Racetech seat FTW! [Archive] - Bimmerforums

vmwerks

10-09-2006, 12:09 AM

I have been having trouble finding a seat that fits my frame. I became a Racetech dealer when I found out that they have a really big selection of seat fitments. I toured the Racetech NA facility in Sparks, NV when I picked up my opening order. I am running a RT4009HR and one of my SPecE30 guys who is over 6'4" is getting a RT4009WTHR (wide and tall). I am really happy with the fitment and build quality. Racetech supplies the factory Viper race cars with seats.

http://www.vmwerks.com/images/racetech.jpg

Walter Ford
President
Valley Motorwerks

John@BPG

10-09-2006, 11:09 AM

We ran the same seat in Dan's E30 M3. I had originally bought it for my IP E36 M3 but could not fit it in the car. That model has a very square base and we could not position it close enough to the trans tunnel to A. Line up the seat in front of the steering wheel and B. have the head protection clear that roll cage. Seat fits well in a E30 and E46 however.

vmwerks

10-09-2006, 03:39 PM

Thanks for the heads up... the other seats are going into E30's. My cage has not been built yet. I am leary of any seat installation so it will be in the car when it goes to the cage builder. What seat mounts were you using?

EDIT: We ARE talking about the Racetech and not the rocking chair right? :shifty

Walter Ford
President
Valley Motorwerks

John@BPG

10-09-2006, 03:53 PM

LoL yeah the racetech.

I tried every combination of mount known to man. Custom and off the shelf. I just couldn't get the seat low enough and in towards the trans tunnel to make it work.

vmwerks

10-09-2006, 03:56 PM

Well I am off to the shop area.. just finished my Famous Star with cheese and some onion rings... I should have enough energy to fuss with it. I'll post photos..

Walter Ford
President
Valley Motorwerks

txse46m3

10-09-2006, 04:03 PM

John@BPG

10-09-2006, 04:13 PM

Looked at them a while back...the big ones weren't FIA cert'd at the time, as I recall.

They all are now.

One we got wasn't so we had to run a seat back brace.

vmwerks

10-09-2006, 09:14 PM

So the fit is tight but it fits fine.. I tested with the seat approx 4" forward of my driving position... prob good for someone 5'5" or so. I have it mounted on VAC mounts and my old MOMO side mounts... switching to the Racetech tomorrow. My cage builder came by a few minutes ago.. he likes the setup and has plenty of room for side bars etc.

John, I did see where the seat was "wide". The front of the seat has a lip that is approx 2" wider than the rest of the tub but it is not interfering with the driveshaft tunnel at all.

Photos:

http://www.valleymotorwerks.com/images/racetech/IMG_0091.JPG

http://www.valleymotorwerks.com/images/racetech/IMG_0092.JPG

http://www.valleymotorwerks.com/images/racetech/IMG_0093.JPG

krisko

10-09-2006, 09:43 PM

vmwerks

10-09-2006, 11:19 PM

These seats really are badass. If I build a race/track car again I'm going with the one that's build for HANS. These seats are made in New Zealand (I think), are fully FIA certified and weigh next to nothing.

Discovery Parts is selling a ton of these and he'll extend the 'krisko' hookup to anybody who asks.

I agree, these seats are the absolute BEST bang for the buck, bar none. I sat in the seat once it was bolted in and it fit like a glove... snug but not too tight... I am glad I became a Racetech dealer.. best yet they are a few minutes from my other house at Donner lake.

Walter Ford
President
Valley Motorwerks

John@BPG

10-10-2006, 09:51 AM

Glad it fits in your car. I really believe that seat saved Dan from serious injury at WGI when he was t-boned.

I tried the VAC mounts as well, I flipped the inside mount to move the seat even closer to the tunnel and had to hammer in the tunnel to make the mount fit in that orientation. No luck.

vmwerks

10-10-2006, 10:04 AM

Glad it fits in your car. I really believe that seat saved Dan from serious injury at WGI when he was t-boned.

That's good to hear, my hpde car (E30) is also getting one of these. My wife cringes enough when I run off to DE's.

I tried the VAC mounts as well, I flipped the inside mount to move the seat even closer to the tunnel and had to hammer in the tunnel to make the mount fit in that orientation. No luck.

I really do not understand that.. the tunnel gets wider near the front of the car... maybe you were mounting it further up than I was... It would probably go another 2" forward before contacting the tunnel. In the photos the seat is on the VAC mount loose so it is 2" lower than it was when installed. I have even more room to the tunnel than in the photos. I will swap out the photos in this thread with the seat in my driving position since right now it is too far forward for me.

Walter Ford
President
Valley Motorwerks

John@BPG

10-10-2006, 10:18 AM

Those photos of a E36 or E46?

My problem was when I sat in the seat, my helmet would contact the top of the cage by the driver's window and would hit the cage before the left head restraint. Didn't matter where I put the seat.

vmwerks

10-10-2006, 12:15 PM

Those photos of a E36 or E46?

e36m3 COUPE - I can't afford an e46m3 race car!

My problem was when I sat in the seat, my helmet would contact the top of the cage by the driver's window and would hit the cage before the left head restraint. Didn't matter where I put the seat.

Ahhh... well no cage yet, the car goes to the cage builder today. I am only 6' tall so my head is not much higher than the top of the helmet restraints. I also have tons of room between the seat top and the roof. It looks like there is plenty of room for the cage... we'll see.

diffsonline

10-10-2006, 03:32 PM

Glad it fits in your car. I really believe that seat saved Dan from serious injury at WGI when he was t-boned.

definately saved me...the head restraint kept things in place!