Kirkey seat question

#1

I went to OG yesterday and sat in some seats. I am 6’6" and weigh about 230. I sat in several “tall” seats and none of them were comfy except for the Kirkey.

I’m wanting some feedback from people with opinions on the Kirkey. I’m looking at the full containment seat with the head and shoulder restraints. It is not FIA certified, which is a little bothersome to me when you’re potentially dropping $1,100 on a seat.

If this seat is just as safe as others and they are not certified to keep cost down, I can live with that. I would just like to hear some real world opinions (pros and cons) of these seats because I’m the new guy.

Also, if I buy this seat, I’m looking for some knowledgeable help in fabricating a seat bracket to get as close to the floor as possible. So if you’re in the Baltimore/Washington area and have fabrication skills, I’d like to talk.

Any help is appreciated,
Jason

#2

I’ve not seen one after a wreck, but I would trust the safety of them. I think they’re not FIA approved because it’s not a common “Euro” or “road race” seat. Aluminum seats are mostly from the round track boys, and they aren’t likely to spend the money getting them certified.

#3

Jason,

One of the instructors with NJ chapter of the BMWCCA is over 6’. He made some seat mounts for his e30 that pretty much got his seat on the floor. I will try and get in touch with him and see if he can offer some advice.

#4

I have Kirkey road race seats in all of my race cars 3 bmw’s, 1 acura, 1 datsun and i have been very happy with them. luckily i havent tested them in a bad wreck yet. I am 6’2" and 250+

#5

I think the trick with the Kirkeys is making sure they are properly integrated with the cage.

#6

Yes, after reading the installation instructions on the Kirkey website, I will need some help fabricating braces to attach to my cage for the head and shoulder restraints.

It will definitely be some work to get the seat arranged correctly in the car, but it was literally the only seat that I sat in that was comfortable enough to spend the money on.

Thank you for the input everone. By the way, I’m still looking for a friendly neighbor with fabricating skills;)

#7

Andrew, which seat do you use? As a fellow larger racer, I’m looking for advice as well for my upcoming purchase.

Thanks

#8

aperez wrote:

[quote]Andrew, which seat do you use? As a fellow larger racer, I’m looking for advice as well for my upcoming purchase.

Thanks[/quote]

I have both the Kirkey intermediate and the Deluxe seat. the deluxe is nice but probably not worth twice the money. I have used the intermediate for a long time. My advice would be to buy something a little small, mine are too big and I move around too much…

#9

What size do you have that you think it too big? the 18"? Thanks for the opinion on the seats.

Armando

#10

I was Race Directing at Sears Point a couple weekends ago and we had a bad wreck with a Porsche 944. It was a drivers door impact into t9 wall over 80 mph. Very hard hit. Driver was unconscious so he was cut out of the car and transported to the hospital. He was released that day and is fine now. He had a kirkey seat that appeared to be bent, but upon further investigation the seat was fine. It was the car that was now 6 inches narrower than it originally was which caused thew floor to buckle. I was impressed that the car was crushed before the kirkey seat was broken. I have always raced in kirkey seats. Most comfortable to me, unless you fork up the cash for a new racetech which are very hard to get mounted low in a small car… [file name=64.jpg size=56929]http://spece30.com/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/files/64.jpg[/file]

#11

aperez wrote:

[quote]What size do you have that you think it too big? the 18"? Thanks for the opinion on the seats.

Armando[/quote]

I have the 18" in my integra, its too big for me. I put a 15" in my new e30 and its a bit small. 16" would probably be perfect for me…