15 replies to this topic

[rally1380]

Hi All.

 

The question is pretty much in the title.....

 

I'm getting to the expensive end of speccing safety bits and bobs for my rally car rebuild and as the car will need to be logbooked (or whatever it is called now - MSUK Historic passport or something) I need to buy some new seats (plus other pricey bits) or at least ones that are in date.

 

I'll obviously make sure I find seats that fit me, but my main concern is that they also fit the car otherwise this could be an expensive mistake. I would like them to have a wrap around helmet "wing" design if possible to give some helmet support in the event of a side impact, but obviously with packaging issues within the confines of our beloved mini's, plus a roll cage to dodge, this may not be possible with needing the navigator to also have a seat!!! (so much easier and cheaper in a race car with one one seat needed!!)

 

I appreciate I should just get the tape measure out and maybe mock something up, but my shell is currently in storage and i thought with a wealth of knowledgeable folk out there, someone must have already experienced this problem and bought seats that fit.....or at the very least know the sizes of their seats.  There are "seats that fit mini's" guides out there, but they are more for looks over actual motorsport practicality and safety.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

 

I know Cobra Monaco (steel framed) style/sized seats fit quite happily side by side in a mini with a slight overlap (see below for details) but I'm building this car to a high spec, and would like seats that are a little bit better than these...plus, I have had them in the past and they are not the more supportive or comfortable.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm considering something like the Sparco Circuit (see below) as it's kind of the price point i'm looking at in order to keep things sensible.

 

 

 

 

 

And then if the helmet wing design style of seat won't fit in, something similar to this from Cobra...........

 

 

 

 

 

 

[imack]

I know a pair of sparco sprints with a six point cage.

[nicklouse]

to be honest you can fit any in the Mini just do not expect to sit side by side. First find the seats that fit you and your co driver. The mount the drivers correctly then worry about the Co.

[rally1380]

to be honest you can fit any in the Mini just do not expect to sit side by side. First find the seats that fit you and your co driver. The mount the drivers correctly then worry about the Co.

 

Yeah, I was kinda thinking the same to be fair - even the Monaco's that were in the car had to be staggered somewhat to fit around the B pillar, Roll cage hoop and each other.

 

Maybe a trip to Demon Tweeks is required and a sit in every seat they have got to test the fit out.  Fitting for a nav might be tricky as i'll probably be sleeping around (nav wise) a fair bit so will probably just buy two seats that fit my arse for the time being.

Edited by rally1380, 20 January 2020 - 03:54 PM.

[rally1380]

I know a pair of sparco sprints with a six point cage.

 

Yeah, Sprints use the same frame as the Monaco and other steel framed versions - essentially the same seat but with a different fabric lobbed on.

[GraemeC]

Sod Demon Tweeks - get to a specialist - go and see Motordrive in Leyland.
They will advise you what they fit into Minis before and do a proper fitting to you with the correct cushions. They will also customise the stitching etc to match your car.

 

Mine are from their Pro range, but I can’t just remember which.

 

Personally I’d avoid winged seats - they’ll just block your view and limit head movement. No problem when going round and round in circles, not as useful for rallying.

Edited by GraemeC, 20 January 2020 - 07:17 PM.

[rally1380]

Sod Demon Tweeks - get to a specialist - go and see Motordrive in Leyland.
They will advise you what they fit into Minis before and do a proper fitting to you with the correct cushions. They will also customise the stitching etc to match your car.

 

Mine are from their Pro range, but I can’t just remember which.

 

Personally I’d avoid winged seats - they’ll just block your view and limit head movement. No problem when going round and round in circles, not as useful for rallying.

 

Hi Graham. Motordrive were originally my plan A .  

 

I remember visiting them when I was much younger (must have been 20 odd years ago) with my Uncle who was having a seat made and the place definitely impressed.  I like the ethos of having a seat tailored to me and they have a fantastic reputation plus they can re certify seats to get another 2 years on top of the 5 years, which used to be a USP of theirs - but now with MSUK allowing an extra 2 years of life on all seats, that uniqueness of Motordrive (that actually made them good value for money) is no more which is a shame.

 

But, and it's a big BUT...... I can get a hefty discount at Tweeks, and I reckon one of the many "off the shelf" seats they stock will fit my arse and I will save a huge amount of money in buying from them that can be injected back into the project.  I know safety comes first whatever the price, but i'd have thought if i'm not a Cobra fit, I might be a Sparco fit, or even an OMP or Sabelt fit.......avoiding Recaro as they are a fortune!!!!  And that is the beauty of Tweeks - you can try all of the seats out there and then going from brand to brand, model to model and seeing what fits right....plus I can try on a helmet, hans and harnesses to see what setup best suits.

 

I know Motordrive seats will also fit right as they will be made to me, but I don't know if the extra expense can be justified at this stage in my rallying career as in 7 years time I will need new seats again anyway - by which time I will have hopefully found a full time Nav and got to a reasonable weight myself so having tailored seats might then be the best way forward......whether that is the case now i'm not sure, but certainly worth a visit to see them.

[GraemeC]

Fitting your arse in them is only half the battle. How that arse (and legs and back) feel after you’ve been sat in it for a while is a whole different thing. Alan will ensure you’ve got support in all the right places.

Aftersales is worth a bit too - if the seats look tatty after a few years Motordrive will freshen them up (for a fee).

 

I’d certainly recommend going there for a fitting first, then you’ll learn what to look for when you sit in seats at Demon Thieves.

[smudger068]

Check out my for sale thread as I have a pair in mine and can give you an idea of what to expect.

[rally1380]

Check out my for sale thread as I have a pair in mine and can give you an idea of what to expect.

Cheers for that.... So Cobra Imola's fit really easily side by side. Must be a narrow seat and perhaps not designed for my (cough) rugby player physique! Note to self.... Stop stuffing your face! ?

[smudger068]

Yeah they are a narrow seat i must admit. maybe your head maybe a little close to the top if you have a helmet on too.

[DEPS]

Hi, I spoke to Motordrive a few weeks back. They said that fitting seats in Minis is actually easier than many other cars and certainly easier than Escorts, because minis are quite square. 

 

Like you I fancy the wrap around ears, due to the added safety. Having tried a couple of seats at shows, I think it depends on the style and height of the "ears" as to whether they will restrict your view in a rally car or not.

 

I am on the Facebook "Rally Login and Natter" group page. Whenever anyone mention seats, I reckon 90% say go with Motordrive. So I am certainly going to have a look at them for my new rally car build.

 

Good luck!

[Alex_B]

I have a Corbeau Revolution (Halo seat but with good visibility) in my minus, granted its not exactly the same ergonomics as a mini but its pretty close and I would say if it fits in a minus it should fit in a mini. Love the fit of corbeau seats but I am quite skinny and they are narrow seats. They do an XL width but i'm not sure that would fit in a mini so easily as you can see its pretty tight to the B post and it is as close to the tunnel as possible. 



 

[rally1380]

Hi, I spoke to Motordrive a few weeks back. They said that fitting seats in Minis is actually easier than many other cars and certainly easier than Escorts, because minis are quite square.

Like you I fancy the wrap around ears, due to the added safety. Having tried a couple of seats at shows, I think it depends on the style and height of the "ears" as to whether they will restrict your view in a rally car or not.

I am on the Facebook "Rally Login and Natter" group page. Whenever anyone mention seats, I reckon 90% say go with Motordrive. So I am certainly going to have a look at them for my new rally car build.

Good luck!

Yeah, I'm on that FB page too and you are right, if a conversion is about seats, Motordrive always get recommended.

I've not really got any particular seat I want in mind, I'm all too aware fit is the most important thing when it comes to safety. That said, if we're talking motordrive and those wings/ears to keep the helmet in place the budget definitely needs upping a bit more as the model offering that is not cheap.... And I don't think I'm quite at that stage of my stage rallying career yet to invest that much in a pair of seats. I know there will be folk out there spouting "you can't put a price on safety" or "you want to risk yourself in a 'cheap' seat"..... We'll no I don't, but I will try out the "off the shelf" options first because ultimately they are still going to offer the same FIA spec and safety, and if one of them happens to fit me like a glove (seat) then game on. If however they are like sitting in a literal bucket, filled with rocks then a trip up to Lancashire will happen.

I suppose if I wasn't starting totally from scratch there would be more money to spend, but with needing seat belts, extinguishers, new helmet and unfortunately a new roll cage to the budget there is very little for anything else so anything that can be saved goes into another area of the project. Pointless having a super top spec car only to be clean out of money when it comes to using it.... And I want to use it in anger. Also, with rallying you have to buy a pair of seats and harnesses..... Racing would be far cheaper!! ? ? ? ?

[DEPS]

Hi Dave, I know what you mean money wise. Sold our Pug 106 to fund build of Mini, but got no where what I spent on it back. So very limited funds and not cheap building a car from scratch! We are a long way off seats and belts etc, so whilst Motordrive sounds like a good idea, we may have to lower our sights

 

Good luck mate!