By A good racing seat is a must for any serious racer. It’s hard to concentrate on driving when your body is being tossed around while taking a corner. Whether you slalom, autocross, drift, time trial, road race, dirt track, or drag race, a high quality racing seat will improve your driving experience and most importantly, your safety.
There are many things to consider when choosing a racing seat, from size to construction and material. JEGS has a wide selection of seats to meet the needs of any driver and budget.
Probably the most important feature of any racing seat is its size. If the seat is too big, you will not have enough control to maneuver your body through the steering wheel and pedals. It can also be uncomfortable, especially if you are sitting for long periods of time.
The next feature is support. The best how to choose a racing seat will have side bolsters to keep you in place during hard cornering. They will also have high-density foam that will not break down over time. Finally, the seat should be SFI or FIA approved to make sure it meets the appropriate safety standards for the type of racing you do.
While a seat may look similar from one manufacturer to another, there are many different options for seating materials. From carbon fiber to aluminum, polypropylene to vinyl, there are a lot of choices for the racing driver. These options allow the racer to balance comfort, durability and stickiness with weight savings.
Once you have a good idea of the style and material of your seat, the next step is to test it out. If possible, try it out in a car to see how well it fits. If that is not possible, you should measure yourself (waist, hips and chest) and compare these measurements to the manufacturer’s size chart. This will help you narrow down the choices and find a seat that will fit you perfectly.
When it comes to seat sizing, you should be aware that most “off the shelf” racing seats will not fit a person who is overweight or out of shape. This is because these seats are built to be as universal as possible, and they have to withstand a lot of abuse.
Once you have found a seat that meets your needs, it is important to understand how the seat is mounted to the chassis and roll cage of the car. Check with your sanctioning body and/or track to find out their rules on how your seat should be mounted, as they will likely have their own specific requirements. Seat manufacturers will usually offer the parts and accessories you need to mount your seat properly. Most will also have a video section on their website that will show how to install the seat in your vehicle.
