Racing seats - airbag functionality

[SupraVin]

I'm a track noob and want to go with seats as an upgrade for my next event. I do not daily this but I still take it work or an errand on occasion. With that said, safety, and especially passenger (wife) safety is of utmost importance. I understand the coding that needs to take place for seat position and airbag lights but I would like to know if the airbags still function as intended after coding the errors out? I.e. I want the added bolstering of racing seats with a harness upgrade in the future but want to make sure my passenger and I still benefit from a plush airbag to the face in the event of an accident.

I'm looking at Sparco QRTs to start.

I've been pouring over the threads and couldn't find an answer, but still want to give a huge shout-out to @razorlab for the info he has dropped, I feel like I read your biography!

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[baagel]

I believe your front airbags should still deploy with the side airbags coded out, as long as you haven't entirely disabled or disconnected the main airbag module. But truthfully, I don't have first-hand knowledge of this.

If you're new to tracking, I think you'll have much more benefit (and fun) in putting that money to use elsewhere, assuming you haven't already. Better tires and brakes will get you faster than seats. And of course, just having more track time in general will be the most valuable.

 

[TBK]

I believe your front airbags should still deploy with the side airbags coded out, as long as you haven't entirely disabled or disconnected the main airbag module. But truthfully, I don't have first-hand knowledge of this.

If you're new to tracking, I think you'll have much more benefit (and fun) in putting that money to use elsewhere, assuming you haven't already. Better tires and brakes will get you faster than seats. And of course, just having more track time in general will be the most valuable.

Tires and brakes may make you faster, but seats make the experience so much better and allow you to become a better driver. If i had to do things all over again, and considering the fact that i'm building a car that sees a lot of track time, i'd probably do seats before almost anything else.

 

[razorlab]

I'm a track noob and want to go with seats as an upgrade for my next event. I do not daily this but I still take it work or an errand on occasion. With that said, safety, and especially passenger (wife) safety is of utmost importance. I understand the coding that needs to take place for seat position and airbag lights but I would like to know if the airbags still function as intended after coding the errors out? I.e. I want the added bolstering of racing seats with a harness upgrade in the future but want to make sure my passenger and I still benefit from a plush airbag to the face in the event of an accident.

I'm looking at Sparco QRTs to start.

I've been pouring over the threads and couldn't find an answer, but still want to give a huge shout-out to @razorlab for the info he has dropped, I feel like I read your biography!

Airbags still work. Unfortunately tested by some people…

 

[SupraVin]

I believe your front airbags should still deploy with the side airbags coded out, as long as you haven't entirely disabled or disconnected the main airbag module. But truthfully, I don't have first-hand knowledge of this.

If you're new to tracking, I think you'll have much more benefit (and fun) in putting that money to use elsewhere, assuming you haven't already. Better tires and brakes will get you faster than seats. And of course, just having more track time in general will be the most valuable.

I appreciate the feedback. I have a square set of 200tw and run DTC60/30 pads on track. It was between this and suspension, after talking to my mentor I think a seat makes the best sense. I spent a lot of energy holding on from sliding around. I'll probably keep the car as is and look at coilovers and aero next season.

 

[razorlab]

I appreciate the feedback. I have a square set of 200tw and run DTC60/30 pads on track. It was between this and suspension, after talking to my mentor I think a seat makes the best sense. I spent a lot of energy holding on from sliding around. I'll probably keep the car as is and look at coilovers and aero next season.

Seat makes a HUGE difference. If you can tolerate it, I recommend it to anyone tracking more than a couple times a year.

Slippery slope though. Soon you will have a six point and HANS. (which I also 1000% support and recommend)

I would also take a look at OMP WRC-R if you are looking at Sparco QRT. I moved from Sparco to OMP and the OMP is better for me. Of course, it depends on your body shape.

 

[TBK]

Seat makes a HUGE difference. If you can tolerate it, I recommend it to anyone tracking more than a couple times a year.

Slippery slope though. Soon you will have a six point and HANS. (which I also 1000% support and recommend)

I would also take a look at OMP WRC-R if you are looking at Sparco QRT. I moved from Sparco to OMP and the OMP is better for me. Of course, it depends on your body shape.

+1 on the HANS and harness (although I opted for 4 point not 6 point). Ideally, I believe a harness should also be accompanied by a roll cage. Harness = less give than a seatbelt and is therefore more dangerous in something like a roll-over.

But again, I went for a 4 point harness so I'm going to settle down a bit.

 

[razorlab]

+1 on the HANS and harness (although I opted for 4 point not 6 point). Ideally, I believe a harness should also be accompanied by a roll cage. Harness = less give than a seatbelt and is therefore more dangerous in something like a roll-over.

But again, I went for a 4 point harness so I'm going to settle down a bit.

Hopefully you are using an ASM 4 point, unless you really like submarines.

 

[TBK]

Hopefully you are using an ASM 4 point, unless you really like submarines.

Sparcos, so yer

 

[FLtrackdays]

I appreciate the feedback. I have a square set of 200tw and run DTC60/30 pads on track. It was between this and suspension, after talking to my mentor I think a seat makes the best sense. I spent a lot of energy holding on from sliding around. I'll probably keep the car as is and look at coilovers and aero next season.

Seat makes a HUGE difference. If you can tolerate it, I recommend it to anyone tracking more than a couple times a year.

Slippery slope though. Soon you will have a six point and HANS. (which I also 1000% support and recommend)

I would also take a look at OMP WRC-R if you are looking at Sparco QRT. I moved from Sparco to OMP and the OMP is better for me. Of course, it depends on your body shape.

Great advice!! HANS is a must and seat with extra snug harness makes sense. I got a Sparco QRT on sale and will be moving it over to the passenger side and getting what Bryan has if it’s the same seat as Gabe. Only because it fit like a glove, like a proper seat should.

If you can’t feel what’s going on in the car, it makes learning & adapting to the car much harder. Additionally, when you’re in there extra snuggly, you drive with more confidence. And there’s that side benefit of safety ?. All win wins ???

 

[SupraVin]

Great advice!! HANS is a must and seat with extra snug harness makes sense. I got a Sparco QRT on sale and will be moving it over to the passenger side and getting what Bryan has if it’s the same seat as Gabe. Only because it fit like a glove, like a proper seat should.

If you can’t feel what’s going on in the car, it makes learning & adapting to the car much harder. Additionally, when you’re in there extra snuggly, you drive with more confidence. And there’s that side benefit of safety ?. All win wins ???

Hans and harness will come next season, I'm looking at a CG lock in the meantime to help keep me locked in. I think the seats will address my biggest problem which was side to side moment, I feel like I'm fighting the car to stay in seat.

 

[razorlab]

I'm looking at a CG lock

That company went out of business 10 years ago.

 

[FLtrackdays]

Hans and harness will come next season, I'm looking at a CG lock in the meantime to help keep me locked in. I think the seats will address my biggest problem which was side to side moment, I feel like I'm fighting the car to stay in seat.

I would have done it right away had I known I’d enjoy this car as much as my S2K. I just assumed she’d be too heavy and I’d only track her every now and then ?. The stock seats are really nice in town, gotta admit. So if you’re grocery getting more than tracking, hakuna matata. If not, seat (with harness) should come 1st. Best upgrade for a track car hands down.

In the meantime, get a knee pad, move the seat all the way back, pull to lock, and move the seat up extra tight. That worked for me until I recently got one.

 

[downshift00]

Hans and harness will come next season, I'm looking at a CG lock in the meantime to help keep me locked in. I think the seats will address my biggest problem which was side to side moment, I feel like I'm fighting the car to stay in seat.

I actually found a new CG lock like 8yrs ago from some place online and am using it now in the supra lol.

Apparently they are pricey now if you find them, here is a pair of them on ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/177140681304?_skw=CG+lock&itmmeta=01JX4P8B5041049FG050EVK1XY&hash=item293e684a58:g:Z48AAOSwzgJoKTbP&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAAwFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fIZPsvOohgpf2uFRFyDMB8qYvdYSaVjjbX5apxzx+8Iytd3mQGryNjao1hYHBtdMFRSZyhtb8c784z/J2iZBgfCU926cSzvsHQfl0mLnSOpmZs1d8RDKAqYIZvRJvKQN+cPtB75EzwZrWEplYu0O9CYtHVPL1cxOVyD991cgACIUrv5H7S0oZWFzsve0W/PXvWBPZMbtq8PbjRZ+3aeIpeBbbw2Er9uD24/YcQChnx/g==|tkp:Bk9SR-KyoZbpZQ

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