Race seats for track use

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Postby wde_bdy » Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:35 am

RobertC wrote:
wde_bdy wrote:No you wouldn't, however the cost of those rails seemed to be dearer than a cert last I looked.

Callum

Huh? The rail would be about $130 NZ landed. Considering he will need a rail anyway. Why not get one that bolts straight in?


That must be way cheaper than the last set I looked at, was after Recaro rails for a KP and it was $160NZ each before shipping. At $130 landed it would be well worth it.

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Postby Leon » Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:00 am

wde_bdy wrote:99% chance you will need a cert for aftermarket seats.

Callum


Use factory mounting points in the floor and actually there is a fair chance you won't need it certed.

From the VIRM: cert not needed *if*

Seats – modification or
replacement or installation of a
seat anchorage after 1 March 1999
• the seat is either an OE seat from another vehicle or of a known and reputable
aftermarket brand, and
– the seat is fitted to unmodified OE seat anchorages, and
– the seatbelt anchorage or operation is not affected, and
– the seat components (including brackets, runners and rails) are compatible with
each other, ie they are either OE components from a production vehicle or of a
known and reputable aftermarket brand, and are not fitted together by welding, and
– the relationship between seat, seat occupant, front airbag and location of the
seatbelt anchorages is not affected.
Note LVV certification is not required where the only modification is the removal of seats
and/or seatbelts. However, a class change and a new load rating may be required in
some cases.
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Postby Leon » Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:11 am

Truenotch wrote:They're still not legal under MSNZ rules for National level - the manual states fixed back AFAIK.

Still fine for clubsport.


This one gets a bit complicated, but in essence you can actually use a reclining seat provided that it can be proven that the seat complies with an internationally recognised safety standard. Something that pretty much all modern factory seats will have (eg: recaro's and stuff out of Evos etc), but not something you can be assured of with replacement after market seats you'd buy from Repco / Supercheap / Trademe. Off the top of my head I *think* the Monza reclining seats comply with an Australian standard.

However, that said, I still wouldn't use them. The need for fixed back FIA standard seats is only at moderately high levels of championship competitions, or in a caged car that is road legal and you have removed the airbags.

There is a lot of complication in the seat rules for Motorsport. But in a nutshell, the original poster here can use basically any seat that is going to work with the harness' he wishes to run.

However, for my 2c worth, considering how many of the crashes resulting in easily avoided injuries (typically spinal) can be pointed at poor race seat quality or poor mountings ... I'd be looking around for a reputable brand race seat (Momo, Racetech, Sparco) in good used condition.

So the difference between a regulation (what you can use) and a recomendation (what I'd suggest).

4.5 Seating: Occupant seats are defined by type as an original seat, or replacement seat, or
competition seat. The following requirements apply:
(1) All occupant seats shall:
(a) Be securely attached to the vehicle chassis or bodyshell, and
(b) Adequately support the occupant(s) in competition use.
(c) Have attachments to the chassis or bodyshell that comply with the following:
(i) Seat mounting plates shall have a minimum thickness of 3mm for steel or
5mm for aluminium, and
(ii) The seat sub frame/mounting plates shall be attached to the bodyshell at a
minimum of 4 locations as close to their corner points as possible, using:
· The vehicle manufacturer’s original seat anchorage points, and/or
· Fabricated anchorage points consisting of bolts, at least M8 mm/ISO
8.8, and steel reinforcement plates that:
– Are at least 2mm thick,
– Have an area of not less than 40cm2 (64 x 64mm),
– Follow the contours of the floor, and
– Have radiused corners and chamfered edges.
Schedule A
MSNZ Manual 34 Online Edition - 19 -
App 2.02 Sch A 2010.doc
Latest Amendment: 34078 6 May 2011
Note: The reinforcement plates should be different sizes. (Refer drawing
4.5.2)
(d) Adjustable seat rails (runners) may be used on the proviso that a locking method
is operable on both rails.
Application – Replacement and Competition seats, albeit a dual locking
mechanism is highly recommended for Original seats.
(2) Replacement seats: All replacement seats shall:
(a) Comply with the requirements of article (1) above, and
(b) Incorporate a head restraint, and
(c) Have no provision for mechanical adjustment of the rake of the seat back rest,
except where it can be proven that the seat complies with an internationally
recognised safety standard.
Note: Head restraints are mandatory on all replacement seats when used in conjunction
with a safety harness. They are strongly recommended for all vehicles.
(3) Competition seats: All competition seats shall comply with the requirements of articles
(1) and (2) above excepting that no provision for mechanical adjustment of the rake is
permitted.

if you want to know the definitions of seats in MSNZ
http://www.motorsport.org.nz/assets/Mot ... A-2010.pdf
page 19
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Postby wde_bdy » Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:47 am

Leon wrote:Use factory mounting points in the floor and actually there is a fair chance you won't need it certed.

From the VIRM: cert not needed *if*

Seats – modification or
replacement or installation of a
seat anchorage after 1 March 1999
• the seat is either an OE seat from another vehicle or of a known and reputable
aftermarket brand, and
– the seat is fitted to unmodified OE seat anchorages, and
– the seatbelt anchorage or operation is not affected, and
– the seat components (including brackets, runners and rails) are compatible with
each other, ie they are either OE components from a production vehicle or of a
known and reputable aftermarket brand, and are not fitted together by welding, and
– the relationship between seat, seat occupant, front airbag and location of the
seatbelt anchorages is not affected.
Note LVV certification is not required where the only modification is the removal of seats
and/or seatbelts. However, a class change and a new load rating may be required in
some cases.


You will note the change in the rules recently clarifying the rails can't be welded, previously you could do pretty much anything if you didn't mod the floor. My seats which used to be legal (or at least in a grey area) no longer are. Obviously if you have a common late model car you can get the specific aftermarket rails for that car and be ok but most people don't. I will re-assess at 90%. :lol:

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Postby Leon » Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:53 am

73% of statistics are just made up anyway :wink:
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Postby siren676 » Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:53 am

I've found some cheap ep91 bride rails on japan auctions that a friend is going to try win for me and send over.

What sort of price should I pay for a 2nd hand bride seat?
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Postby Al » Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:06 am

wde_bdy wrote:You will note the change in the rules recently clarifying the rails can't be welded, previously you could do pretty much anything if you didn't mod the floor. My seats which used to be legal (or at least in a grey area) no longer are. Obviously if you have a common late model car you can get the specific aftermarket rails for that car and be ok but most people don't. I will re-assess at 90%. :lol:

Callum


Easy solution. Bolt seat to a alloy plate. Bolt alloy plate to standard mounts sans slider.
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Postby Boosted_162 » Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:50 am

siren676 wrote:I've found some cheap ep91 bride rails on japan auctions that a friend is going to try win for me and send over.

What sort of price should I pay for a 2nd hand bride seat?


Depends on model/age. I sold a Zeta I (quite an old seat now) for $300 with rails iirc, meanwhile Zeta IIIs go for $1k ish. Unfortunately the Zeta I is quite uncomfortable compared to the Zeta III.

You just need to be VERY careful to make sure its genuine. So many ripoffs out there, and i really doubt the quality of them.
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Postby wde_bdy » Sun Sep 18, 2011 3:15 pm

Al wrote:Easy solution. Bolt seat to a alloy plate. Bolt alloy plate to standard mounts sans slider.


That isn't legal either, all the seat components must be factory or a known aftermarket brand.

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Postby sergei » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:02 pm

How do you define known and reputable aftermarket brand?
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Postby RomanV » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:36 pm

The guy in the store who sold it to you wasnt wearing a flat peak cap.
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Postby Mr. Mainstream » Wed Sep 21, 2011 11:02 am

im currently deciding on what seats to use for clubsport rally sprints.
would you guys trust using Wrx/Sti seats?
they seem quite sturdy and fit alot better than full
size buckeys in a escort using a autotrans tunnel.
Cheers
also anyone using NZKW seats? opinions also
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Postby DexGT » Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:52 pm

Mr. Mainstream wrote:also anyone using NZKW seats? opinions also


I mounted some for a club member and their mounting system basically is 4 holes drilled though the un-reinforced fiberglass molding for the bolts/nuts etc to go though to the brackets.
So unless you put no value on your life fit something better, I personally use Racetech (RT1000) but there are other reputable brands out there too.
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Postby strx7 » Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:24 pm

Mr. Mainstream wrote:im currently deciding on what seats to use for clubsport rally sprints.


buy the best fixed back seats you can afford, When you have a whopsie and crash you'll thank yourself that you did. Personally i'd be going for a name brand like racetech, sparco or momo with a head Halo.
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Postby Mr Ree » Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:29 am

Im with Shane on this one, buy the best seat you can afford as your spine isnt something you want to take chances with.

Racetech has some great prices on seats, that have actually gone through rigorous crash testing, unllike 99% of the shite sold on TM to kids looking to impress when they're hard parking.
Last edited by Mr Ree on Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby 1I1 » Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:43 am

Mr Ree wrote:unllike 99% of the shite sold on TM to kids looking to impress when they're hard parking.


Heard someone recently say that they'd buy/use fake Bride due to the fact you couldn't tell the difference between them and genuine therefor making them quality 8O

but I wouldn't think twice about some fake Bride seats (Infact later in the year I'm going to get myself some!) There are many fakes and some of them are amazing! The bride seats I can get are made in Taiwan and you could put them side by side with the genuine ones and not know the difference! The price difference is AMAZING!!!! There's lot's of other quality fake items too!
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Postby Mr Ree » Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:56 am

I wish I had a huge facepalm image to upload...

Anyone who believes that taiwanese bride seats are the same quality as the japanese originals, are...well...delusional at best.

Humans have an interesting way of rationalising things, dont they?
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Postby siren676 » Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:08 pm

Ok so ive won the auction for the bride rails - 2000 yen :D
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Are all bride seats able to fit to any bride rails?
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Postby strx7 » Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:47 pm

they look like Racetechs would most likely bolt into them too
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Postby Boosted_162 » Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:46 pm

siren676 wrote:Ok so ive won the auction for the bride rails - 2000 yen :D
Image

Are all bride seats able to fit to any bride rails?


Not all, some are bottom mount. However that looks identical to my old one which was bolted to a Zeta I (Zeta III is bottom mount so cant help there)
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