Race Seat recommendation

[GTest]

Does anyone have exp. with one of these seats?

http://www.subesports.com/products/cat/Seating/brand/Sparco/prodID/1341

or

http://www.modacar.com/products/Mitsubishi/Evo/203STS/Sparco+Seat+Tou.html

Strictly for track use. Lateral head protection is a must.

Thanks

[Ricardon]

I've sat in both at the racetrack. I know you said that they will be strictly for track use, but yeah, you REALLY don't want either of those for the street hehe. Just out of curiosity, what type of racing do you intend to do that would make "Lateral head protection is a must"?

[GTest]

I've sat in both at the racetrack. I know you said that they will be strictly for track use, but yeah, you REALLY don't want either of those for the street hehe. Just out of curiosity, what type of racing do you intend to do that would make "Lateral head protection is a must"?


What do you think of each seat? Pro/Con? The other one I am considering is the Recaro http://www.i-m-racing.com/reproraspg.html.

I mostly do time-trial events at Willow Springs, Cal Speedway, sometime go out to Buttonwillow. No wheel to wheel yet in the Evo (no roll cage yet).

I am a firm believer in safety equipment. I use an ISAAC device for head restraint, 5pt seatbelt etc..

Lateral protection is very important. The ISAAC, Hans, Hutchins, etc.. do not offer as much lateral protection as a seat with a "halo" can. Basilar skull fractures can occur at relatively slow speeds (velocity change of ~30 mph in 100ms will do it, especially in a 30 degree frontal impact). There are numerous SAE papers on the subject.

The largest reason for lateral protection was my witnessing of a tragic death at Buttonwillow. It occurred at the exit of the "Off Ramp" corner. This is probably the slowest corner on the whole track. The car slid sideways into the dirt hill at the exit of the turn.

I have seen metal race seats bent as much as 45% after a helmet impact during a crash. It must take a lot of force to do this. Without assistance, the neck is the only thing there to slow down the head+helmet.

A light helmet is also part of the equation. F=ma.