The NASA guidelines just say "equal safety for driver and instructor." I'm not sure how to interpret this with respect to seats.

My new 240SX will have a 4-pt. roll bar and some outdated sparco 6-pt. harnesses. My concern is seats. I'd like to just replace the driver's seat with a nice bucket, for two reasons - occasionally carrying passengers on the street, and cost. Is this kosher for an HPDE? Or would I have to get both sides?

 

It means equal seats & equal belts.

I, for one, would not be a very happy instructor. Definately not ok if you don't have equal belts on both sides.

Also even for HPDE, belts have to follow the replacement rules (by date of manufacture). I'm in the same boat on the belts (my Schroths are one year too old) so I double up on the belts with the stock belt on top, and as far I know no one will give you grief about that; just mentioning it in case your thinking of taking the stock belts out and just using the old Sparcos.

 

Hey, well what if I hav a 5 point harness and a Kirkey seat and the passenger has a stock seat and stock harness?

 

this was also a concern of mine, right now i have srd's in the car but i want to goto a bucket on the drivers side. The car has a 6 point cage, equal harnesses and the seat has a sub belt hole so would any greif be given with a recaro bucket on the drivers side and a recaro srd on the passenger side?

 

I for one, being an instructor have instructed in countless cars that have a "racing seat" in the drivers spot, and the stock seat in the passenger. That does not bother me.

If you don't have a cage, stock belts are perfered at least by me. If you have a cage, spend the extra money and put a 5 point in the passenger seat as well.

The belts are more important to me than what type of seat I ride in!

 

I'm also running into the cost issue for a 2nd bucket for my passenger/instructor. I've already handled 5pt for both seats, but my issue is if I match my seat with a passenger seat.... most instructors won't fit

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Simon Tibbett &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey, well what if I hav a 5 point harness and a Kirkey seat and the passenger has a stock seat and stock harness?</TD></TR></TABLE>

That is definately not ok.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by splitime &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm also running into the cost issue for a 2nd bucket for my passenger/instructor. I've already handled 5pt for both seats, but my issue is if I match my seat with a passenger seat.... most instructors won't fit </TD></TR></TABLE>

Good question. You can't fit every instructor, so is it best to get a wider (Evo2) seat for the instructor? Too big is doable, too small isn't, IMO.

 

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

Good question. You can't fit every instructor, so is it best to get a wider (Evo2) seat for the instructor? Too big is doable, too small isn't, IMO. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Or just put in a request for the skinniest instructor (woo for weight reduction...)

 

I bought an EVO 2 for my fat *** and for the passenger/student seat I bought a Sparco Ultra. Both are FIA and both side mount.
Barry H.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by prkiller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I for one, being an instructor have instructed in countless cars that have a "racing seat" in the drivers spot, and the stock seat in the passenger. That does not bother me.

If you don't have a cage, stock belts are perfered at least by me. If you have a cage, spend the extra money and put a 5 point in the passenger seat as well.

The belts are more important to me than what type of seat I ride in! </TD></TR></TABLE>

So I guess it depends on the instructor. lovely. As I mentioned, I will have roll protection, and 6-pt. harnesses on BOTH sides.

The harnesses have been sitting in a box for years, never used. They're definitely not stretched or UV-damaged. A lot of people run 'outdated' harnesses for HPDE, but if someone wanted to double up with stock belts in my car, they'll absolutely still be there, and I won't be offended.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jpl95si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also even for HPDE, belts have to follow the replacement rules (by date of manufacture). </TD></TR></TABLE>

Not for any group I instruct with

 

I agree with RJ. I instruct for several groups and as far as "tech" requirements I see helmet specs but not a spec for belts with a "born on" date.
Barry H.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by prkiller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I for one, being an instructor have instructed in countless cars that have a "racing seat" in the drivers spot, and the stock seat in the passenger. That does not bother me.

If you don't have a cage, stock belts are perfered at least by me. If you have a cage, spend the extra money and put a 5 point in the passenger seat as well.

The belts are more important to me than what type of seat I ride in! </TD></TR></TABLE>

What he said.

Now if I'm getting in some ridiculously fast car with a relative novice or someone who I suspect might be a headcase, I think twice. I certainly don't want this guy backing it into a wall and my stock seat's reclining mechanism failing. Seen it happen.

 

R.J, why is the harness and Kirkey seat bad? What if I just put a harness on the passenger side too?

 

It's not the Kirkey and harness that's bad, it's the fact that you give your passengers stock seats and belts.

 

Oh ok, what if I add a harness on the passenger side with the stock seat? Or does it basically have to be a one piece bucket with harness? Thanks!

 

A harness with a stock seat is OK, the main danger as Karl noted is that the recline mechanism can break and let the person sitting in the seat fly backwards if you hit the wall rear-end-first at high speed. This applies to any reclining seat, also, not just stock ones.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AKADriver &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A harness with a stock seat is OK</TD></TR></TABLE>

Its ok with me and *most* instructors, although an instructor could tell you that he is not comfortable and find someone else for you.

However if you are putting a seat in the driver's side you really should have the same equipment for your instructor. And a good muffler.

 

Right. I mean in general, a harness with a stock seat isn't less safe than a stock belt with a stock seat. It is less safe than a bucket with a harness. Of course.

I never had an instructor complain about stock seats with stock useless electric seat belts in my previous 240SX, but that's because I had them on the driver's side too. So if they die, I die with them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And a good muffler.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wuss...

 

Well I will have a good muffler for Road Atlanta since it is a quiet showroom stock neon, unless I use my Civic, then it will be real loud, anyone ever used those two way microphone's that you can buy for HPDE's or rally? They are only like $80.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Simon Tibbett &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">anyone ever used those two way microphone's that you can buy for HPDE's or rally? They are only like $80.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a good intercom ( http://www.hmsmotorsport.com/s...#1211 ), and you still cant hear **** without a decent muffler.

 

Cool link thanks, guess I will have to add a few discs on the Supertrapp when I run the Civic then.

 

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

I have a good intercom ( http://www.hmsmotorsport.com/s...#1211 ), and you still cant hear **** without a decent muffler.</TD></TR></TABLE>

really? the one I used at VIR was able to overcome the Buddy Club volume, and it was one of the simple 2 person $40 jobbers.. surprising that yours can't..