Wrecked now what.

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:57 pm

ok, here is a pic of the resultof a 99 bonneville rear ending me at about 50 mph faster than I was going.

I started out planning on getting them to total it. Now I am thinking if my body shop assures me they can make it right, I might repair it and make it more track car than street car. What do you experienced track junkies think? I have yet to get to the body shop and really look at it so who knows if this really going to be an option.

What kind of seats do you think I should go with (that is what got me thinking about this, the oem seats are broken)?

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:10 pm

clinehall wrote:

make it more track car than street car.

What is your definition of "more"?

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:26 pm

racing seats, roll bar, take out the rear seat. Maybe stiffen up the suspension. I just am thinking while State farm is paying for new parts maybe I would take advantage of it.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:29 pm

Dont be rediculous, DO IT!!!!

I'll be glad to help!

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:11 pm

A track car for two events per year? :roll:

I think you need a golf cart since that's your mainstay these days.

David Spratte · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:23 pm

clinehall wrote:

racing seats, roll bar, take out the rear seat. Maybe stiffen up the suspension. I just am thinking while State farm is paying for new parts maybe I would take advantage of it.

Heated seats coming out? Maybe interested.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:26 pm

David Spratte wrote:

clinehall wrote:

racing seats, roll bar, take out the rear seat. Maybe stiffen up the suspension. I just am thinking while State farm is paying for new parts maybe I would take advantage of it.

Heated seats coming out? Maybe interested.

Cline Hall wrote:

the oem seats are broken

ORLY???

Stacy King · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:39 pm

I think there's a mathematical formula for this... anyone here clever enough to come up with it quicker than I can?! LOL

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:05 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

A track car for two events per year? :roll:

I think you need a golf cart since that's your mainstay these days.

That's the beauty of this. If I take the back seat out I can use it as a golf cart. But for your info I think I am average 4 a year, anyway it is hard to work in golf, motorcycles, and staying married!

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:10 pm

Cline, Sorry about the accident. :cry:

clinehall wrote:

...if my body shop assures me they can make it right

Define "Right". My Odyssey has been hit twice. I am generally pretty happy with how it was repaired as cosmetically it looks fine. It even tracks straight. However it does seem to be a bear to get it aligned properly now and there is evidence that previous repairs included some time pulling on the body. I have learned that the next time I have my car repaired after a collision that one item I want is a print out from a good alignment shop showing how well it will align.

If I was to be making this a track car, i would take it check the alignment and see if it seems to be pretty straight as it is right now. If so, then keep it. If not, total it. Based upon the photo my guess is that the suspension pickup points were not moved around and it is probably OK.

My 2 cents.

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:49 pm

Richard Casto wrote:

Cline, Sorry about the accident. :cry:

clinehall wrote:

...if my body shop assures me they can make it right

If I was to be making this a track car, i would take it check the alignment and see if it seems to be pretty straight as it is right now. If so, then keep it. If not, total it. Based upon the photo my guess is that the suspension pickup points were not moved around and it is probably OK.

My 2 cents.

Very good idea!

Also, nobody is answering about race seats. I have looked online at some seats (some recaros for example) which are reclining but say they are still good track seats. Sounds to good to be true to me. What is the wisdom of the group?

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:16 pm

clinehall wrote:

Richard Casto wrote:

Cline, Sorry about the accident. :cry:

clinehall wrote:

...if my body shop assures me they can make it right

If I was to be making this a track car, i would take it check the alignment and see if it seems to be pretty straight as it is right now. If so, then keep it. If not, total it. Based upon the photo my guess is that the suspension pickup points were not moved around and it is probably OK.

My 2 cents.

Very good idea!

Also, nobody is answering about race seats. I have looked online at some seats (some recaros for example) which are reclining but say they are still good track seats. Sounds to good to be true to me. What is the wisdom of the group?

Say this over and over again...

Sit before you commit!

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:18 pm

"Real" track seats don't recline. You'll have to use seatback braces with a roll bar/cage for reclining seats - not a big deal, but not totally optimal for safety.

I put the Corbeau Forza's in el Presidente's car when it was mine, and they're great on track but suck for street driving. No fixed back seat will be a fantastic street seat, but there are better ones out there than the Forza.

I've spent track time in a Recaro SPG, and it's a much better seat on track than the Forza, but it's much more expensive. Since this was a 944 Cup car, I don't have any daily driving input for that seat.

I've sat in the Sparco Evo in several different cars and really liked it - it's the most comfy fixed back seat I've tried.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:18 pm

sorry about the car Cline. sparco pro 2000 is my drivers seat. my passenger seat is a Kirkey. seat back bracing is required on the kirkey and will be needed on the sparco when it ages out.

realize this is the jumping off point my friend. strip it & rip it. cage, suspension, tires & wheels, seats & harnesses. 5-6K i would think to do it right. then you can look into building the motor if you are so inclined.

i have always heard one should build toward a class to compete in. that otter be one fine golf cart by the time you are finished. maybe you will see that "insured by CHA" sticker in your mirror, aye.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:44 pm

As far as seats - the Sparco Evo and Evo 2 (which IIRC is the wider version of the same thing for bigger guys) are great choices. The MOMO Start (which IIRC is what's in Bowie Jr's ITA car) is also very good. LTBMotorsports.com has great prices on MOMO stuff, great customer service, and impossibly fast shipping. For Sparco stuff, I've had great luck with subesports.com over the years. I've also in general just always been impressed with Sparco stuff. My FIA suit is a Sparco, as are my gloves. The quality is there. If I pull the trigger on something from Sparco, I know I'm going to get something good. Something to be said for that.

Personally, I'd never do something like a Kirkey Intermediate again. I no longer like the notion of a seat that uses my lower torso as the lateral support. I also hated rubbing the underside of my upper arm on the "blade" of that seat while shifting. I much prefer something that uses my shoulders and my hips - hard stuff, not soft stuff - for in case I'm in a side impact.

A Racetech seat would be great too, and it looks like they've gotten cheaper. http://www.racetechseatsna.com/start.html. If I were building a track car right now, I'd probably do a Racetech seat.

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