Project FSP Focus is kicked off!!!

[ThatOneFocusGuy]

Racing seat all the way.

[pkolator]

I went from stock seat and belt to stock seat with stock belt and CG Lock. It made a noticeable difference. My legs were much more free, no need to brace as hard, and I could use my core more for stability in my upper body because my hips were good and locked in.

Then I went to a stock seat with a 4 point harness and harness bar. Free movement of my legs and arms and my hips and torso were locked in good and tight. Another big plus from the harness was at the end of the day I wasn't nearly as worn out from bracing myself nor nearly as bruised up from whacking my knees into the door panel and center stack.

Lastly, and where I have been for the last 2 seasons, is a four point harness in a race seat. First a Sparco Speed 2 and now a Corbeau FX1 Pro. What I really like about the racing seat is how much more of what the car is doing gets telegraphed to my butt and back. It is a lot easier to feel when the rear starts to step out and how my steering and throttle are affecting the attitude of the car. Particularly in quick transition stuff like slaloms. Also, I don't have to wrench the harness down nearly as much because of the big hip and shoulder bolsters of the seat.

...so to summarize, I say race seat and harness.

The H&R Race with Yellows setup is a phenomenal off the shelf setup and I only know of one guy (no offence wrc) that can use it to its fullest potential. In conjunction with a race seat it has the potential to help you find another tenth or two.

[GodLovesUgly]

i never even thought about that^^ great point. you can totally feel the car better. absolutely agree.

btw, if you are going to get a Sparco base for your race seat (most seats work with the Sparco base) order it well before your season starts.. mine took nearly 3 months for them to make and send to me.

[wrc_fan]

Originally Posted by pkolator

The H&R Race with Yellows setup is a phenomenal off the shelf setup and I only know of one guy (no offence wrc) that can use it to its fullest potential. In conjunction with a race seat it has the potential to help you find another tenth or two.

No offense taken, I'm glad I went back to street tires this season. The R-comps were really hiding some bad habbits I had. With R-comps I was always in the top 3rd raw. This year on street tires, by mid-season I got fast enough to get back down into top 3rd consistantly. It looks like seats will be the way to go.

[wrc_fan]

Originally Posted by GodLovesUgly

i never even thought about that^^ great point. you can totally feel the car better. absolutely agree.

btw, if you are going to get a Sparco base for your race seat (most seats work with the Sparco base) order it well before your season starts.. mine took nearly 3 months for them to make and send to me.

By base do you mean the mounts? I want to run side mounts, no sliders needed.

Also, am I going to be able to tolerate an up to 2hr drive to an event with something like a Corbreau FX1 seat? Add a big foam pad?

[GodLovesUgly]

no, the mounts are different from the base. for seats to work in our cars you need a custom base made. have a look under the seat, you'll see that the mounting points are not flat like they are in other cars. which makes it nearly impossible to just mount a seat in our cars.
the base pretty much flattens out the mounting points. you will attach the side mounts to the base then the seats to the side mounts. i have sliders that i use because my co-driver is a bit short and needs to move closer to the wheel.

tolerate it? i'm sure you'll get by. i've sat in the FX1 while i was shopping for a seat, personally i didn't like the fit at all. the seat itself felt a bit cheap and i didn't like the bolsters. so i went with another seat. your suspension isn't TOO stiff so that will help with the drive. i can honestly say that there are worse seats for commuting out there so you should be fine.

[GodLovesUgly]

this is what my base looks like-


side mounts-

[wrc_fan]

Thanks for the info GLU! I'll have to look into the sparco and recaro's too.

[Auto-X-ZTS]

We run a Kirkey "ProDrag" seat on stock sliders in the ZX2. I would imagine the Focus sliders/setup are simlar enough to work as well...and the whole shebang was under $150...and it needs balast to be ST legal 25# with the sliders (meaning its pretty light). I know that they make side mounts too...and those would be even more lighter :-)

[pkolator]

Padding wise, the Sparco and Corbeau seem about the same to me. The Sparco had bigger hip/thigh bolsters and the Corbeau has bigger shoulder bolsters. It is easier for me to get in and out of the Corbeau than the Sparco and having broad shoulders the Corbeau suites my build better. Also, I think the Corbeau has better lumbar support.

I've driven from Chicago to Columbus, OH and back (~400 miles one way) in the Corbeau and Sparco in the middle of summer with no AC and I had no problems with achy legs or numb butt.