Printed with permission from Dirt Sports Magazine from the 2009 July issue

Story by Craig Perronne

Seats are one of the most under-appreciated pieces of equipment on a race vehicle. We literally spend thousands of miles in them but often give them little thought. Some of us are even guilty of the sin of selecting them merely by price or whatever looks the coolest. However, seats are not an afterthought and actually play a vital role in modern pre-runners, sand cars, rock crawlers and racers.

Directly underneath your butt should be a very technologically advanced blend of materials that does a lot more than give your tuckus a place to rest. Proper seat companies do extensive testing to make sure their products go well beyond just being a collection of cloth, foam and metal. Constant research and development is performed to include the latest in technological advances and design. Besides making a seat a comfortable place to spend long hours in, manufacturers also strive to make them as safe as possible.

The off-road world also places unique demands on seats. Besides the harsh environment of dust and dirt, massive loads can be experienced as a vehicle bottoms out travelling across uneven terrain. Rollovers and harsh deceleration events also have to be taken into account. All of these factors make selecting the proper seat even more vital.

With that in mind, a growing number of professional drivers and enthusiasts are taking a harder look at seats. To make selecting the proper one for you an easy affair, we have gathered a collection of some of the newest seats from the industry’s best. Take a look at the following to make your racer or play car a safer, more comfortable place.

BEARD SUPER T-1
Completely revamped, the Super T-1 boasts all new comfort and safety features, while maintaining the spirit of the original Super Seat – one of Beard Seats most successful suspension seats. Amongst its new features is its broad fixed headrest, and this, combined with its tapered shoulder design, provides superior comfort and support for your upper body. The lower side containment design of the Super T-1 makes it popular with drivers looking for a seat with improved ease of entry. Finishing touches include its tufted bottom cushion which provides a comfortable ride in the roughest of conditions. Beard Seats are manufactured of the highest quality materials, starting with a powder-coated tubular steel frame that provides a solid foundation to build upon. By utilizing a multi-density foam configuration, the Super T-1 provides extra support where it is needed the most. To complete the package, the Super T-1 can be wrapped in a combination of durable weather-resistant vinyl and a variety of fabrics, which can be ordered in a variety of different color options. Applications include sand cars, racecars, pre-runners, Baja Bugs, rock crawlers, 4x4s and some UTV applications. For further information, contact Red Art, Inc., 7353 Orangewood Drive, Riverside, CA 92504, 951-729-3320, www.redart.com.

 

CORBEAU BAJA XP
Corbeau has taken its seat expertise to the next level with the all-new Baja XP suspension seat. The Baja XP combines the extreme comfort that Corbeau is known for with the safety and aggressiveness that are so vital when driving off-road. This seat is said to be so comfortable that you can easily use it in a daily driver.

Standard features include a powder-coated tubular steel frame, reinforced nylon inner liner, military grade suspension cords, integrated full body support and harness belt capability. Corbeau also has a full line of custom brackets to make installation quick and easy. For further information, contact Corbeau Seats, 727 W. 14881 S., Bluffdale, UT 84065, 801-255-3737, www.corbeau.com.

 

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COBRA SUZUKA
With a 100% carbon-fiber shell and the same Confor foam found in the Space Shuttle and Formula One cars, the Cobra Suzuka is one of the most advanced all-around seats on the market. It was developed specifically for the exacting strength and weight requirements of top teams in the World Rally Championship and SCORE. Carbon-shell construction offers outstanding rigidity with a 50% weight savings over fiberglass shells. The Confor foam cushions mold to the driver absorbing 85% of all initial energy distributing loads for the ultimate support and safety. The Suzuka also features Alcantara anti-slip fabric and leather wear patches for hard-wearing and good looks, dual independent leg cushions and a deep-sided ergonomic shape for maximum lateral support. It exceeds three times the FIA 8855-1999 standards at 63 Gs. The Suzuka comes in standard width, accommodates five or six-point harness systems, is HANS compatible, requires alloy side mounts and is available in black Alcantara suede only. For further information, contact Sube Sports, 17161 Palmdale Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, 714-847-1501, www.subesports.com.

 

COBRA EMOLA S GT
The Emola S GT couples an unrestricted driving position for easier ingress and egress with the added strength and weight saving of Kevlar construction with full HANS compatibility. The Kevlar construction makes the Emola infinitely stronger and 30% lighter than similar fiberglass seats at an entry level price below that of most fiberglass seats. It is an excellent blend of composite performance and value along with being FIA 8855-1999 homologated.

The Emola S GT will accommodate five or six-point harnesses, requires alloy side mounts and is available in red, black or blue. For further information, contact Sube Sports, 17161 Palmdale Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, 714-847-1501, www.subesports.com

 

EMPI RACE TRIM
EMPI Race Trim Seats are built with the highest quality suspension material available for Jeeps, sand rails, Rhinos, trucks, and other off-road vehicles. Race Trim offers several options for your seating needs and are available in multiple colors in both fabric and vinyl. They come standard with welded steel tube frames, and the Jeep models will bolt into most year Jeeps utilizing the existing factory seat mounts. Adapters and slider kits are also available. Some models include optional lumbar support and removable headrests. Race Trim’s off-road designs include a race-style seat with removable cushion along with a two-inch extra-wide version and removable headrests. Matching bench seats can also be ordered for both the buggy and Rhino seats. Race Trim seats are always in stock and readily available. For further information, contact EMPI Inc., 301 E. Orangethorpe Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801, 800-666-4014, www.empius.com.

 

ISP
ISP has a different strategy for designing seats. State-of-the-art, high-sled testing of the seat structure and laboratory testing of foams has allowed ISP to make its customers both safe and comfortable in all forms of racing. ISP seats have been track tested a number of times with impacts reaching into the high 90 G range. The seats feature aluminum construction with massive bolsters and lateral support to keep the driver safely in place during impacts and crashes.

Along with leg supports, ISP also utilizes rib and head supports to provide maximum safety. Each ISP seat is covered in durable black velour to withstand abuse and provide great wear. For further information, contact ISP, 5540 Morehead Road, Harrisburg, NC 28075, 704-455-3060, www.ispseats.com.

 

 

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MASTERCRAFT 3G
Originally developed for violent, high-speed, short-course off-road racing, the 3G increasingly finds itself outfitting state-of-the-art Trophy Trucks and other high-speed vehicles.

It features European styling with MasterCraft’s race-proven suspension system to provide the increased lateral support so important in today’s racing conditions. Developed with input from champion racers, superior engineering and construction make the 3G one of the most advanced suspension racing seats available on the market today. The 3G is available in any color vinyl, trim or fabric and comes with five-point seatbelt slots. An optional head and neck restraint pocket is also available, and the removable Euro-style cushion is standard. For further information, contact MasterCraft Racing Seats, 11433 Woodside Avenue, Santee, CA 92071, 619-449-9455, www.mastercraftseats.com.

 

MasterCraft PWRsport
The PWRsport is specifically designed to fit the Yamaha Rhino, Polaris RZR and Kawasaki Teryx UTVs. It features a direct bolt-in to factory mounts while retaining a full-size seat profile. The PWRsport is also very popular in custom-buggy applications such as the Myers Manx or vehicles that encounter tight cab situations. Available with or without a head rest, the seat can be customized in any color vinyl, trim or fabric available. In the case of the Yamaha Rhino, MasterCraft also makes a custom head rest cover for the factory roll cage to match the seat's color combination. For further information, contact MasterCraft Racing Seats, 11433 Woodside Avenue, Santee, CA 92071, 619-449-9455, www.mastercraftseats.com.

 

PRP
Premier Racing Products (PRP) offers a wide array of custom, full suspension racing seats. Competition seats are available in low-back, layback and high-back models along with the Pro Series that features dual Pirelli straps and heavy-duty foam. The Roadster is built for Jeeps, older buggies and Manx-style buggies where space is at a premium.

A Daily Driver model is available with lower side supports to make entry and exit easy. Benches are also available for rear-seat applications as well. Every seat is fully fabricated, assembled, and shipped from their facility in Murrieta, CA, and goes through three levels of quality control to insure high standards are met. For further information, contact PRP Seats, 41543 Cherry Street, Murrieta, CA 92562, 800-317-6253, www.prpseats.com

 

OMP Rallye
OMP seats have been chosen as OEM equipment by Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche in GT competition cars along with Seat Sport and Chevrolet in touring competition cars. Refined design, high-quality materials and precise trimmings are the characteristics of the OMP sport seat's range. The OMP Rallye is a racing-inspired, tubular-steel sport seat. Upholstered in a durable textured “A-tex Evo” fabric, the Rallye is abrasion resistant yet comfortable in hot or cold conditions with a thickness of 3 mm. Other features include an adjustable leg support cushion and four seatbelt openings. The Rallye can be either side or bottom mounted with M8 lower and side attachments points. For further information, contact OMP America, 800 Brickell Avenue, Suite 710, Miami, FL 33131, 866-OMP-2637, www.ompamerica.com.

 

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Sparco Pro 2000
Sparco has been producing racing seats and equipment for racers and racecars around the world since 1977, and their seats have won every major off-road race from Baja to Dakar in the last five years. Off-road racers are starting to understand the safety benefits of racing seats that meet the stringent FIA testing requirements. These standards are based on extensive crash testing and research done to help ensure safety in any form of auto racing. Sparco’s Pro 2000 is a fully FIA homologated seat that is available in a fiberglass or carbon-fiber shell. It is extremely lightweight but rigid enough to stand up to any testing.

Other key features include excellent lateral grip on the whole body and special adjustable lateral lumbar supports. For further information, contact UPR Racing Supply, 800-438-5872, www.upr.com.

 

Sparco Evo
Sparco’s Evo is another FIA homologated and thoroughly tested seat that is making its way into more high-end and ultra-fast desert vehicles. Evolved from the Rev seat, the Evo was designed with input from some of Sparco’s top drivers. The back cushion of the seat, along with the bottom, is easily removable to allow for customization of fit. Cushion padding density can also be adjusted and the height of the leg rest is also variable.

A carbon-fiber shell is optional and different colors are also an option. The massive bolsters provide excellent lateral support and four belt slots are built in. For further information, contact UPR Racing Supply, 800-438-5872, www.upr.com

 

Twisted Stitch Vortex
The second-generation Vortex from Twisted Stitch is available for off-road vehicles, sand cars and all popular UTVs from Yamaha, Polaris, Kawasaki and Arctic Cat. A redesigned frame and new foam technology has widened the interior of the seat while still allowing it to bolt in to the Teryx, RZR or Rhino UTV. The overall height of the seat has also been increased by three inches. Safety harnesses can be easily removed for access to under-seat storage due to large pass-thru shoulder belt slots and a grooved leg bolster design. Each Vortex starts with 3/4-inch mild steel tubing which is bent with a computerized bender and welded in a fixture for repeated accuracy. The frame is then powder coated for a long-lasting, durable finish. The suspension of the seat comes from the hand-sewn reinforced vinyl liner that is laced to the frame with militaryspec parachute cord and then covered with multi-density foam. Seat covers are sewn together with marine-grade vinyl, UV-coated automotive tweed or leather for an exceptional fit and finish. For further information, contact Twisted Stitch Seats, Inc., 2366 E. Orangethorpe Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806, 714-773-0233, www.twistedstitchinc.com.