New Racing Seat Installed - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

thstone · 05-21-2011, 10:44 AM

I had a Sparco Pro2000Plus racing seat installed this week by my local shop (Werks2 Motorsports in Burbank, CA). I've attended 8 DE days since January and the stock seat just doesn't provide enough support on the track.

I'm using the stock seatbelt for now and I'm of average height so I can still pass the broomstick test. But next month I plan to add the Brey-Krause roll bar extension, 6-point harness, and a HANS so I have a complete track setup.

Since this is my daily driver, the Sparco setup is made to swap in/out with the stock seat - but if I'm too lazy I can also just leave the Sparco in the car.

Very impressed with how much better the seat holds me in the car on the street. Next DE is at Autoclub Speedway (Fontana, CA) in two weeks when I'll really be able to see how well it works.

Topless · 05-22-2011, 07:16 PM

Great! You will love the seat on track days. If your car is a daily driver with airbags still active, you may want to consider a CG Lock instead of 6pt harness. This gives you 90% of the security a harness provides but without the associated risks of spinal cord injury. It simply allows you to cinch your lap belt tight for better car control while meeting DOT requirements for a street car.
http://www.cg-lock.co.uk/cg-lock/

stephen wilson · 05-23-2011, 02:59 AM

Risk of spinal cord injury? The only risk I know of with 6-point belts is if the shoulder attachments are mounted too low, leading to spinal compression.

kabel · 05-23-2011, 05:37 AM

There are DOT legal harnesses out there, essentially what make it DOT approved is the release mechanism (push button versus cam lock or latch).

Just make sure your set up allows for proper installation angles of all the belts with a hans and you should be just fine.

Ideally you want your helmet below whatever rollover protection you have. I cannot tell from the photo, but usually a race seat like that you end up with a lower seating position, and you could remove the foam padding in the seat to get even lower if you needed to.

My track/autox car has the recaro pole position seats, they are actually quite comfy & I like them a lot. I have them mounted on sliders still and that is enough adjustment for me, I don't miss having the recline option, the angle is about the same as my normal driving position. My bet is you'll leave them in more than the stockers

Topless · 05-23-2011, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

Risk of spinal cord injury? The only risk I know of with 6-point belts is if the shoulder attachments are mounted too low, leading to spinal compression.

Yes. Spinal compression and neck vulnerability if you choose to wear a harness without a HANS device (Dale Earnhart Sr). In Rally and off-road spinal compression is a significant risk even with a properly installed harness, not so much in our sport but the potential risk still does exist. See Schroth crash test data.

stephen wilson · 05-23-2011, 07:16 AM

Ah, now I know what you mean, Basal skull fracture. I think at least 1 manufacturer ( Scroth? ) makes a harness system with some more "give" in the shoulder belts ( or is that ASM I'm thinking about? ). I've seen sled tests with & without HANS, but I haven't seen any comparison to a factory 3-point system.