Kirkey Intermediate Road Race seat info?
#1
Kirkey Intermediate Road Race seat info?
So, after a lot of debate I think I've landed on going with a Kirkey Intermediate Road Race seat. The 47 looks like it will work for me, though I've considered the 45 as well since it has helmet braces. The 47 seems to be a popular choice for a lot of people. I just had a few questions for anyone running one of these seats. It would be going into a dedicated track car.
I'm currently 6'2", 230lbs and a 38" waist. just for some additional info. Though I am working out and dropping some weight so those measurements may change before I actually order a seat.
For those of you running one, how have you mounted it/braced it, and are you running sliders. I'd like to have sliders, but if they will make me sit too high, it's not that big of a deal. I'm basically the only person who will be driving the car.
What I'm really having a hard time finding, has anyone had any experience with a crash in one of these seats, or any Kirkey seat for that matter? I've only seen a few people talk about wrecking, and most of them seem to have walked away with only a few bruises.
Thanks.
I'm currently 6'2", 230lbs and a 38" waist. just for some additional info. Though I am working out and dropping some weight so those measurements may change before I actually order a seat.
For those of you running one, how have you mounted it/braced it, and are you running sliders. I'd like to have sliders, but if they will make me sit too high, it's not that big of a deal. I'm basically the only person who will be driving the car.
What I'm really having a hard time finding, has anyone had any experience with a crash in one of these seats, or any Kirkey seat for that matter? I've only seen a few people talk about wrecking, and most of them seem to have walked away with only a few bruises.
Thanks.
#2
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
Hello,
I have a Kirkey 56LW 10 degree seat with the head restraint kit in my tube framed GT3 car. For sizing I am 6'2", 220 lbs, 36 inch waist and I fit fine in the 16" seat.
All the Kirkey seats I have seen have been mounted through the seat pan into some type of rails. All custom fabricated. And then mounted to the roll cage either at the mid-back or at the shoulders.
As for crashing with a Kirkey, a good friend to a wicked, side impact type hit in a Miata and he did walk away, but with a few broken ribs. It had a well built cage and the seat and belts were properly mounted.
Guy
I have a Kirkey 56LW 10 degree seat with the head restraint kit in my tube framed GT3 car. For sizing I am 6'2", 220 lbs, 36 inch waist and I fit fine in the 16" seat.
All the Kirkey seats I have seen have been mounted through the seat pan into some type of rails. All custom fabricated. And then mounted to the roll cage either at the mid-back or at the shoulders.
As for crashing with a Kirkey, a good friend to a wicked, side impact type hit in a Miata and he did walk away, but with a few broken ribs. It had a well built cage and the seat and belts were properly mounted.
Guy
#3
Fistful of steel
iTrader: (7)
Well you are really lucky. You are the exact same size as me, and I just put a Kirkey 47 in my car last week. The nice thing is that you can add the helmet braces in the future if you want them.
I am very happy with it so far, and have a track day next Tuesday to try it out. It is mounted to the factory slider, no back brace yet, but I will probably run the IO port adjustable back brace. I have a friend that drives the car sometimes. I got the 16 inch model and fit snugly. I want to lose about 15 lbs anyway. The top of my helmet has some scratches from hitting the sunroof with my old seat, and I did not gain any headroom by going to the 47. I have it nearly as low as it can go with the stock slider. I am pulling the sunroof out soon and I will have an inch or more of headroom to spare then.
I am very happy with it so far, and have a track day next Tuesday to try it out. It is mounted to the factory slider, no back brace yet, but I will probably run the IO port adjustable back brace. I have a friend that drives the car sometimes. I got the 16 inch model and fit snugly. I want to lose about 15 lbs anyway. The top of my helmet has some scratches from hitting the sunroof with my old seat, and I did not gain any headroom by going to the 47. I have it nearly as low as it can go with the stock slider. I am pulling the sunroof out soon and I will have an inch or more of headroom to spare then.
#4
Hello,
I have a Kirkey 56LW 10 degree seat with the head restraint kit in my tube framed GT3 car. For sizing I am 6'2", 220 lbs, 36 inch waist and I fit fine in the 16" seat.
All the Kirkey seats I have seen have been mounted through the seat pan into some type of rails. All custom fabricated. And then mounted to the roll cage either at the mid-back or at the shoulders.
As for crashing with a Kirkey, a good friend to a wicked, side impact type hit in a Miata and he did walk away, but with a few broken ribs. It had a well built cage and the seat and belts were properly mounted.
Guy
I have a Kirkey 56LW 10 degree seat with the head restraint kit in my tube framed GT3 car. For sizing I am 6'2", 220 lbs, 36 inch waist and I fit fine in the 16" seat.
All the Kirkey seats I have seen have been mounted through the seat pan into some type of rails. All custom fabricated. And then mounted to the roll cage either at the mid-back or at the shoulders.
As for crashing with a Kirkey, a good friend to a wicked, side impact type hit in a Miata and he did walk away, but with a few broken ribs. It had a well built cage and the seat and belts were properly mounted.
Guy
I was looking at incorporating it into the cage as well, so a mount how you've described yours is sort of what I was going to go with. Any chance you have any pictures of it? I haven't talked to any fabricators yet, but I'm hoping to find someone locally with some experience incorporating a seat into the cage.
Also, great to hear he was able to walk away. That seems to be the consensus from what I've read, hard hits end up with some broken ribs possibly, and most people walk away with some bad bruises.
Well you are really lucky. You are the exact same size as me, and I just put a Kirkey 47 in my car last week. The nice thing is that you can add the helmet braces in the future if you want them.
I am very happy with it so far, and have a track day next Tuesday to try it out. It is mounted to the factory slider, no back brace yet, but I will probably run the IO port adjustable back brace. I have a friend that drives the car sometimes. I got the 16 inch model and fit snugly. I want to lose about 15 lbs anyway. The top of my helmet has some scratches from hitting the sunroof with my old seat, and I did not gain any headroom by going to the 47. I have it nearly as low as it can go with the stock slider. I am pulling the sunroof out soon and I will have an inch or more of headroom to spare then.
I am very happy with it so far, and have a track day next Tuesday to try it out. It is mounted to the factory slider, no back brace yet, but I will probably run the IO port adjustable back brace. I have a friend that drives the car sometimes. I got the 16 inch model and fit snugly. I want to lose about 15 lbs anyway. The top of my helmet has some scratches from hitting the sunroof with my old seat, and I did not gain any headroom by going to the 47. I have it nearly as low as it can go with the stock slider. I am pulling the sunroof out soon and I will have an inch or more of headroom to spare then.
I'd love to hear how it feels after you've been on the track.
The sliders for me were an after though because I've got a few friends who seemed pretty bummed when I said I'd be the only one able to drive pretty much.
Do they make you sit any higher than the stock seats? I'm just touching my hair on the roof in stock seats, so I need to come down at least 2-3 inches I think.
#5
Fistful of steel
iTrader: (7)
Yes this seat is lower than the stock seats.
You would want the seat bolted to the floor, not tied to the cage. In a bad crash the car and the cage could go in different directions, distorting the seat and injuring you. The back brace can be bolted to the seat or just sit very close to it. If you hard mount the seat, I would just put the back brace against the seat. If the seat is going on sliders, you dont have much of a choice, you may have to bolt the back brace to the seat
You would want the seat bolted to the floor, not tied to the cage. In a bad crash the car and the cage could go in different directions, distorting the seat and injuring you. The back brace can be bolted to the seat or just sit very close to it. If you hard mount the seat, I would just put the back brace against the seat. If the seat is going on sliders, you dont have much of a choice, you may have to bolt the back brace to the seat
#6
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
As for mounting, my car has a ~3" x 20" x 1/4" plate that runs across the cockpit. I have four 5/16 bolts that go down through the seat bottom and bolt to the plate. In addition I have bolted the top of the headrest to a welded tab (1" x 3/16") to the cage as seen in this photo. The drivers right side of the headrest is also bolted to the cage, but I don't have a good picture of that right now.
If you like, I can take and post up photos later tonight.
Regards,
Guy
If you like, I can take and post up photos later tonight.
Regards,
Guy
#7
Yes this seat is lower than the stock seats.
You would want the seat bolted to the floor, not tied to the cage. In a bad crash the car and the cage could go in different directions, distorting the seat and injuring you. The back brace can be bolted to the seat or just sit very close to it. If you hard mount the seat, I would just put the back brace against the seat. If the seat is going on sliders, you dont have much of a choice, you may have to bolt the back brace to the seat
You would want the seat bolted to the floor, not tied to the cage. In a bad crash the car and the cage could go in different directions, distorting the seat and injuring you. The back brace can be bolted to the seat or just sit very close to it. If you hard mount the seat, I would just put the back brace against the seat. If the seat is going on sliders, you dont have much of a choice, you may have to bolt the back brace to the seat
As for mounting, my car has a ~3" x 20" x 1/4" plate that runs across the cockpit. I have four 5/16 bolts that go down through the seat bottom and bolt to the plate. In addition I have bolted the top of the headrest to a welded tab (1" x 3/16") to the cage as seen in this photo. The drivers right side of the headrest is also bolted to the cage, but I don't have a good picture of that right now.
If you like, I can take and post up photos later tonight.
Regards,
Guy
If you like, I can take and post up photos later tonight.
Regards,
Guy
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#8
Old Rotary Dog
The back brace can be bolted to the seat or just sit very close to it. If you hard mount the seat, I would just put the back brace against the seat.
For the OP - I have a 18" Kirkey in my track car and my waist size is larger than yours. I have plenty of space (almost a little too much, give some recent weight loss). You should be fine with a 17" or 16" inch.
Good luck,
-bill
#9
Fistful of steel
iTrader: (7)
Funny, I have always understood the exact opposite - ultimately you would like the seat tied 100% to the cage. In a bad wreck it is the cage (not the car) that is protecting you and you want to stay centered within the confines of that cage.
There is no question here - it should be bolted securely to the seat. That back brace represents a (potential) spear that is located near some rather important bits of your body - like your head. In a wreck you do not want the end of it free to shift around.
For the OP - I have a 18" Kirkey in my track car and my waist size is larger than yours. I have plenty of space (almost a little too much, give some recent weight loss). You should be fine with a 17" or 16" inch.
Good luck,
-bill
There is no question here - it should be bolted securely to the seat. That back brace represents a (potential) spear that is located near some rather important bits of your body - like your head. In a wreck you do not want the end of it free to shift around.
For the OP - I have a 18" Kirkey in my track car and my waist size is larger than yours. I have plenty of space (almost a little too much, give some recent weight loss). You should be fine with a 17" or 16" inch.
Good luck,
-bill
A seat back brace should have a pretty sizable base against the seat so the potential to spear you is very low to nonexistent. Also, not everyone has an aluminium seat to drill through. You should not drill a composite seat to bolt a back brace to it.
There was a wreck in a recent Chump Car or Lemons race (I don't remember the exact race at the moment) where the back brace tied to the cage, and bolted to the seat, deformed the seat on impact.. just something to think about.
These are just things I have researched specifically because more than one person drives my car, and we need to adjust the seat.
#15
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
A couple pictures of the attachment of my headrest to the cage.
As for seat comfort, it's a compromise. I've driven for hours in a Sparco EVO and it's quite comfy. My Racetech is also very good, my Kirkey is a 10 degree seat and quite upright. I've driven many 40 min sprint races in the Kirkey and have never been uncomfortable.
Guy
As for seat comfort, it's a compromise. I've driven for hours in a Sparco EVO and it's quite comfy. My Racetech is also very good, my Kirkey is a 10 degree seat and quite upright. I've driven many 40 min sprint races in the Kirkey and have never been uncomfortable.
Guy
#16
Fistful of steel
iTrader: (7)
While comfort is subjective, Kirkey road race seats are very comfortable. They are available in many different sizes, and you can add or subtract foam to your comfort.
Try fitting a Sparco Evo 2 in a street driven FC.
#17
A couple pictures of the attachment of my headrest to the cage.
As for seat comfort, it's a compromise. I've driven for hours in a Sparco EVO and it's quite comfy. My Racetech is also very good, my Kirkey is a 10 degree seat and quite upright. I've driven many 40 min sprint races in the Kirkey and have never been uncomfortable.
Guy
As for seat comfort, it's a compromise. I've driven for hours in a Sparco EVO and it's quite comfy. My Racetech is also very good, my Kirkey is a 10 degree seat and quite upright. I've driven many 40 min sprint races in the Kirkey and have never been uncomfortable.
Guy
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