live and learn.

 

lets see.........

aluminum seats are;

1) light
2) cheap
3) readily available
4) available in the "exact" size for your body type
5) possible to bolt directly to the floor for lowest possible seating position (think 6'3'' in a miata)
6) do not need any sliders or rails (another height clearance and cost issue)
7) able to remove the cover easily so it doesn't hurt it much when it rains (think open top cars)
8) easily wash the seat covers
9) easy and cheap to replace worn or unappealing seat covers
10) can provide different layback angles and still be fixed back type
11) light
12) cheap

gee, why would anyone want one of this atrocious things?

 

I own a Kirkey Deluxe Road Race seat. It is the most comfortable and sturdiest seat I have ever owned, much less sat (raced) in. They are light and easy to install. Installed properly they become part of the rollcage and can move when and if you take a hit on the driverside. But like some other qualified and knowledgeable have said on here, you have to find what works and fits best for you and or your budget.

 

I have driven, raced, autocross numerous cars with bunches of seats ranging from stock to composite Sparco. I choose the kirkey intermediate seat (just like pictured in JeffS's post above) because it fits me perfectly and supports my torso laterally better than any other seat I've sat in. This is invaluable when you have blown lumbar disks. I use no effort whatsoever in my lower back to keep myself upright in the seat, thus no back pain at the end of a session.

My upper body does however move around a bit in a Sparco type seat, leading to back pain.

Will the kirkey break a rib or two in a really bad accident??? Maybe, I dunno. But alot of racers are running Kirkeys out there and I have yet to hear of a rash of broken ribs &lt;shrugs&gt;.

The only current problem I have is that Renee is getting her license in 2 weeks, and while the seat fits me perfectly it is too wide around her torso. We have to wrap a cotton covered foam pad around her so she doesn't move around in the seat.
So I'll likely end up needing to go to another style. I really like the Kirkey road race seat but it has the same "wings" around the torso area, so it might not work for Renee either. I may end up having to compromise to get something that works well for both of us.


it appears that the day crew is nothing but agrressive as of late!

Well, when you start a thread off like this...

I fail to see whats so cool about them !
I havent ever owned one or driven in 1 so i had no basis for comparison

Those are the kind of answers you get.
Garbage in...

 

I have a Kirkey Intermediate Seat like the one pictured above and just love it to death. I also have a Corbeau Forza II for a passenger seat, and can't stand to sit in it. I believe a lot has to do w/ a driver's size, as I have heard that "larger" drivers , like myself, prefer something like a Kirkey, while the "smaller" drivers go for a Sparco, Momo, Corbeau style seat. It is all a personal preference. I wouldn't pass judgement until you have sat in it, then you can speak from experience, just my opinion.

 

When I first saw a Kirkey seat, my impression was, red neck special. I had driven cars with Sparco and Momo composite seats in the past and had my heart set on picking up an Evo. I ended up buying an SSB car with a Kirkey in it.

Turned out the Kirkey was as comfortable and supportive as any seat I had tried, so I kept it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Will the kirkey break a rib or two in a really bad accident??? Maybe, I dunno. But alot of racers are running Kirkeys out there and I have yet to hear of a rash of broken ribs &lt;shrugs&gt;.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I haven't seen any broken ribs yet, but I have seen badly bruised ribs/torsos from relatively minor impacts in these seats. It was enough to make me choose the Momo.

Do the wings on the Kirley Road Race extend as far as the Intermediate? I've only sat in the Int and seem to remember the wings wrapped damn near all the way around (or at least felt that way).

 

The Kirkey Road Race and Intermediate Road Race do not wrap as fas as the Intermediate Layback seat. They also are not as tall, which was an issue for me as the Intermediate Layback was too tall and rubbed right under the arm pit, very uncomfortable and annoying. Just my opinion.

 

well, as proof that any publicity is good publicity, i am now looking into the kirky roadrace intermediate. has all the features i need at a price i might be able to afford without having to sell any organs.

anybody have any extended street driving impressions of this seat? think 1500 miles one-way to topeka, with 4 other trips of roughly 900miles one-way each.

nate

 

Ah, I see Kirkey now has an Intermediate Road Race as well as the Deluxe Road Race. The Intermediate I refered to in my posts was the Late Model Asphalt Intermediate (I think, similar to the basic seat pictured above).

 

Don't forget to install your seat back brace with those kirkey seats.