Fixed Back vs Reclining?

[pharmd]

At what point do you say a reclining seat is not adequate or totally inappropriate in terms of safety? I will do HPDE, Autox, and some Roadcourse events....but I also plan to drive it on the street, to cruise-ins and shows (heck maybe even to get the groceries). I can imagine the fixed back seat, especially if I add a cage, would be tough to get stuff in the back floorboard/back seat area. While this isn't a "BIG" issue, it is an issue none-the-less. So at what point do I have to say screw convenience and go for safety. This isn't an all out race car...still have stereo, A/C, full interior etc.

Thanks for any input.

[Fras]

All newer cars, regardless of the HP, have reclining seats. As long as you go with a reputable seat, I'm sure they meet all the safety standards. With old cars (I have a 68 camaro), they aren't designed with crumple zones as in the new cars to absorb the impact. A roll cage and good belts will keep your body in the car, but your body is still going to absorb a lot of the force compared to a modern car.

[Rod]

I run a fixed back seat (Corbeau Forza's), I like the holding ability of the seat at the track, my car also has full interior, stereo and dynamatting. the seats are one of the places I reduced weight in the car while keeping all the other things i love about my car, the holding ability allows me to concentrate more on the drive, I used to run a regular reclining recaro, but for me the fixed seat held me better, groceries just go in the trunk, I will say that cleaning the very back window now sucks...

[pharmd]

I don't believe any of the reclining seats meet FIA safety certifications, and corbeau doesn't have any that are certified either. You'd have to step up to a Sparco, Kirkey etc. Now, it could be that Corbeau just didnt' want to pay the money to get it certified IDK. I had corbeau CR1's in a previous car and liked them, but that was before I knew anything about safety. I think alot of times we generalize safety. I know I thought that by having a 6 pt cage, 5 pt harnesses and those seats, I had pretty much covered all the bases. After learning more about safety, I realized that my cage was really a drag race style cage, and would offer much less protection in an HPDE or Road Race crash, that the seats, which aren't fixed back with back brace, would offer less protection in an accident vs reclining.

I certainly dont want to permanently injure myself such that I can't work, all because I skimped on safety. At the same time, since the car will be driving alot of the street, I don't want to make the rear seat totally impassable, like a fixed back seat would do. Im just trying to weigh out how much I should focus on safety, vs the amount of actual racing I will be participating in. Its not a full race car. Im just trying to strike a balance.

[sccacuda]

I don't believe any of the reclining seats meet FIA safety certifications, and corbeau doesn't have any that are certified either.

Sparco makes a reclining FIA seat. That's what I have, but they are spendy. I have a removable back rest from the shoulder bar that can be installed when playing hard.

[pharmd]

Sparco makes a reclining FIA seat. That's what I have, but they are spendy. I have a removable back rest from the shoulder bar that can be installed when playing hard.

Its actually TUV rated, not FIA rated....there are no FIA rated recliners to my knowledge. The R700 is the only recliner that Sparco has TUV certified. TUV certification is the German governmental homologation rating. And yes, those are VERY spendy, but they definitely look sweet

[Skip Fix]

Down side for fixed back is you are set and if leg length to pedals is any different than arm length to steering wheel/shifter there is no changing it.

[chevelletiger]

[QUOTE=Rod;915863]I run a fixed back seat (Corbeau Forza's)
Rod,do your seats move foward and back or are they mounted solid to the floor?ive been thinking if i should do corbeau fx1 seats but would like to make them able to move front to back.phil

[Motorcitydak]

Buy both and swap in the fixed back as needed? Only a couple bolts holding em in

[Rod]

I run a fixed back seat (Corbeau Forza's)
Rod,do your seats move foward and back or are they mounted solid to the floor?ive been thinking if i should do corbeau fx1 seats but would like to make them able to move front to back.phil

the seats have sliders on them, it was necessary because with the fixed seat you're so locked in I would have to remove the steering wheel to get in and out, and I can do that also, but it becomes a hassle if I didn't line my suspension up when parking , then the wheel goes on off center sometimes

[chevelletiger]

Thank you rod for the info.phil