FIA seat question.

First post, I'm a noob. So I have a question regarding FIA approved seats. NASA rules state that seats must be FIA approved, but doesn't list a homo number. So any FIA approved seat goes? And do FIA approved seats expire according to NASA?

Thanks for any help in advance. Corey

According to my reading of the NASA rule book the FIA seats do not expire.

Keep in mind that the FIA tests seats and mounting brackets as a unit so if you really want your FIA seat to be an FIA seat you will need to buy the brackets from the seat manufacturer as well.

current list:

FIA Seat List.pdf

This line from article 16 of the FIA rule book:

"For seats in compliance with 8855/1999 FIA standard, the limit for use is 5 years from the date of manufacture indicated on the mandatory label."

...I'm not sure if NASA adheres to that rule also. they simply say FIA approved. Is the FIA rule implied?

Hi Corey,

Currently NASA doesn't expire FIA seats and I don't know of any immediate plans to do so. We do look at seat condition at tech however. So it's ok to buy used seats or low end seats as long as the frame is solid and the mounts are sufficient.

I heard the latest FIA seat is around $1000 each. Haven't verified that but that is a lot of money for many of our participants. Many teams only making one or two rallies a year so seat wear is minimal anyway.

Gene McCullough
NRS/RA scrutineer

Quote
heymagic

I heard the latest FIA seat is around $1000 each. Haven't verified that but that is a lot of money for many of our participants. Many teams only making one or two rallies a year so seat wear is minimal anyway.

Gene McCullough
NRS/RA scrutineer

You mean 8862-2009, right?
When I checked it out, I thought they started around 3K and went up from there.


I think the only cars required to have those are WRC Grp. A? I'd hope costs will drop significantly in a couple years.

Quote
Ckgtimk2
First post, I'm a noob. So I have a question regarding FIA approved seats. NASA rules state that seats must be FIA approved, but doesn't list a homo number. So any FIA approved seat goes? And do FIA approved seats expire according to NASA?

Thanks for any help in advance. Corey

Hi Coreynewb.
There's a thing at the top somewhere that says "Hey newb, read this first!"
Didya read it?
Must not have cause we can't see your real name and real location.
You realise that's the only thing that keeps this place from total absurdity?

Come on, put your name up and location, it does help to remember who is who where they live and to invite them to local things like the occasional beer swelling fests.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Ha, whoops. How bout now??

Well thank you for the replies. I actually had a seat ordered but panicked when I saw there was no production date listed for the seat, and canceled it. Guess there was no need to.

Quote
Ckgtimk2
Ha, whoops. How bout now??

Well thank you for the replies. I actually had a seat ordered but panicked when I saw there was no production date listed for the seat, and canceled it. Guess there was no need to.

Better.. Corey hold off on seats until you are sending in your entry to your first rally. Same on belts.
For grass-o-cross and general hoonation there's acceptable seats at the Rally Spares Depot aka Pull-a-part, and there's expired belts....

First things first, eh?
Core motor---didya check inventory in Arlington?

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

I've done rallycross and some general
hoonage, I'm trying to make the leap to stage rally. Yea I was gonna run by pep boys the night before...

And Im sourcing a built JDM motor for my 600hp gymkhana car right now...

Quote
Ckgtimk2
I've done rallycross and some general
hoonage, I'm trying to make the leap to stage rally. Yea I was gonna run by pep boys the night before...

And Im sourcing a built JDM motor for my 600hp gymkhana car right now...

Damn wrong Corey.
There's a newb out here with a volvo named Corey who just popped his motor, sorry, nevermind.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Sorry to disappoint..

Quote
Ckgtimk2
I've done rallycross and some general
hoonage, I'm trying to make the leap to stage rally. Yea I was gonna run by pep boys the night before...

And Im sourcing a built JDM motor for my 600hp gymkhana car right now...

HAHAHAHA!!!

The trick on seats is to get the car to the point where it's ready to go get a logbook, then get current seats and belts. At least around herein Nude Hamster, you's gotta have seats and current belts in the car to get a logbook (ASSuming you're building a car). The car can otherwise be a caged shell (not even sure if it needs to roll), but that's how the area Rally Americanski tech guy did it on my friend's SAAB.

It does help to get seats in place before the cage just to make sure whatever you have is going to fit.

What are your plans for a car?

Oh, and I'm just a hanger-on around here. I love rally, and even co-drove once (back in the days before everybody ran notes...I tried calling notes on a practice stage once, and did not like it one bit), but it's too rich for my blood. Guys like John V, Dave "eyesore" Coleman, Tim Taylor, and "heymagic" Gene McCullough are super knowledgeable (there are many others, these are just a few), and Gene's a tech inspector out west.

Good luck!

My plan is to have a seat while I fit the cage so I know everything is going to fit well. Belts, extinguishers, anything with an expiration date will be last on the list.

Quote
Ckgtimk2
My plan is to have a seat while I fit the cage so I know everything is going to fit well. Belts, extinguishers, anything with an expiration date will be last on the list.

That's the way to do it.
And when you order belts say "Fresh dates , please" so you don't end up with belts with 8-9 months off the alleged lifespan before their transmorgify into pixie dust.

But then again you might just get:

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.