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Plastic Racing Seats

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:19 am
by TWISTY
Am thinking of installing some of those plastic racing seats into the zook, but thought I'd ask for some feedback first. The main reason I want to fit them is just there durability, being able to hose the whole zook out, and for a bit more side support than my current Swift GTI seats. I don't need to worry about the legalities as the zook will not get driven on the road.

So....

1. How comfy are they? both for comp use, and a weekend out at LCMP? (they will have padded covers on them)

2. Are they safe? I plan on using them in comps, would they be safe for your back etc in a hard rollover since the seats has no give in it?

3. Rouhgly how much are the seats? and also the padded covers? (I thought I read in a members thread that the seats are around $60ea.?)

4. Where can you get them from?

Any other info/feedback would be great too!!

Thanks

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:59 am
by Pinball
Personally i use a pair of SAAS units, blue plated as legal. Started for comfort and support reasons when running around the mines.

I've never used the "plastic" seats, however if you mean the non reclining hard shell with minimal padding then as long as they are rated to the appropriate standard they should be ok in on road crash situations.

The idea of racing seats is that in conjunction with properly fitting harnesses they hold you in place and support your body during a crash.

However, at $60 a throw, i'd be very suss about the quality.

Spock

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:14 am
by STIKA
They arn't very comfortable

They can be purchased at Auot barn Slacks creek


I would go for the more expensive ones i think $90 so the harness feeds through the seat and aditional height for head protection

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:27 am
by N*A*M
if you want a good plastic bucket... get the rpm racegear ones. not the rci/jaz ones. i run them in my buggy with a padded cover and but they aren't too bad even without covers. mount them with the back slightly reclined, it will improve comfort.

my 2cents

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:33 pm
by LuxyBoy
Comfortable Bucket = WRX
That what i put in the Lux and they rock, everyone loves them. Holds you stable and give a nice ride.
Mate has the plastic ones in his VW beach buggy and they suck, very uncomfortable.

Re: my 2cents

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:27 pm
by v840
LuxyBoy wrote:Comfortable Bucket = WRX
That what i put in the Lux and they rock, everyone loves them. Holds you stable and give a nice ride.
Mate has the plastic ones in his VW beach buggy and they suck, very uncomfortable.
I agree. Have had wrx buckets in a previous car and they are very supportive and comfy. A mate bought plastic buckets for his (very worked) HSV and he pissed them off after a couple of weeks. This was a weekend track car, not a DD. Plus the rexy buckets are pretty cheap 2nd hand.

Re: Plastic Racing Seats

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:42 pm
by midnight
LuxyBoy wrote:Comfortable Bucket = WRX
TWISTY_TOY94 wrote:, being able to hose the whole zook out

Umm I dont think wrx bucketies are a good idea if he is hosing them out.

Personally I would think that plastic ones would be a bit rough. Especially if you get used to planting your foot in the Runner Dave :lol: .

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:52 pm
by ludacris
It does not matter how much padding you add to them they will not absorb the hard hits like a conventional, or quility bucket seat and may cause serious injury in my opionion. A 4 point harness will do everything you need and a quility bucket seat with a canvas cover will improve on it.

LudaCris

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:38 pm
by TWISTY
I don't know what to do now :?

I forgot that the harness would hold me in just as well as a deep bucket seat. I've got a couple mates that work in motor trimming shops and thought about maybe getting the Swift GTI seats that are currently fitted recovered in canvas or vinyl.....which they'd do for sh!t all....maybe this is the better way to go....

Do you reckon a 4pnt harness would work with the hole thats currently in the seats??

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 5:16 am
by r0ck_m0nkey
TWISTY_TOY94 wrote:Do you reckon a 4pnt harness would work with the hole thats currently in the seats??
If you have motor trimmer mates who will cover them cheap, why not get them to modify the seat aswell to suit your needs.

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 7:43 am
by Shorty40
I had the RCI plastic seats in my 40 series. I loved em :cool:

And yes, I used to hose my interior out ;)

Comfort wise, I had no problems at all - mind you at 110kg I have internal padding :D I used to wheel most weekends and I daily drove the rig.

The seats had 3 different shoulder slots for harnesses. I ran 4 point harnesses.

They are easy to mount aswell.

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:22 am
by jdubya
Twisty toy.

We ran a four point harness in my mates gti through those holes he had narrow shoulders though. Not sure whether it will be an issue with wider shoulders though.

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:56 am
by TWISTY
I'm a fairly wide barstard and my shoulders are higher up than the holes in the seats. Judging by the attached pic, I don't think a 4pnt harness will work with my fat arse in the seats.

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:59 am
by TWISTY
Shorty40 wrote:I had the RCI plastic seats in my 40 series. I loved em :cool:

And yes, I used to hose my interior out ;)

Comfort wise, I had no problems at all - mind you at 110kg I have internal padding :D I used to wheel most weekends and I daily drove the rig.

The seats had 3 different shoulder slots for harnesses. I ran 4 point harnesses.

They are easy to mount aswell.
Shorty40 - They look great, and are exactly what I was after. Where did you get them from, and how much? Also did you run padded covers on them, or just as pictured?

(And I've got that same internal padding too - 105kg :armsup: mainly thanks to XXXX)

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:24 am
by Shorty40
TWISTY_TOY94 wrote:
Shorty40 wrote:I had the RCI plastic seats in my 40 series. I loved em :cool:

And yes, I used to hose my interior out ;)

Comfort wise, I had no problems at all - mind you at 110kg I have internal padding :D I used to wheel most weekends and I daily drove the rig.

The seats had 3 different shoulder slots for harnesses. I ran 4 point harnesses.

They are easy to mount aswell.
Shorty40 - They look great, and are exactly what I was after. Where did you get them from, and how much? Also did you run padded covers on them, or just as pictured?

(And I've got that same internal padding too - 105kg :armsup: mainly thanks to XXXX)
I ordered them through Rocket Industries - at the time you couldn't order directly. I had to go through my local spares joint (PEPS). They were around $60 - $70 each.

I didnt have the padded covers and I had no dramas with that (big boys :lol: ) But from what I hear the covers make them much better. And they are easy to slip off to hose the car out ;)

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:07 pm
by v840
Another option may be to get your trimmer mates to cover your existing seats with neoprene (wetsuit material). Retains the comfort and gives hoseoutability . :D

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:55 pm
by jeep97tj
or even better get your mates to make some padded covers for the plastic seats?

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:39 am
by TWISTY
jeep97tj wrote:or even better get your mates to make some padded covers for the plastic seats?
Yep, thats what I've decieded to do....I'll post up pics/details of the final setup.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:28 pm
by midnight
So does that mean I can still get your GTi seats Dave?

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:11 pm
by TWISTY
Yeah mate, there yours.....

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:15 pm
by RUFF
Dave Autobahn at Slacks Creek usually stock the ones that Shorty 40 posted. I run these in my buggy. And with the padding i find them comfortable enough. Without the padding they are uncomfortable. Last set i bought from Autobahn they cost mme $89 each. The covers were the same money

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:36 pm
by TWISTY
Cool, thanks for the info Tony.....I'll be getting them in a couple weeks after midnight buys half my zook off me :D

Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:21 am
by midnight
TWISTY_TOY94 wrote:Cool, thanks for the info Tony.....I'll be getting them in a couple weeks after midnight buys half my zook off me :D
Half?

More like 3/4's :P :D

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:00 pm
by Gwagensteve
I have had a sit in NAM's buggy with plastic seats in it. I am pretty light (73kg) and would be worried about injuries in a hard roll. I don't think it is agood idea to rely on the belts to hold you in. It is too easy to slip out of them IMHO.

I would get the GTI seats reupholstered in canvas. That's the plan for my Sparco sprints that will be going in the zook.

Steve.

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 4:43 pm
by Roctoy
we are running them in our buggy the RCI ones and they are far from comfy. I'll see how they go with covers on them.
After a couple of flops at WE Rock and a few hard hits to the skid plate Ally's back was so sore she didn't work the next day.

Chris

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:15 am
by TWISTY
I'm going to be ordering a set of these in the highback style this week......just thought I'd check what people have payed for them recently?

My local Autobarn, and the one at Slacks Creek both want $100ea for them.....? Is this the going rate now?

Also is it worthwhile getting the mounting kit ($50ea?)

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:29 pm
by Mad Cruiser
I think WE ROCK is changing their rules about plastic seats ? Maybe Tony can help you out there

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:59 pm
by Wendle
N*A*M wrote:if you want a good plastic bucket... get the rpm racegear ones. not the rci/jaz ones. i run them in my buggy with a padded cover and but they aren't too bad even without covers. mount them with the back slightly reclined, it will improve comfort.
The RPM "Dominator" plastic seats that nam is talking about above are worlds apart from the RCI or JAZ seats, they do cost more though. They are damn comfortable with a tight harness and hold you in nice. They do knock the shit out of you in a HARD roll, but they are fine for light flops and miscellaneous tumbling :lol:

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:08 pm
by N*A*M
i've tested them in many hard rolls, flops, and bumps. they are great. i am more sore from go-karting than a day's hard wheeling.

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:11 pm
by "CANADA"
N*A*M wrote:i've tested them in many hard rolls, flops, and bumps. they are great. i am more sore from go-karting than a day's hard wheeling.

Keep in mind you are alot cooler than alot of the guys on this site :D :cool: