thegoat Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Yesterday was finally my seven's first day at the track. Took it to Reno-Fernley Raceway. Great track. Needs some resurfacing work, but the elevation changes, tight corners, many different configurations, etc., make it a great track. While cornering a bit too hard, my stock Birkin Sport seats broke. It may have been a defective seat, but all day I felt that the sidewall of the seat was flexing way too much. Anyway, now I am looking for a race seat to replace the sport seat. One I am currently looking at is the Spec Miata Seat (http://www.ultrashieldrace.com/prod.php?id=9). Any feedback on that seat? Any suggestions on something else? I am only 5'8" with a 32-33" waist, if that helps. I am looking for great lateral support, HANS compatible and lightweight. Here are some photos from the day. As you can see, I really lean into the seats (overacting, drama queen). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Seats, dunno? What about one of the bead seats that molds to fit your shape? Getting a seat that fits the car is as hard as getting one that fits the driver. Maybe do a search. This topic has been here before. Pretty car! Looks like you are getting air under the front inside tire, both directions. Maybe just bouncing off curbing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegoat Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 I took a spin through the forum. The only one I saw discussed at length was the Spec Miata seat. I think the photo over the crest with the passenger tire off the ground is due to curbing. There is a dramatic weight shift there, however. The other photo I think is just cornering. ha HA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 When I do an advanced search for: seat seats, I get some posts. Scroll thru. Dont know if they have any substantive info that wld be helpful or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 thegoat, You might want to look at this site as they make all kinds of seats for racing. http://www.kirkeyracing.com/index.php?link=home I actually have their seats in my 7 and they work very well at holding one in place when driving. http://www.kirkeyracing.com/index.php?link=browse&code=Series39 Make sure if you get seats from them that you purchase the seat cover for the seat and then add some padding to it to fit your body shape better. From the photos that you posted it looks as if you need your upper body better supported which will also help you control your car better as you will not be shifting around in your seat as much in high "G" situations. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMW RACER Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 How about Tillets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Tillers are great and should fit. Only down side is cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I have the Kirkey pro-street/drag seats 18" driver and 16" passenger and find they hold you in pretty well. you can glue high density foam under the cover at the side bolsters to make the fit as tight as you want. With the 16" seat you don't need added foam, maybe a shoe horn. check out some past uploads by RNR as he did a lot of research and his seat is about as nice as you can get and I think it's set up for his Hanns device Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timax Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 White with carbon looks fantastic! Seats.......Tillet , no question. You don't have to go carbon if cost is an issue. They are made for 7's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taber10 Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 I'm still trying to remember when I had a 32-33 inch Waist!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 (edited) I have a set of Tillett B2 seats just waiting for me in the attic once I get all skinny. They are very nice but narrow in the hips. Edited June 18, 2011 by blubarisax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 You might as well sell those seats, waiting to get skinny just doesn't seem to work. LOL. I'm not overweight, just 4"-5" too short for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Can't go wrong with either Tillets or MOGs. The latter are a little bit more comfortable for me, but that's certainly a YMMV kind of thing. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzempel Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 IIRC, Stan (Soareyes) had UltraShield Spec-Miata seats in his Birkin. Very comfortable and supportive. I believe he had to cut away all or part of the side wings to fit, though, and re-sew the covers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnr Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 (edited) I have an OMP Pista Halo seat in my Ultralite and am very happy with it. I'd recommend going to a race shop and trying seats both for yourself as well as test fitting in the car before you put down any $$$. You can find more info on my seat install at http://www.rahulnair.net/blog/2010/04/01/setting-up-a-seven-safety/ PS: You are welcome to try out my seat if you are ever in SF. Also JimRankin and I will likely be at the GGLC day at Thunderhill in July where you can see them as well Edited June 18, 2011 by rnr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 I have the Kirkey pro-street/drag seats 18" driver and 16" passenger and find they hold you in pretty well. you can glue high density foam under the cover at the side bolsters to make the fit as tight as you want. I have the Ultrashield equivalents in my Ultralite. I had a circle track seat at first but the side bolsters were too high, up in the armpits, so I changed to the drag seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 First thing is the stock birkin seats are not ideal for the track as they are made of very thin fiberglass, instead of looking at other seats you could look at taking the Birkin seats and getting them strengthened up with more fiberglass and then re-upholstered again. A friend of mine did this with his seats and also had a metal bar glassed into the bottom of them where the holes are that the bolts go through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escondidoron Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 I have a pair of leather trimmed Caterham seats and tracks if you're interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegoat Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 Thanks. Completely agree about the upper body support. thegoat, You might want to look at this site as they make all kinds of seats for racing. http://www.kirkeyracing.com/index.php?link=home I actually have their seats in my 7 and they work very well at holding one in place when driving. http://www.kirkeyracing.com/index.php?link=browse&code=Series39 Make sure if you get seats from them that you purchase the seat cover for the seat and then add some padding to it to fit your body shape better. From the photos that you posted it looks as if you need your upper body better supported which will also help you control your car better as you will not be shifting around in your seat as much in high "G" situations. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegoat Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 I have been considering making the trip for Thunderhill, but I don't currently have a trailer and haven't yet gotten comfortable with the risk of limping or worse back. Maybe a uhaul trailer rental is the ticket. I have an OMP Pista Halo seat in my Ultralite and am very happy with it. I'd recommend going to a race shop and trying seats both for yourself as well as test fitting in the car before you put down any $$$. You can find more info on my seat install at http://www.rahulnair.net/blog/2010/04/01/setting-up-a-seven-safety/ PS: You are welcome to try out my seat if you are ever in SF. Also JimRankin and I will likely be at the GGLC day at Thunderhill in July where you can see them as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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