[Cloud9...68]

I know this is a dumb question to you seasoned racers out there, but this one has perplexed me for a long time. I've done a total of five DEs now, and have begun to build up a little speed, having gradutaed to solo status on my last run. At one of the recent DEs, the owner of the school was talking about modifications to your car, basically recommending against doing anything to either the engine or even the suspension until we've gotten a significant amount of seat time under our belts, which sounds like good advice. But he also said that the first, and for a long time the only, mod he would do as a beginning driver is installing a racing seat. The main reason he have was that it holds you in better, but I've never found that to be a problem in my stock sport seat, as long as I have the belt cinched good and tight.



Are there any other reasons for a racing seat, other than that it makes the car look faster just sitting still? I know it's lighter, but this is offset by the requisite harness bar/5-point harness that people usually install along with the seat. Does the reduction in padding significantly improve your feel for the road, and for what the car is communicating? Thanks in advance.

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[Mark]

They keep you in shape getting in and out of the car. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Allow you to use a harness and better safety with a fixed back seat.

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[Jim Child]

That's some good advice you got. Harnesses and racing seats go together. Harnesses will hold you in the seat much better than a stock seatbelt. As soon as you try them you'll understand. Being held tight in the seat eliminates the need to brace yourself with your hands on the steering wheel. This allows you to lighten your touch on the wheel and concentrate on precise steering. Harness installations are not safe without a racing seat so that's why you need one. The additional side bostering that a racing seat provides also helps hold you in place.

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[Cloud9...68]

Thanks, Jim. So it pretty much sounds like I would have to go ahead and get a racing seat to really appreciate how much it's helping. Like I said, I don't feel like I'm sliding around much in my stock seat, nor do I find the need to bolster myself against the footwell with my leg, or brace myself with my hands on the wheel, but maybe I'm doing these things without realizing it. Or maybe I'm just not going fast enough <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> . Also, I wonder if this falls in the category of things I'll appreciate more as I get more experience, and develop a better feel for what the car is communicating to me, which I currently feel I'm very poor with.

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[Eric_K]

After Jim answers a question, the subject is usually covered!



I really noticed the difference when I first got racing seats. I was bracing myself with my legs and hanging on to the wheel to keep from sliding around. You are probably doing that subconsciously and it will only get worse the faster you go.

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[mikew968]

Is the car a track car? What are your plans for it? If you are going to do limited DE's then maybe the stock sport seats are fine.



Mike

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[twinfirehawks]

After driving our 968 firehawk and then taking a stock 996 turbo out on the track right after, I can tell you that the movement of my upper body back and forth through the turns drove me nuts! Granted a six point harness is a big factor there, but sliding on the leather certainly played a part.

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='mikew968' post='49705' date='Mar 24 2008, 07:51 PM']Is the car a track car? What are your plans for it? If you are going to do limited DE's then maybe the stock sport seats are fine.



Mike[/quote]



It's not a track car, but it's not a daily driver, either. I was just thinking that as I do more and more DEs, and (hopefully) get faster and faster, more supportive seats will start to become a good idea. But honestly, especially after reading these responses, I don't think I'm there yet, as I just don't feel like I'm sliding around a whole lot, even in my slippery leather seats. But I've also ridden with several instructors in their full-race cars, and even there, I never feel like the g-forces are really all that strong. Not to brag or anything, but I'm pretty fanatical (make that borderline insane) about my fitness, and put myself through a grueling workout about five days a week, so maybe that's part of it.

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[333pg333]

The only other thing is that with the race seat and harness, you really need a harness bar which means a little bit of work inside the car plus if you use your rear seats it can possibly get in the way? Worth checking into. The seat is a great idea though. You'll wonder how you did without it soon after getting one.

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