Race Seat Installation

#1

Hey Y’all,

I’m fixin’ to install a race seat in my 325is. My research indicates I can purchase a Sparco, brackets, slider, and e30-specific mounting bracket, all of which will bolt together in a tidy little sandwich and meet up with the OEM seat mounts. I like this option except for the price.

I’ve also sat in a Momo seat that I took a shine to, and it will save me some dough, too. I’m not aware, however, of a Momo set-up similar to the Sparco.

Does anyone have any comments or suggestions about a race seat installation?

Also, what have people done who require a passenger seat for HPDS/licensing, but not for racing? Has anyone temporarily rigged up their OEM passenger seat with a 5 pt. harness, or just installed a cheap racing seat?

Thanks,
Sasha

#2

Sasha,

Dave Ellingsworth at RG engineering sells a trick E30 Seat mounting bracket. He’s also a Sparco dealer so you could get all the required items from him at a big discount. His ph # is 757 463 3045.

I’ve included a picture of the setup so you have an Idea what it’ll look like. you can also go to the Photo Galleries and check out the Blue #105 car for more detailed pics.

later, brain

Post edited by: BRAIN, at: 2005/12/06 15:56

#3

Brain,

Is that on a slider on your seat?

I have the steel sparco mounts and they work fine.

Cheap, but heavy.

I have a spare kirkey aluminum seat for the passenger…

Ric

#4

I got cheap on this one & went to a local welding supply store & bought some scrap L-brackets & made my own mounts. I think mine cost me

#5

Yep it’s on a slider. I perfer it that way. I could have just bolted it to the floor but I have aspirations of getting my wife out to the track some day and she’s not quite as tall as I am:)

Sparco steel mounts are great. Yep they’re heavy but the wieght is about as low in the car as you can get it. I need to run more than 1/2 tank anyway so I don’t mind a few extra pounds since I have no problem meeting the 2750 minimum

Post edited by: BRAIN, at: 2005/12/07 14:51

#6

brain wrote:

[quote]Yep it’s on a slider. I perfer it that way. I could have just bolted it to the floor but I have aspirations of getting my wife out to the track some day and she’s not quite as tall as I am:)
[/quote]

So did you have to slouch to pass the pilot physicaland fit under the canopy?

What brand is the slider?

Ric

#7

Brain,

If you’re shooting for a minimum weight of 2850, you’re leaving 100 pounds on the table (unless I’m misreading the rules)! BTW, can you top off the tank before getting weighed, or no?

I’m glad a slider will work with the seat install because my wife has been BEGGING me to go to the race track. She also cannot wait for me to begin the build in earnest so I can waste lots of time and money on a stupid car! :woohoo:

Sasha

#8

Sasha:

Now that you’re "in the club" I have to give you the definition of auto racing…

"Turning a lot of money into a lot of noise."

Carter

:lol:

#9

Sasha,

Yep it’s 2750 just a typo. I love my slider and Dave @ RG has done several of them so give him a call.

Nope you can’t top off before getting wieghed. You pull off the track and go to the scales. So you have to finish the race with 2750. With average fuel burn of 30-40 lbs during a race it’s not hard to do the math.

brain

#10

Ric,

The slider is sparco and its specifially designed to work with thier seat and seat brackets.

brain

#11

[/quote]

So did you have to slouch to pass the pilot physicaland fit under the canopy?

Ric[/quote]

Greetings Gentlemen,

I’m very new to four wheeled motorsports and am going to my first HPDE at the Rock in Feb. Keeping the car on the road until I get more experience, building it up over time to spec.

With your slider arrangement, how much extra headroom compared to stock -(Recaros)- did you end up with? In stock seats my helmet rubs the headliner.

R/S Jamie

#12

I’m 6’ 0" and headroom with the slider is not an issue

brain

#13

on drivers side I run Sparco seat w/ Sparco side mounts attached directly to VAC floor mounts…no sliders. At 5 11, sliders put me up too hi…on pass side I run a cheaper Corbeau w/ Corbeau e 30 floor mount and sliders.

#14

I bought the VAC floor mounts thinking I would have a more or less "plug and play" set up. Boy was I wrong.

I’m using a plus sized seat, Sparco Evo2, and have not yet been able to come up with a configuration that allows the seat to fit within the side mounts and is not completely off center or outside the driver’s door. The Evo that I have fits easily.

Also the VAC mounts will line up perfectly with the MOMO side mounts, but not so with the Sparco side mounts (which offer a little more lateral room). The factory seat mounting stud is also too tall to allow adequate adjustabiltiy with the Sparco side mounts.

If anyone has any suggestions, please help me out.

JP - "Fat guy in a little seat"

#15

Holy cow… my cage just got finished and now I’m going through this exact same dilemna.
I sit tall, so I need a low seat.
I sit far forward, so I might need a slider?
I need a seat with oversized holes for the shoulder harness belts.
I am not dumb enough spend $2K on the driver seat of my $450 race car.

This SUCKS. Why can’t there be an experienced seat outfitter who is not overly-loyal to one brand or the other.