THSCC Forums

if the driver's seat is FIA, (Sparco or Recaro) can the instructors seat be a Corbeau of similar design? ( ie. FX Pro) both would be new and would be 5 point fitted. thanks, steve

I will let one of our official track inspectors give the official word. Typically the seating doesn't have to be identical, but they do need to be comparable. So two FIA certified seats would be the best.

Steve they are looking for equal protection so I'm pretty sure the answer will be yes that combination is fine. Add harnesses and your set to go.

Ron

Not arguing here Ron, but how do you see an FIA seat and a non-FIA seat equal? Would we allow non-certified belts for instructors while students have ones with certification?

Again, not argumentative and perhaps this is a question for Mark, but I thought equal was equal.

FWIW, I wouldn't have a problem with it unless it was one of those cheapy drag race style seats.

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Rich
http://www.v8mongrel.com/

A lot of it would depend on the actual seats in question. If the Seats are Sparco SPorts and Corbeau Forza's, then most likely they would be just fine. Both had FIA certification until this year when there was a slight change in the certification process. The seats are almost identical.

But as said, if one is just a plastic drag seat, we would have issues.

Steve:
Sounds like we would allow that combo, as long as the restraint systems were per our rules.

We also look at how you have anchored the seats in tha car. That's probably more important to your and your instructor's safety. Be sure to use either the OEM mount points and fasteners or sufficiently secure points in the floorpan with large, THICK back-up plates (NOT fender washers).

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Brad

Hey everyone... FWIW... Steve did contact us offlist, and I think we resolved his specific delima.

In general, and FWIW in regards to this thread, it comes down to this: If a seat/harness combination would pass tech on its own - it does not have to be exactly like the other seat. Obviously, we don't want inferior products being used for anyone... but I think the difference between SFI rating and FIA rating, for our purposes, is negligible... as long as either passes tech in regards to the DATE of manufacture.

There are certainly differences in seat quality and construction, and we'd rather address those differences on a case-by-case basis.

I encourage EVERYONE to do as Steve has done and ASK BEFORE YOU BUY. It's generally best though to email Mark or Myself than to post on the forum simply becuase we may not check the forum as often as we should.

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Stacy King
Midlife Crisis Participant