I did a search but couldn't find much info..

Does anyone here have a Racetech seat? I'm leaning in the direction of the Racetech RT4009 after reading a lot of great things about them. I was originally thinking something like the Recaro Pole Position or Sparco Evo, but prefer the idea of a seat with more bolster. The car is not driven on the street otherwise so I am not worried about it being an inconvenience. I believe I know someone locally running this seat (not in a Z) so I plan on sitting in it before buying.

RT4009 for those that aren't familiar..


My question is what seat rails (w/out slider) can I use for these? Anything off the shelf, or do I need to go custom.

Any opinions about the seats/necessary rails/etc welcomed!

 

another option could be this sparco..
http://www.sparcousa.com/product/corsa

i need to read up about it, but looks like it has the additional bolstering i am wanting. and wine country motorsports is supposed to be having a big sale on sparco stuff this weekend..

anyone familiar with either seat?

 

What size human are you? Best bet is to seat in similar size seats

 

Haven't owned either of these race seats, but both Racetech and Sparco are well-respected brands. You really need to sit in them to determine which fits you better. As for mounts, Spaco and others offer fixed mounts that will work, but you'll want to check whether they'll fit on the Z's floorpan properly. Use the right hardware, as mistakes in mounting can make the seat unsafe.

Here's another seat ad you may want to consider:

http://www.sccaforums.com/forums/for...e/posts#439990

 

5'11", 200 lbs. waist is 33", chest 42".

I'd definitely like to sit in these seats before buying one, but it's proven to be pretty difficult to find local shops with seats to try. Will see what I can find in other cars at the track on Saturday.

 

Most seats use a similar bolt configuration and most seat bases are able to universally adapt to most seats. However, if you get a cheap seat base, you're more likely to be sitting in an uncomfortable position I.E. I got a cheap Ebay seat base for my Sparco Fighter and ended up sitting in a very high position. i then bought the actual Sparco base and found myself right where I wanted to be. Lesson learned; by Sparco (or other name brand)

 

I would love one of the above seats but I'm a tad too big! You'll fit in either fine!

 

Eh.. The Corsa might be tight..but I think they are supposed to be. I have it and fit pretty well.. I'm 5'8 140..

You are likely looking at at least 'some' custom work for the mounts.. We tried the 'sparco' mount and it was off.. I went with a custom fabrication job.

The passenger sparco mount was closer but still had some custom work to firm it up.

I was lucky enough to find a shop nearby with a used one to try out. I was also eyeing the Racetech 4009 but couldn't find one to try.

FYI - It took several months to get the Sparco seat in... fresh from Italy.

 

I would go to one of your local racing events (NASA-FL or SCCA). Most likely both seats will be there in instructor or racer vehicles ands I am sure many won't mind you trying them out.

 

Strong suggestion: get the best side mounts and floor mounts that you can..and most importantly get "DUAL LOCKING SLIDERS"

In track/racing conditions single locking sliders let the seat move around some...not a good thing for safety and feels weird for the person sitting in the seat.

Note: most seats in full-on race car are bolted to the roll cage...so adding sliders becomes a bit of a fabrication job...but folks do it all the time...

 

I copied this from one of my post in another seat thread. II want to illsutrate all the parts it takes to install an aftermartet seat in a street car like you have described.

1. seat
2. seat side mounts (connects seat to base of your choice)
3. sliders (connects side mounts to base...these are optional)
4. base mount (sliders connect to base mount that mount to the floor stock mount in a street car)

Pics below for illustration only:

I ran this seat for a long time in TT & HPDE with a Harness bar...so I am not sure how this will work with OEM belts. I believe this is the UltraSheild "Spec Miata" model. I believe I used Sparco double locking sliders on a aftermarket base...This is where I purchased the seat base.. http://www.wedgeengineering.net/

Note: I ran this seat all the time...street and track and loved it...

 

I have both the Racetech 4009 and RT4009WTHR in my Z, and have been mulling about selling one of them (probably the WTHR). The 4009 currently has a welded mount that fits the passenger side mounting area, but then there is no adjustment. PM me if you want to discuss further.

 

Thanks for the info guys. Crossing my fingers that I find these seats at the track Saturday, or at wine country Sunday.

Laze.. Not planning on using sliders. Was also reading that I can maybe just mount the side rails straight to the floor. Though not sure how that would work in the z considering the nowhere near flat floor.

What do you think of the base mounts from wedge? I came across mixed reviews.

Scott.. How do you like the race tech seats? I know they came with your car so wasn't necessarily your choice to get them. But have you had any desire to change them? Also, Thanks for the offer but I prefer not to buy a head restraint seat since I still have to drive the car to the track. I've read it can be an issue when driving on the street.

 

Yep, that will work..you can also get much lower without sliders...but you will still need a base and side mounts//and some minor fabrication to make everything line up and bolt up. The floor is not level an will require bends that the side mount can't make.

The Wedge stuff is OK, nothing special...I modified mine to make is lower and reinforced it to be stronger ( basically doubled the material)

Google for other venders..but not much out there...so i used the Wedge unit as base template to work with.

 

Planted and Motorsport seats make good brackets and sliders.

 

Nevermind, just saw you are not going to use a slider.

 

They did come with the car, then I sold the car and sold the WTHR seat with it, but not the 4009 (which was the SCCA--> SpecZ's passenger seat). I do like it, but don't use it now bc I don't run a passenger seat. I already had a Sparco in the greenZ, and left it in there. I'm 6', 170#.

 

well i got to sit in a few sparcos (evo, evo2, & ergo), as well as a racetech rt1000. Both brands feels nice, though id give the edge to the RT.

Now the debate goes to racetech RT1000 or RT4009. the 1000 seems to have more bolstering than a recaro pp or sparco evo, but not as much as the 4009. I still haven't found a 4009 to sit in so I am still not sure how I would fit in it. The 1000 seemed like a great fit (and it's a good amount cheaper to boot).

Thoughts?

 

I think I'd prefer more bolster in a track seat. Do consider the cost to return (re-stocking fee + shipping). It could cost you some $$ but it is an option to buy one and return/exchange it if you don't like it. The restocking fees a generally pretty steep though .. 25% if I recall correctly..

 

The RT4009 is IMO one of the nicest race buckets on the market, I have spent many many hours in a couple different 4009W's.....the normal width 4009 is a tad tight for me and I'm a thin guy(6ft 4in/175lbs).

I would go with the RT over other brands and use a Planted seat bracket.