FIA Seat Dates?

[1275GT]

With belts it's pretty obvious as when the expiry date is up then you can't use them for competition anymore but what is the current spec that is allowed for seats?

Is the 1999 spec still allowed, and for how much longer etc?

Cheers!

[frodo_monkey]

Depends what it is for - rallying no, anything bigger than clubman circuit racing probably not, club racing in the UK then yes!

[1275GT]

Spec is FIA 8855 - 1999

Would be for rallying yes. So what is the current spec?

[frodo_monkey]

Sorry, my bad - got the wrong end of the stick!

The tech regs for rallying from the Blue Book are here:

http://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/msa_forms/blueb...

See page 33.

While the 1999 spec may be valid (I don't know, best advice is to see what Thieves are selling!) the seat needs to be in-date i.e. within 5 years of the sticker date. This is different to racing so don't quote me, but that is what my rallying colleagues reckon.

[Graham]

section k 2.2 seats doesnt mention any standard. neither does section q specific regs for circuit racing

Handy for me as i use an alloy Kirky seat, that they use in nascar... being yanky it doesnt have any fia homologation..

however section R ( specific regs for rallying) 48.10.6

specifys front seats that are currently fia homlogated although not what the standard is???

I cant see any mention of age either?

Edited by Graham on Friday 2nd July 12:34

[1275GT]

Can't see any age either, so is this five year thing true?

Spend a fortune on quality seats and bin them after five years even though they might well be perfect still?

[MMC Andy]

We were racing in Spa at weekend with the CSCC - local Scrutineers enforced the 'five year' rule quite vigorously. Must admit, hadn't realised it existed!

[Graham]

MMC Andy said:

We were racing in Spa at weekend with the CSCC - local Scrutineers enforced the 'five year' rule quite vigorously. Must admit, hadn't realised it existed!

Did they explain where that rule comes from, as i cant find any mention of it in the blue book, or even that a race seat needs to be homologated.. or was it specific to the championship?

[frodo_monkey]

I think its a rallying thing, certainly within the UK. There is no rule about even using an FIA seat when doing club racing in the UK, although clearly a prudent man would. Mine is YEARS out of date and I haven't been pulled up on it...

[MMC Andy]

Graham said:

MMC Andy said:

We were racing in Spa at weekend with the CSCC - local Scrutineers enforced the 'five year' rule quite vigorously. Must admit, hadn't realised it existed!

Did they explain where that rule comes from, as i cant find any mention of it in the blue book, or even that a race seat needs to be homologated.. or was it specific to the championship?

It's definately not a CSCC requirement - they introduced themselves as FIA Scrutineers, and spent all their time looking at seats, fuel tanks, fire protection & kit - they didn't even look under the bonnet of the car! Paddock rumour suggested that local racer died recently at Spa and that it was partly down to equipment malfunction. But stress again, only paddock rumour.

It was strange having an Alfa purchased off Ebay for £300 (which is now tidy & safe) scrutineered upto FIA GT level!

[Graham]

It must be down to who was running the event and what regs it was running to. I can easily see fia events having different requirements.

As I said I run a Kirky aluminioum seat do it doenst even have any FIA homologation. but if its good enough for septics to drive into concrete walls at 200mph+ its good enough for my tuscan..

G

[MGRacer]

Graham said:

It must be down to who was running the event and what regs it was running to. I can easily see fia events having different requirements.

As I said I run a Kirky aluminioum seat do it doenst even have any FIA homologation. but if its good enough for septics to drive into concrete walls at 200mph+ its good enough for my tuscan..

G

Its not the fact that it is an FIA event its just that on mainland Europe they run to FIA rules and not an MSA version of FIA rules, hence a different requirement for towing eyes, foam filled tanks and the need for "in date" seats.

Watch this space and I bet that the seat requirement will become part of the blue book at some point in the very near future. I dont understand how they can "life" a seat and say that after 5 years it becomes dangerous but at 4 years 11 months and 31 days it was safe. Similar to the issue with helmet lifing but then the conspiracy theorist's will have you believe that the MSA are in league with the manufacturers???

[claryclan]

If you compete in Europe then you have to comply with European rules. FIA in date seats have been a requirement for several years. You don't have to throw them away after five years as they can be checked by the manufacturer and homologation extended for a further 2 years. Have had this service done by Cobra at Telford for a nominal cost. 7 years service out of a seat not too bad in my opinion and what price do you put on safety??

[1275GT]

claryclan said:

what price do you put on safety??

See it's easy to come back to this in order to justify taking more money off people. I have a Sparco 4 point harness in my garage that has been used a couple of times and has not a mark on it. Now it is out of date so can't be used in competition, but is no different to a one I could buy from Demon Tweeks today...

My other arguement is that if a seat can only be used for five years then I'm not going to invest in a top of the range one as I simply can't afford to, knowing it only has a life of five years. Now if it lasted longer then maybe I could justify spending more on a SAFER seat!