Race Seat Decisions

[wde_bdy]

What do you use? What did it Cost? How do you rate it?

Talking serious competition use here not posing on a Friday night, hillclimbs, drags, circuit, pretty much anything I can get to. Had quite a few people recommend RaceTech but wasn’t that impressed sitting in one. A guy I know suggested OMP, he imported his from the UK and saved around $800 for the pair. Unfortunately they don’t do wide. I’m currently leaning towards this http://www.rallynuts.com/motorsport/Race%5FSeats%5F1858/Corbeau_Revolution_1108.asp (Excel is the wide version) as it has FIA approval and full head support but if I can find something reasonably priced in NZ it would be preferable. Waiting on freight costs as well which could be a killer.
Also, any supplier you recommend for a good price? Even the RaceTechs seem to vary by up to $100 from different places.

Callum

[Emperor]

The FD has a Racetech. Not sure of the model, I can look tomorow.
It's bloody comfortable compared to a Racepro, and it has a nice side-wall for wider people like me

[Rick]

Have you looked at the Racepro seats, thats what I will be getting for my race car, look good, the seat I sat in was comfortable and they are pretty cheap depending which one you go for and they are made in NZ.

http://www.racepro.co.nz/seats.shtm

[TRD Man]

A seat in a race car is not just something to sit on. It is a critical part of safety equipment.

As a first consideration I would choose only a seat that has current FIA homologation.
The reason for that is quite simple. They are tested to a recognised standard. And it's a strict standard and not easily attained.
It is unlikely that any seat that hasn't been FIA certified would even come close to those standards. In fact most would be quite deficient.

As far as NZ manufactured seats go, that rules out all but Racetech.
We're very lucky to have these guys here in NZ. Their product is world class.

Purplebeasty, you'd be the first person I've ever heard comment that a Racetech seat was uncomfortable. Maybe if you contacted them directly they can modify a seat to suit. They do offer this service.

But there are a number of imported brands - MOMO, OMP, SPARCO which offer FIA homologated seats at varing prices - some not much more than non homologated brands.
As with all safety gear, buy the best that you can afford. $100 saved now on a dodgey seat will seem like peanuts when your life is depending on it.

[Leon]

Yep: exactly what TRD man just said, about FIA seats, seat modifications, and about safety. But, from your post you already know the value of a good seat.

Racetech did a slightly wider bum seat for me, at no extra cost I might add. The 100 was to narrow in the bum, but the 100W was too big. So they did a 100 fat bum special for me.

To my knowledge Racepro has no FIA seat approval.

[vvega]

as as been said it cant be expressed enought that a good eat could be the diferance between walking again and not after a accident
it is not somthing that can be money bound desision you need to get the best there is and the next time you walk away from a serious crash you will know the money was well spent

i recomend racetech i have a pair here and they dont flex are conftable and fit me perfectly

v

[suckymotor]

momo have some good deals got mine from wellington info@shopmomo.co.nz it says they are in auckland but i believe they have moved


http://www.shopmomo.co.nz/

[wde_bdy]

While the RaceTech's look good, I'm up for around $850 a seat for the 4000W (the 1000 is not FIA approved). The Corbeau's are similar price range with helmet support, something that is around $400 more per seat from RaceTech. If I want to go cheaper, even the cheapest Corbeau is FIA approved for $220 + freight + GST. Being on a tight budget its hard not to go with a cheaper option that meets the same standards. I will point Out I don't need FIA approved seats (although I know the value of a recognised safety standard) and my car will have adjustable runners anyway which you can't get FIA approved.
By the way, weight isn't a huge consideration. If its going to cost lots to save a couple of Kg's I'll just go on a $&#$% diet.

Callum

[Ash]

I'm going to fork out for a Bride ZETA III Type L - have sat in one before and was so bloody comfortable. There is a reason they are called the holding monster.

[vvega]

While the RaceTech's look good, I'm up for around $850 a seat for the 4000W (the 1000 is not FIA approved). The Corbeau's are similar price range with helmet support, something that is around $400 more per seat from RaceTech. If I want to go cheaper, even the cheapest Corbeau is FIA approved for $220 + freight + GST. Being on a tight budget its hard not to go with a cheaper option that meets the same standards. I will point Out I don't need FIA approved seats (although I know the value of a recognised safety standard) and my car will have adjustable runners anyway which you can't get FIA approved.
By the way, weight isn't a huge consideration. If its going to cost lots to save a couple of Kg's I'll just go on a $&#$% diet.

Callum

um the one you listed above is 640 + frieght(200) the landing fee
so your pritty close to a racetech anyways..

arh well

v

[wde_bdy]

um the one you listed above is 640 + frieght(200) the landing fee
so your pritty close to a racetech anyways..

arh well

v

How sure are you on the freight? Just that indications I have so far is around $150 each if you send a pair of seats but my info may well be out of date. Checked up customs too, duty on car seats is 10% (or less) of the purchase price, GST is calculated at 12.5% on cost + duty + freight and then there is another $22 import entry transaction fee. Had forgotten about the duty so have added that into my calcs now.
So the above seat would be approx $1,000 to $1,050 depending on freight, still $200-250 short of the equivalent RaceTech but no local support for it. I can save a good $300 a seat if I go two steps down the range and still FIA approved but how much do I value my head?

Callum

[vvega]

im not positive about the postage but 200 is what i would have expected thats all
and if you talk to the right people you can get a good deal on a racetech so you may find it closer than you think
both seats look like great product i havent had anthing to do with the brand you looking to bring in .
nethier brand is a cheap seat so i think youll be safe ethier way but i still support the local brad
...why...because its world class gear

its been said a few time now but just to answer your question
how much do you value your wellbeing after a accident .....
your seat, rollcage ,harnesses and you are the THE most important items in a race car IMO


v

[nmemr2]

the testing standards are probably the best thing you can have in a good race seat.
as far as race seats i have only sat in 2 that i like, the racepro arrow that i have in my car at the moment, an awesome seat and i managed to get a great price for them too. the other being a MOMO seat not too sure on the model but its the fibreglass one.
fibreglass gives the seat a small amount of flex and stretch so it makes it heaps more comfortable than the tubular steel ones,
also the fibreglass ones are heaps lighter.
and racepro are a great company and they would most likely be able to get one to suit you. i would definetly reccomend them

[wde_bdy]

Just talked to the guy who imported the OMP seats from Demon Tweeks, cost him $170 for BOTH seats two years ago and they arrived in 4-5 days. Certainly makes the importing option look much better, will post up current prices as soon as I get them.
I guess the decision for me is do I go local, or import and use the savings to upgrade? Get myself helmet support effectively for free.

Callum

[neo]

I currently have a racetech 4000, and just ordered a 4000W for the passengers side..

My only gripe is that I paid around 650 for the first one, and the second is comming in at 880 odd. =(

[z|gen]

not sure if its any use to you, but you can often find FIA approved race seats on trademe for cheaper than what you would pay from a store.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Car-parts-accessories/Interior/auction-39705660.htm

have also seen racetech seats go for about the same price.

[nmemr2]

always been a bit worried about buying used things that are an integral part of safety.
i dont know what a used seat has been through etc. up to you but IMO if you want a good seat and safety is a big part of that then buy new thats just me though
oh and i got my seats through woottons auto accessories shops for about $800 for the pair including the mounting brackets

[Leon]

the testing standards are probably the best thing you can have in a good race seat.
as far as race seats i have only sat in 2 that i like, the racepro arrow that i have in my car at the moment, an awesome seat and i managed to get a great price for them too. the other being a MOMO seat not too sure on the model but its the fibreglass one.
fibreglass gives the seat a small amount of flex and stretch so it makes it heaps more comfortable than the tubular steel ones,
also the fibreglass ones are heaps lighter.
and racepro are a great company and they would most likely be able to get one to suit you. i would definetly reccomend them

um, you start of saying that standards are great, and then you finish by recomending Racepro that in fact don't have an FIA standard seat. Or did you mean to say RaceTech, rather than RacePro?

[wde_bdy]

You won't get FIA approved RaceTechs for that price ($800 the pair).

[Barks]

I've got a racetech 4000 in my circuit car, with a 1000 on the passenger's side. I honestly doubt I'll ever change brand now, as I find them fantastic. As for racepro? the last thing I'd put in a competition car. The guy who built both my rollcages had one in his rotary viva (just don't ask) and when he went backwards into the tyrewall at taupo the thing BROKE halfway up. Left him with three broken ribs among other things. He now uses recaros from memory....