Hi Chuck,
Since you ask, I'll be happy to tell you, but my point really is that a "race" seat like a Kirkey, Sparco, Racetech, Courbeau etc., is likely to be a compromise if it isn't fitted to you specifically and will allow for significant movement especially during an accident.
At the beginning of last year I installed a custom seat made by Randy Lajoie. Randy is a two-time past Champion and still currently drives in NASCAR's Busch series.
You make a trip his race shop in Charlotte where you get fitted in a device much like a race cockpit. They adjust the steering wheel position, pedals and then set the angle of the seat. After that they move the shoulder supports, rib cage protectors and seat width. When your eyes bulge they back off a quarter turn.
The seat has very little padding but is extremely comfortable. I can feel every bit of information that the car has to give without having to brace myself by gripping the steeering wheel or using my legs. With a proper harness and Hans Device I feel completely secure.
I purchased Jim McCann's car last year and have run with it at Willow Springs, Button Willow and Phoenix. It is an awesome car, but I ordered a Lajoie seat and it just arrived Monday, so I have been using the Sparco seat that was in the car. It is a huge difference and leaves me feeling much more tired, and distracted while I try to stay put in the car. I can't wait to put the new seat in.
There are many custom seat manufacturers that range from Formula cars to NASCAR. One other that I can think of besides Lajoie is Butler.
www.joieofseat.com www.butlerbuilt.net
For a dedicated race car these seats do make sense. They're safer and give you more accurate information to work with as a driver. For a street/track car with more than one person driving the other seats are all fine choices. But there will be more movement which was my original point.
