Do Stockers need correct year seats?

[Travis Miller]

Upholstery does not matter. Seats do. In recent years racers have been "caught" with 4-door front seats in 2-door cars. 4-door front seats do not have seat backs that fold forward allowing access to rear seat area, making them lighter weight. A few years ago a well known racer was told to remove his late model Econoline bucket seats from his early Mopar max wedge. He claimed he could not find an original bench seat. When he was told not to come back until he had the correct seat, he showed up at the next national event with a seat that matched the rest of the interior perfectly.

If the stock seat rule was to be "liberalized" allowing any seat as long as it was from the same manufacturer, it would not be long before all Mopars would all be using Bostrom buckets from '68 hemi cars, all Chevys would be using seats from '67 Camaros, and Fords would be installing buckets out of '65 Mustangs.

Everyone knows that seat swaps in Stock are to gain class advantage by way of lighter weight. If someone is running a rare or older car that has hard to find interior parts, then they just need to keep searching until they find the correct seats. Stock Eliminator does not need anymore liberalized rules!

Travis

(Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions.)

[Mike McCandless]

We gained 10lbs going from a bench to buckets. Reaching a floor mounted shifter with the factory bench is a safety hazard as you need 7' long arms to reach it. I understand rules are rules. This car was going to be raced at one, maybe 2 races this year. I don't have time to race it so we were going to let a friend run it at Piedmont. Seems there are some little cry babies. I'd hate to know I was afraid of a car or driver to the extent that I'd protest their heavier than factory seats. Don't forget the car weighs over 3950lbs with minimum weight at 3845. I was usually the slowest car in stock. Not exactly trying to set the world on fire here.

Luckily racers are like hair stylist, they love to gossip. Already had 3 people call me to tell me about the complainers. I'll look forward to seeing their rods/pistons laying on the ground at a future race.

[Greg Hill]

Originally Posted by Travis Miller

Upholstery does not matter. Seats do. In recent years racers have been "caught" with 4-door front seats in 2-door cars. 4-door front seats do not have seat backs that fold forward allowing access to rear seat area, making them lighter weight. A few years ago a well known racer was told to remove his late model Econoline bucket seats from his early Mopar max wedge. He claimed he could not find an original bench seat. When he was told not to come back until he had the correct seat, he showed up at the next national event with a seat that matched the rest of the interior perfectly.

If the stock seat rule was to be "liberalized" allowing any seat as long as it was from the same manufacturer, it would not be long before all Mopars would all be using Bostrom buckets from '68 hemi cars, all Chevys would be using seats from '67 Camaros, and Fords would be installing buckets out of '65 Mustan

Everyone knows that seat swaps in Stock are to gain class advantage by way of lighter weight. If someone is running a rare or older car that has hard to find interior parts, then they just need to keep searching until they find the correct seats. Stock Eliminator does not need anymore liberalized rules!

Travis

(Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions.)

Unless you have a factory authorized purpose built race car, then they can use any seats they want.

[THE LEGEND]

Herb,
I know they made Terry Taylor change the seats in their Nova one time. They had 70 model seats and were claiming a 71. I know this for fact because I bought them and put them in my 70 nova. I don't see why that was a problem. They spent a lot of money buying these seats only to be told no.
My personal feeling is if it is a factory seat of same manufacture it should be o.k.. I don't think everyone is going to run out and by Camaro or Cuda seats as Travis stated. Mainly because you can't find them either.
Let us know when you have the rod pulling party.LOL
Chip

[Mike McCandless]

I know I'm far from the most positive person when comes to bracket racing and racing in general these days. It's incidents like this that make me that way. Racing has gone away from being fun with things like this. Most that know me, know I raced to simply have a good time. I raced to get away from work. Then to come to the track, listen to the bitching over something that has no effect on the outcome of a race, crazy. I'd hate to know my life was so boring that I had to be obsessed with someone else's car. Much less a car that isn't in their class. There wasn't a SINGLE K/CM in our division last year or this year as far as I know. If there was I'm sure it would outrun me as I was usually .4-.5 under the index.

I imagine it was the same person that complained we didn't have a cage in the car. Nothing like being at piedmont last year with the tech guy coming over asking if we had a cage in the car. It's a stationwagon with 500 window's with bars running everywhere. I didn't know ray charles was racing stock last year.

Oh well, is what it is. I'll make sure to bring the grill out for the rod/piston party. Going to be fun!

[Dave Casey]

Travis has it correct, and i agree. There is no need for more loosening of the rules in stock eliminator.

[Floyd Gomez]

The rule book says "MUST HAVE FULL FACTORY TYPE UPHOLSTERY" it say nothing about being correct per year and make. This is why I called NHRA and asked. I was told that my assumption was correct but NHRA prefers to have seats of the same manufacturer. We are gong to build another Monte Carlo and it currently has a bench seat. I was concerned for safety reasons and due to my size. I think I can find alot more to complain about than a guy having a different seat in his car. So long as I make weight who cares what seat I or anyone else is running as long is is factory type. If they have the same option to run a different seat which according to NHRA they do, it is their option. If they choose not to do so and it gives me an advantage then so be it. Don't like it change it.

[Dave Casey]

Floyd,
That wording has been the same in the rulebook for at least 20 years(word for word), we have never been allowed to change seats in that time

You did the right thing by asking nhra, my suggestion is that you get it in writing, because you will be disappointed if another nhra person makes you change them.

Can't you just put some monte buckets in there ? I thought you could get a bench or buckets in most Monte's

Generally keep 2 things in mind

1. not every tech person is going to be correct every time

2. look at the rulebook as a general thing, if they were specific on everything it would be 100 times bigger, generally if other seats were allowed it would read something like"any seat allowed from same manufacturer" but again be carefull, get it in writing.

I am trying to keep you from a potential problem down the road

both of my stockers would be better cars with lighter seats, i could use the wt reduction to my advantage, but until i see it allowed i ain't changing them.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Floyd Gomez

The rule book says "MUST HAVE FULL FACTORY TYPE UPHOLSTERY" it say nothing about being correct per year and make. This is why I called NHRA and asked. I was told that my assumption was correct but NHRA prefers to have seats of the same manufacturer. We are gong to build another Monte Carlo and it currently has a bench seat. I was concerned for safety reasons and due to my size. I think I can find alot more to complain about than a guy having a different seat in his car. So long as I make weight who cares what seat I or anyone else is running as long is is factory type. If they have the same option to run a different seat which according to NHRA they do, it is their option. If they choose not to do so and it gives me an advantage then so be it. Don't like it change it.

I think Travis spelled this out pretty well.
No one at NHRA wants to nit pick what kind of seats you have.
However , a 4 dr seat in a 2 dr car, or buckets seats in a station wagon is pushing the envelope too far for Stock (as in "Stock appearing)
If Mopar had a rare bucket seat option in the 60's, then those are the exact type of seat one should be able to run, complete with factory floor brackets ,..and documentation.
Otherwise, notch the bench seat frame and have it upholstered that way, or build a shifter mount that moves it up and back over the seat ,within reach.
It's as simple as that.. In fact,...Next question?

[X-TECH MAN]

[QUOTE=Mike McCandless;

Oh well, is what it is. I'll make sure to bring the grill out for the rod/piston party. Going to be fun![/QUOTE]

Whats the point.......I thought IHRA had changed the piston and rod rule in the last year or so to read that only the visable top of the piston had to be correct? There are several that have moved ring packs, lite pistons and pins not to mention lite rods with toyota rod bearing sizes on the cranks AND dont forget diguised ported heads. Its not just the crate motored cares either. Besides bucket seats in a car that only came with a bench seat looks like another bracket car. Stock has been "DUMBED" down enough like Travis said.