Re: A case for aftermarket seats in stock
 

I completely understand the point of trying to keep stock "stock" but when safety is concerned I think there is a need to think about the idea. I don't buy the thought of stock seats will ruin the stock appearance look. Like Alan said the cars have cages, wheelie bars, 5" tachs, gauges, etc. A seat will not make any difference in this. As long as the rule states the seat must have an interior matching upholstery or cover then it wouldn't stick out like an exposed aluminum seat. I understand the weight argument but the minimum weight would not change and stockers don't have any weight transfer trouble anyway.

The added saftey of a seat is a good investment in my opinion especially those that do not lock the seat back in place. I think the seat back should be solid and not able to fold. In the current car I'm building I wanted a good seat but with the rules the seat is mounted to a chromoly crossmember attached to the frame and the seat back attached to the cage. Would rather have a good seat with a good headrest because factory headrests are to short. With that said I don't think the rule should be mandatory but optional.

Re: A case for aftermarket seats in stock
 

Keith,

You're right about saying stupid things.

You really think that with all the safety equipment in your car it's only the seat that keeps you from be a veggie....what an ignorant statement!

And why are you planning on wrecking your car? Are your driving skills so lacking?

JimR

Re: A case for aftermarket seats in stock
 

No jacket needed in N/SA and lower.

Re: A case for aftermarket seats in stock
 

Unless you put a 6 point in.Then it's belts and jacket time.

Re: A case for aftermarket seats in stock
 

In IHRA you have to have a jacket in ALL stock classes with a min of sfi 3.2A/1.In this years rule book on page 60.

Re: A case for aftermarket seats in stock
 

Bet you Dale Earnhart sr. did not plan on wrecking his car and had great driving skills but dut to lack of safety in a car he is dead. now lets think about who has a ignorant statement.

Hey Mickey your 100% right one is to many, If we would of loss Woodro (praise God we didn't) would the rule still be the same. for anyone who say's its only a stocker, understand that at twenty five mph can break your neck. If you want do all you can to go home everynight to your faimly open your mind about safety.

Jeremy Waibel
NHRA STK 2231

Re: A case for aftermarket seats in stock
 

just as a rebuttal to the weight issue and the huge advantage it is; I just weighed our new 92 camaro H-I-J/SA car. Its no lightweight, heavier centerline wheels, stock brakes, nothing cut up or acid dipped, mild steel bar, stock POWER seats, etc. as it sits with me in it its 50 lbs light for H/SA, the lightest class it can run......................and I'm 245lbs. i don't see the whole weight issue. aftermarket seats would have just added to the massive amount of weight the car nees

Re: A case for aftermarket seats in stock
 

There's not much hope for you as a stock racer if you can't see the value of taking 50+ pounds out of a pair of seats and putting it right where it needs to be towards the back.

I can't believe no comments or arrows at my idea of securing a stock seat base and seat back for zero movement! Unless I'm wrong, it is a simple solution. Since it has been ignored, I would have to say the real issue is some want after market seats under the guise of "safety" when in fact they are looking for better weight distribution.

Re: A case for aftermarket seats in stock
 

Jeff you probably won't get any responses because you have addressed the problem in a way that eliminates Kirkeys, etc. I have several customers cars that have had stock seats totally rebuilt using chromemoly frames with small rectangles attached where the belts go thru including lap belts. Re-covered with factory material including better flame-retardent filling. Couldn't tell them from factory unless they were examined very closely. We spend a thousand or fifteen hundred on the latest q-jet, 3-5k on stocker heads, etc. then gripe about prices for a seat that meets stocker criteria and provides additional saftey. Greg Hill's approach of a stocker "like" seat should be an option. Everyone wants saftey as long as it dosen't cost too much.
I see all the reckless money thrown at cars in an attempt to go faster but until last year alot were wearing pajama bottoms over shorts. I and everyone else wants the safest racing enviroment that can be provided yet you put yourselves on some of the worst racing surfaces in the most unsafe conditions time after time and then worry about the cost of a seat that meets the criteria for the class you run. Too many rules have been thrown out in S/SS already. If you want to run SS or Comp then put it on the window.

Re: A case for aftermarket seats in stock
 

Jeff there is plenty of hope for me as a stock racer and yes i do see the benefit, however if I move the car to I or J I'll have plenty of weight in the back and lighter seats would be a moot point. I realize some combinations would benefit more than others from being able to move weight back.................I'm also sure the benefited plenty from putting the weight lost from aftermarket brakes on the tag too. As for your solution, its a band-aid. There is a solution available, why not use the best solution available when there is a 99.9% chance it will never effect the outcome of a heads up race, but if it save one racer from serious injury I don't see how its a bad thing.