Do seats go bad?

Ok so here is the question.. Do race seats "expire" at some number of years after the manufacture date, the way harness belt do? I've checked the rules but found nothing, but have seen some mentions in postings.

I'm sure there will be something on the FOX tv channel... "When seats go bad!!"



Anders

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Grassroots rally. It's what I think about.

Bad seats, bad seats, watcha gonna do ?? Watcha gonna do when they sit on you ??

Anders started it...

FIA seats actually expire 5 years after the date on the tag. A 2 year extension can be given by the manufacturer ( now why would they want to do that). Currently we don't enforce that rule. However condition of the seat should be noted at tech. If a seat is "bad" then it will need repaired or replaced.

Gene

Last I checked, it depends on the sanctioning body..

RA just requires one-piece rigid seats. They do not require FIA seats.

NASA does require FIA seats. Now the FIA spec does go bad as Gene said its not enforced (like the odd number of driving lights rule..silly NASA FIA rule ). From my experience the tech guys will just look for the FIA sticker and not give mind to the date...but...you never know..muhuhahahahaha!

RA might have changed their deal, but last I checked it was as I said..





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/25/2008 12:58PM by Eddie Fiorelli.

Eddie Fiorelli Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Last I checked, it depends on the sanctioning
> body..
>
> RA just requires one-piece rigid seats. They do
> not require FIA seats.
>
> NASA does require FIA seats. Now the FIA spec does
> go bad as Gene said its not enforced (like the odd
> number of driving lights rule..silly NASA FIA rule
> ). From my experience the tech guys will just look
> for the FIA sticker and not give mind to the
> date...but...you never know..muhuhahahahaha!
>
> RA might have changed their deal, but last I
> checked it was as I said..
>
>
>
>
>
> Edited 1 times. Last edit at Jan 25, 2008 by Eddie
> Fiorelli.

RA is waiting to see the new FIA standard and I believe SFI is looking at a seat standard also. Currently NASA is not enforcing the 5 year rule. Such an arbitrary rule..5 years.. some cars run 500 competitve miles in 5 years others 5000. Some seats hold 120 lb people others 220 lb people. How could they all just go bad in 5 years ? Steel frames will crack, usually they start to flex and give good warning. I've rewelded several over the years. Fiberglas life is largely dependant on the individual laying up the seat that day.

I think there is a huge dis-connect between the FIA and the "regional" ralliest. Problem is the manufactures really benefit from age rules so they support them. Kind of like the Tire Manufactures assoc. They recommend all cars be outfitted with studs on all 4 corners, of course they do. The tire sales just doubled, doh ...self serving bastards...

Gene

bah, having rules that are not enforced is annoying. Either have a rule or don't, but to pick and choose which ones are enforced is frustrating when you aren't in the know as to what's what. I say this from experience when I first learned of the rule and found my seats older than 5 years, after freaking out that I'd need new seats for a day or two, I heard that the rule isn't strictly enforced .

Note taken, Eddie.

Thanks,
Mark B.

that being said, please don't enforce the seat rule ...but please enforce the "auxillary lights must be mounted in even numbers"..it would knock out my competition ...

*makes a note to self to check Eddie's seat dates*

Alongside the issues Gene mentioned, I've also seen the capture nuts bonded inside fiberglass seats coming loose. I'm pretty sure that's more of a function of how many times the seat's been unbolted and rebolted and which gorilla did it than it is of the date.

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Self-righteous douche canoe

Hey Eddie,

No worries on this end. My 'note taken' notation was to check on the rule; as I recall, the NRS rules just require FIA seats and make no metion of aging or checks thereof. So it's not an unenforced rule for NRS; you can't 'not enforce' a rule that does not exist.

Also, just my opinion, but requiring FIA seats only is something to look into. Seems like there are plenty of good seats that do the job; the NASA CCR's do not require FIA seats, as I recall.

Regards,
Mark B.

Mark,

I agree with your seat ideas. There are a lot of good seat manufactures that homologate only a couple of seats, likely due to cost ?? It'll be interesting when SFI comes out with their seat ideas.

We should look at the fog light rule also.

Gene

whats the fog light rule?

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Welcome to the cult of JVL drink the koolaid or be banned.

Dazed_Driver Wrote:
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> whats the fog light rule?
>
> Feisty Peacock?

Section 8.9.10 A : Any competitor not being able to recite the regulations for auxillary lighting may be penalized 5 minutes or fined $50.



Actually auxillary lights are supposed to be mounted in pairs. I asked about that rule several years ago when I first returned to rally. Most people didn't know about the rule. My old Dastsun would fit 3 Bosch rally lights perfectly across hte bumper between the stock headlights. One pencil and two driving lights, worked well on that car.

Gene

I'm a fan of changing it to "Lights must be mounted symmetrically." This would allow odd numbers as long as one was mounted in the center. Unless there's objections...

Anders

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Grassroots rally. It's what I think about.

I can remember crewing for JV at the 1986 Olympus WRC rally having to bolt on some cheesy oddball foglight on the bumper of his SAAB 96 before (or perhaps after?) tech to bring the light count to an even four to meet the rules.