THSCC Forums

Yeah, I talked to Tom at Bethania Garage pretty extensively before and after I put my bar in). His claim, as I recall, is that most people over 5'7" won't fit the rules without seat mods. I've basically accepted the fact that I will need race seats if I ever track this car!

Again, good luck in getting the details worked out!

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Dustin Fredrickson
-- I'm a nobody --

Dustin, I have a set of Momo Start that I wanted to use. That is what started a lot of the discussion here. I originally planned to use one in my car and one in my son's car. That is the "equal protection" point arose. It seems the stock seats will allow me to pass the broomstick by reclining the seatback, which I cannot do with the Momos. They do feel good but I cannot see race seats in a dual-purpose car and still pass the broomstick. I am not a big guy, 5'10", 165.

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2004 Miata VR, MSM, HDHC, CCS-100 Cruise, 2448 of 4000

Chris fixed my second mounting point on my rollbar for my harnesses today.

http://www.mazda-speed.com/albums/Harness/HardDog2ndTab.sized.jpg

My seat seems to clear the broomstick when I tilt it back by spacing the front mounting points.

Now I need a tech day.

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2004 Miata VR, MSM, HDHC, CCS-100 Cruise, 2448 of 4000

Gentlemen:

Racing seats are not specifically required for the HPDE or TT.
However in some cars IF that is the only way you can sit low
enough to clear the top of the roll bar or install the harness
to GCR spec then there may not be other options.

If you can hack up the stock or used
seat to meet the safety requirements or use a cheeper
passanger seat that is fine. Our Tech Guide ,based on SCCA Solo 1
spec does not requre racing seats.

Equal protection is with regard to added safety equipment, such as harnesses & roll bars and their installation to discourage folks from
just putting harnesses on the drivers seat, and or roll bar padding
on the drivers side, and to heck with the passanger (ie instructor)

Miata's are difficlut. I would recomend you get in touch with
Chris Shemmell, Carl Casson or Peter Krause to address
specific needs. At the end of the day not everyone can
safely fit into a Miata. This is a concern not ony to students
but more so for instructors.

We need shorter instructors or more Corvettes and M3's!

Cheers
Mark V

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Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net

I know a few surgeons if you want to suggest we start a "chop shop" for students/instructors.

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Marvin McBride
Spec Miata #62

Marvin:

Not quite the "corrective action" I had in mind.

Reading these threads:
It does take a transaction to get into the "track mode".

I think once you start doing these type of events your prospective will
change and you'll find it worth the effort. It may seem very strange to
some right now that we require you to change your helmet after 10 years.

It's more strange to us that anyone could actually consider driving at a
high speed event, on track, in a convertible ,with an 10 year old helmet.
This is not a dig at the author, please don't misunderstand, but an example different 'mindset', level of awaraness, and level
of preperation needed for what are high speed track events.

Ron can vouch we tech more than driving fast on track, we teach you
to survive, and have fun on track.

To start out:
Best to leave things stock, show up with a safe car, a good SNELLl rated helmet, and learn. Unfortunatly, this is not
possible with convertibles. Fact is MANY clubs
do not allow convertibles on track, period, because the don't want
to have to deal with it.

The club has resourses.
We have a "tech director": Chris Schemell

We have serveral local sponsors who suport our program big
time, who's specality is working on track cars:
K&K, Competition Cages, and Sports & Compacts.

We have so many Miata's at all our events I make jokes about it
so this is not a difficult as some make it out to be.

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Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net