Race seat options

[Sage]

Hi all,

Just did a search and I was surprised to see no topic in here about explicitly about race seat options for our MX5s.

I know that with height and width limitations of our cars it would be nice to get some feedback from everyone as to what they are running and if they are easily to fit.

I am about to begin looking for some race seats for my NA6 though i have spoken to people who say some are too wide at the shoulders and others sit too high to have the roof on with helmet. So id like to help myself and others by trying capture this info.

If you could post something along the lines of:

NA6
Sparco EVO 5
Standard Rails.
Sitting too high for helmet and roof.

it would be appreciated.

[StuwieP]

Might want to include your height in that data - doesn't matter if I clear the roof with helmet in my setup if I'm 5'4" and you're 6'2"

NA6, 5'10" driver (178cm)
Sparco Rev
modified (extra hole drilled lower) Sparco side mounts to steel bar to stock rail mounting points.
Helmet brushes the roof but I fit. <There's room to go lower if you're willing to remove original mounting points.
They're tiny seats. I've met more than one person who quite literally cannot fit in them.


Cheers
Stu

[Magpie]

I have been talking to MX5 Plus about custom brackets to 1: lower the seat and 2: weight loss.

MX5 Plus will be looking at making the custom seat mounts for at least a NA as a stock item. Seat can be adjusted but not quickly. I will post some details once a prototype has been tested.

At the moment it will be for use with a Sparco Sprint. However in the future I may go for a lighter seat, but again this is just a thought!

[sailaholic]

I loosely tried a sparco rev (normal size) on garage star rails. Fitment was very tight and I suspect final would depend on where you like your seat.

I could get it in and the door close in a reasonable driving position but front inside edge was pretty much on the trans tunnel, outside shoulder wing was touching the door (need to slam door)

Bolts were only loose into floor mounting positions.


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[Smokinscotty]

I'm 185cm tall and overweight.
My car had the sparco sprint mounted to the std rails and it was a little cramped as I sat high in the car.
Recently a cobra imola pro came up on here fitted with a PCI mounting bracket. I jumped on it, and I'm glad I did, although the seat is made for a narrower arsed pilot, fitting the sparco to the PCI bracket has greatly improved my driving position and general comfort.
It is a bastard to fit, and it's not easy to adjust, but as I'm the only driver it's a case of set and forget. Highly recommend this bracket unless your sharing the car with a shorty.

As a side note, I'm looking to sell the Cobra Imola pro and I do have standard sliding rails and rpm race gear side mount brackets left over as well to fit it somehow. So if your (or anyone else reading this) on the narrower side, this might be a good deal for you.

Edit: magpie, sounds like mx5 plus are making a very similar item to what I have now! Bloody good bracket!

[davekmoore]

SE aka NB8C.
Sparco Sprint 5.
Standard rails to which I'm about to add a standard seatbelt receiver for occasional use of the race seat while on the road when I don't want to mess about with the harness and HANS device.
Sitting too high for helmet and roof so aiming to keep the car upright.

I'm shortish and roundish so needed to adjust the tummy/hip area of the seat wider with some timber to spread the stress either side of a bottle jack.
The transmission tunnel also needed adjustment (lump hammer).

The seat alone made it way easier to go round corners as it was no longer necessary to grip the steering wheel to avoid falling out of the seat.
Adding a 6 point harness was even better as it stops you falling forward under braking. Remember, though, that a harness is unsafe without a HANS device. Also note that it seems a 2" shoulder strap might fit some HANS devices better than a 3" one .

The seat is mega comfortable for up to 40 minutes on the track and mega uncomfortable when I once couldn't be bothered to swap it back for a 90 minute drive home from the track.

[greenMachine]

How tall you are is not the point - it is trunk length vs leg length. I know shorties who have a problem, and tall guys who don't. Obviously, trunk length is the one that is relevant here.

[StuwieP]

true but it's a basic measurement to base our experiences upon rather than nothing

[Sage]

awesome guys. very useful information already captured hope we can get a few more.

[jasonc23]

Car: NB8B
Seat: Sparco Sprint V
Rails: Garage Star
Height: 188cm w/long legs

Currently I'm able to fit/clear the rollbar (just) with my helmet on and the soft top up. The Sparco isn't the most comfortable seat for me - I've ordered a Bride EXAS III which is due to arrive in a couple of weeks so will report on that when I get it (will also mean my Sparco will be for sale).

It should be able to sit me lower as the mounting points are lower compared to the Sparco and the cushions are removable meaning I can sit in the bare FRP shell for the track. I should also (hopefully) be able to move the seat back a bit more compared to the Sparco as the rear of the seat isn't as wide which means it will give me a bit more clearance to my AGI rollbar.

[StuwieP]

the cushions are removable meaning I can sit in the bare FRP shell for the track.

ouch?
Sat in my seat with cushions removed and stationary it was unpleasant. Think spine grating on solid wall.

Tougher man than I

[oztrackdays]

You mention "racing" do you intend to pass scrutineering without the signature MX5 Slouching.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=48379

But this is still very relevant, as a man with a challenging tallness to roundness ratio I feel the pain.

[Magpie]

In a race seat you are 'pulled' into the seat hence padding can be a lot less. I find the Sparco Sprint with a normal seat belt a lot more uncomfortable than with a harness. A seat belt allows a lot of movement when going over bumps hence the need for more padding.

[CM sport]

Sparco sprint v on standard mx5 rails in this photo. I will be making custom mounts in the coming weeks though. I have approx 1.5" clearance from the hardtop with my helmet on in the car.
Driver: 5 10"
Weight 90kg









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[Okibi]

6'2" fat fat fatty fat
Sparco roadster on kazespec rail