danh52

I was at a local HPDE event today specifically to look at seats as I want to replace the drivers seat in my C5 Z06. I noticed that 90% of the race seats I looked at had an extra foam pad added to the seat base. In every case the pad was filling in the "but" area of the seat, (the seat foam is raised under the knees in most seats), which leveled the seat base. Is this a basic design defect of most race seats or just driver dependent. It just struck me as strange that so many seats had this added "feature".

Captain Buddha

Pads are used to get the best fitting seat for each individual. Case in point - when it came time for a full containment seat for my race car I went to PRI in Indy and got fitted at the Racetech booth..."OK, Big & Tall, needs a pad here, OK, try that...yep, perfect." Makes a difference to have it fit you.

johnny c

you want to have good padding under you. otherwise your legs go numb. if your not 100% comfortable you will never have total focus. "without focus, you'll never reach the zone"

danh52

Thanks Captain and Johnny, I was wondering if it was a basic issue with race seats but customizing the fit makes sense. Come to think of it, several of the drivers were on the shorter side so might have needed the extra seat base height. I wish there was a local distributer of race seats so I could do a trial fit but no such luck.

johnny c

where are you located. i have lots of dealers and general friends in the safety industry.

danh52

I'm in Portland Oregon.

johnny c

that;s a haul you would need to hit up wine country.

Racer86

You can pour a bead seat into the seat you have. It's a kit with beads, two part foam, and a bag. Mix in bag place in your seat and then you sit in the seat until the foam hardens around you.
A perfect fitting containment seat is amazing, it, in some cases will improve your lap times as you will not be trying to hold yourself in the seat with the steering wheel. Once you spend the time and money to get a really good fit , you will never use a poorly fitting seat again.
Plus it's way safer if you have a bad day.