Race Seat Choice

[Mr. Keets]

Unique1. I looked at the OMP WRC but as my R is still used on the street I decided to pass as the front of the side bolster is pretty high...although on the XL they are lower. The good news is the WRC is an "always in stock" item, so you should be able to pick them up straight away. Last time I spoke with GOGEAR they were in stock. I went for the ARS as they are a medium side bolster but low in the front, unfortunately they are not a "always in stock" item so they have to be freighted over. The GRIP didnt turn my crank so I passed.

If I were buying for a track only scenario I would be going for something with head restraints. The PISTA has them, it's HANS compatible and a bit wider in the seat...which is handy

[unique1]

great responses so far, i am in Perth so trying all the different branded seats isnt that easy, i only really know of Go Gear and Revolution Racegear who have a decent range and Go Gear only do OMP and Revolution is the Cobra and Sparco range, thats my reason for not suggesting Velo or Racetech as im not sure of who in Perth has them available to sit in and buy. Any other Perth people have any reccomendations for places to buy from?

The OMP Pista was right up there on the list for me but i did a search a few days ago on these forums and someone (Marlin i think?) suggested the material was terrible and wore out in a matter of months, i was hoping he would mention it is this thread once he sees it too.

The bride option was also a thought but since the yen has gone down and theres plenty of local options at good prices ill stay away from the Jap stuff.

I also dont want OBX or whatever i prefer respected and quality brands on my car and am prepared to pay if its gonna last and do a good job. I am assuming the obx stuff is china stuff which is something i also dont prefer on my car if possible (though i must admit the brake packages from d2/g4 are tempting for the price and how much success they have had on peoples cars lol)

The other thing is i want to have the seat as low as possible to avoid head contact on the rollcage bars but im assuming all these would be as low as possible in design? I have already purchased a set of OMP fixed seat rails to use as well.

keep the suggestions coming im gonna leave the choice for a week or so to get all possible suggestions and opinions.

[phunky_monkey]

Make sure you do all your measurements correctly as well mate, as sometimes an XL seat with wings on it will hit the window, or require custom rails etc. It can be a real pain if you don't get it right!

[Merli]

Well my first comment is that I have always like Sparco seats... I guess they just fit my body nicely.

Secondly, if you are of slim build, the Pro2000 will probably be too wide in the hip area for you. I have a Pro2000 and replaced with with a Sparco Corsa which is much tighter. I don't move around AT ALL in the Corsa (I could lose a few kgs ), but am able to do the bum-dance in the Pro2000 seat.

[djr81]

great responses so far, i am in Perth so trying all the different branded seats isnt that easy, i only really know of Go Gear and Revolution Racegear who have a decent range and Go Gear only do OMP and Revolution is the Cobra and Sparco range, thats my reason for not suggesting Velo or Racetech as im not sure of who in Perth has them available to sit in and buy. Any other Perth people have any reccomendations for places to buy from?

Velo list their Perth distributors as:

www.searleraceequipment.com.au

Tony Flood Motorsport (Nice bloke, recommended) 08 9472 1800 Kew Street Welshpool.

Race Tune Services (Roley - again, nice bloke) 08 9371 3333 Chalkley Place Bayswater.

[Risking]

It probably is that seat chris. Its been in the car for a while now.

Id recommend if possible that you take the car with you to try seats.

[PRO_32]

I bought a cobra sebring pro jus recently and am very happy with it, I parked my ass in a lot of seats too found it well bolstered, good material especially in the wear zones, very comfortable and snug.

IMO better seat than the evolution

[Z1LLA]

Just got a Cobra Evolution GT fitted to my R32, even driving it home (1 1/2 hour trip)from the workshop to my house in peak hour traffic I found it comfortable and the head restraints were not an issue (only a caught me out a couple of times when looking over my left shoulder to change lanes). I'm not small, so I found the head restraints offered a bit more support for my upper body as well over the normal style seat.

[dazmo]

I have a COBRA suzuka s in my car and am very happy with it comfortable offers good support, quality material and reasonable priceing. But again +1 for sitting in as many saets as posable to find the best fit for you. Personaly though i like the COBRA followed by RACE TECH then SPARCO. Some of the recaro seats are excellent but are also reflected in the price of them.

[JiN_MaN]

If you go out to an event such as a hill climb or similar do you have to have a CAMS approved seat or equivalent? Or do they just inspect the seat and deem it worth or not on the spot?

[Beer Baron]

recaro fixed seats are beautiful to sit in and very rigid, but cost bullshit money new.

Velo, aussie made, range of widths, great seats, very comfortable (especially for the larger gentleman) and good price

racetech, up there in the best 2 or 3 brands of seat. great designs and quality. very comfortable too, composites a little expensive

cobra (i use a cobra evolution GT in the 32 GTR), great seat, used in V8 super car, carbon, ok on price but certainly not cheap.

I'm not a huge fan of the sparco seats, they just don't seem to have the quality that their price suggests.

recaro a great but too much $$ in my mind.

I would look at racetech, cobra and velo to get something you like. side head restraints are a good idea too.

[Marlin]

The OMP Pista was right up there on the list for me but i did a search a few days ago on these forums and someone (Marlin i think?) suggested the material was terrible and wore out in a matter of months, i was hoping he would mention it is this thread once he sees it too.

Yeah mate that was me. I stand by that, the material is very thin, just so easy to tear a hole in it, especially when fitting. Even placing them on a table would mark them.

I also had vision issues with the head restraints, I assume because they're solid unlike the Cobra's.

[unique1]

thanks for the heads up Marlin and beer baron, im stuck now abit because i only just purchased OMP fixed seat rails the other week because i bought a bride vios seat and then returned it due to me believing it was a fake china copy. So now i got the OMP seat rails that cost around $120 and just wondering if they will suit the other brands of seats?

the velo apex is lookin the goods at the moment and once i get a chance to get off work early or have a day off i will go down and choose a seat this week i hope as my rolecage is waiting on it so i can work out the final height of the taxi bar for the harness points. I will try out alot of them too before i make a final decision as i want one that fits nice and tight if possible.

Is it best to have the taxi bar level with the harness cut outs on the seat or a touch lower and wrap the harness over the seat a touch? i assume having the taxi bar higher than the seat harness cutouts is a big no no?

Edited April 14, 2009 by unique1

[phunky_monkey]

The rail should fit the other seats fine, just need to do your measurements correctly. My Bride rail fir Bride's (obviously), Recaro's, OMP's, Cobra's etc. You just need to ensure that the base is not too wode for the mounts you have currently, which was my issue with the XL version of the Cobra Evolution and XL Velo I had.

[Belsil80]

I would look at racetech, cobra and velo to get something you like. side head restraints are a good idea too.

i agree with this. I had a Velo Podium 2 and it was awesome. Then got a Racetech with head restraints. Both as good as each other. The cobra was the only thing competing with the Racetech. It also seems like its the least likely to wear out with its stronger looking fabric.

[unique1]

well i got time today and headed out to the local Velo distributor and wanted the Apex model and needed it today so i can finish the rollcage and they said none in stock you will have to wait a week, so i decided to call in to a place selling Cobra and had a look, and the Sebring S was perfect fit and great support i had to have that one. I got it at a decent price with a Willans 6x6 harness as well so i can mount it up this weekend on the OMP rails and see where the intrusion bars can go

thanks for all the advice everyone, i have to agree sitting in them is by far the best way to pick one.

[PRO_32]

Have to say good choice mate, I have pretty much the same seat very tight and comfy. Out of interest what did you pay for it ( if you don't mind me asking that is) as I only jus purchased the sebring pro.

Did you go the gt or normal width?

[Beer Baron]

you wont be disappointed with the seat or harness you chose I still prefer the evolution, but the sebring is a damn good seat too.

yep, the cobra fabric is pretty hard wearing. mine did duty in an FPR V8SC before I got to it and the fabric was still nice. and still is today.

[unique1]

i paid $1675 for seat and harness ($1250 for seat, $425 for harness), i got the standard size too.

bit upset they only had blue harnesses as i really wanted black but thats life.

Also i tried the evolution and it just felt unsupportive on the sides for me, but i only weigh 70kg so im not the typical aussie bloke size

just gotta get a move on and get the car going so i can try it for real

also just threw it on the scales for a weigh in and its 10kg, and omp seat rails are 3kg (stock gtr seat and rail is 15kg) so only a 2kg saving

Edited April 17, 2009 by unique1

[Beer Baron]

yeah to get a good weight saving you really need to go carbon but the cost is $$$. lol yes I have the carbon one, but I need it cause I'm a fat cnt.

even without a big weight saving the safety aspect is huge, and you will be able to drive the car so much better. it's amazing the difference they make to driving feel.