FIA approved competion seat - fitting in baby elan

[sebring]

Well the saga continues - but with light at end of the tunnel - hopefully.
The Cobra seat fits but is very narrow in the seat sqaub area - OK if you are the size of Johnny Herbert but for the likes of us in the 6' / 90+ kg size range it is definately 'hip hugging' with very low sides offering limited support/restraint.

However, I have found a small UK company that make FIA compliant/homologated seats and they have sent me an untrimmed shell to try AND IT FITS! (the car and me) .

OK, it needs a bit of fettling around the edges and I need to double check it clears the rear roll cage hoop and door bar (not fitted at present) but the signs are very, very promising. Specification is: fibreglass shell, side mounted, 5 harness slots, cloth covered (usual colours: black, red, navy, and blue).

On the downside they are not a stock item (i.e. batches made to order); so they say if i can get several people interested then it would be economical to do some - so over to you guys - anyone interested? - approx cost in the region of (UK)?300 + P&P - but the more orders the cheaper they become. Let me know.

[Old English White]

Well the saga continues - but with light at end of the tunnel - hopefully.
The Cobra seat fits but is very narrow in the seat sqaub area - OK if you are the size of Johnny Herbert but for the likes of us in the 6' / 90+ kg size range it is definately 'hip hugging' with very low sides offering limited support/restraint.

However, I have found a small UK company that make FIA compliant/homologated seats and they have sent me an untrimmed shell to try AND IT FITS! (the car and me) .

OK, it needs a bit of fettling around the edges and I need to double check it clears the rear roll cage hoop and door bar (not fitted at present) but the signs are very, very promising. Specification is: fibreglass shell, side mounted, 5 harness slots, cloth covered (usual colours: black, red, navy, and blue).

On the downside they are not a stock item (i.e. batches made to order); so they say if i can get several people interested then it would be economical to do some - so over to you guys - anyone interested? - approx cost in the region of (UK)?300 + P&P - but the more orders the cheaper they become. Let me know.

Any pictures !?!
Christian.

[sebring]

Update: apologies for delay since last post but i have to work for a living. Anyway, the roll cage is fitted (another long story) and the bare seat shell clears all bars and sits nicely in the cockpit area - albeit not much room to clear, there is even potential to squeeze in a door bar if needed.
It will not be an easy job to fit an seat adequate seat frame - i think it will need to be a one-off special - but then i am finding out the hard way that nothing seems to fit an elan without some modifacation and/or compromise - even products made specifically for it!
I have arranged a visit to the company who make the seat a week on Saturday to discuss further, so will report back after that.
For those of you who have expressed an interest, the attachment is the image/photo the company have sent me - pretty generic i know, but then most seats are 'much of a muchness'.

[batfish]

Sebring

Just a couple of points that may be worth discussing,
the seat mounting frame has to be homologated with the seat,
are the safety harness holes suitable for use with a Hans device
is the seat back raked back enough to give clearance between a crash hat and the roof?

regards

Andy

[1964 S1]

Greetings,
What's a "BABY ELAN" ? Are you guys talking about a Miata?
Eric

[Old English White]

Greetings,
What's a "BABY ELAN" ? Are you guys talking about a Miata?
Eric

Are you kidding !?!
Eric , I can read that you made 1146 post on LotuseElan.net , and you wait until today to ask !?!
Baby is for the 2 seater whatever the series , dhc or fhc . Here the others are +2 ... but "baby" Elan help when "modern" Elan's are in the area ...
Christian.

[1964 S1]

elan-f15/important-question-t18415.html

[twincamman]

there has been a recent announcement by UK MSA for all competition cars (incl. hillclimbs, sprints etc) next year to be fitted with an FIA approved dry break fitment to allow scrutineers to take fuel samples

next year to be fitted with an FIA approved dry break fitment to allow scrutineers to take fuel samples

-more details to follow from MSA - i was using it as an example really as to the way the regulations are changing more and more to come into line with those of FIA.

scca do this but it only requires a small spring loaded tap fitted in the fuel line to allow a fuel sample to be drained out not a dry break ' they are looking for' speed mist ' oxygenated mixtures that are carcinogens and create a cancerous condition to competitors and marshals and spectators --- ed

[jon1986eac]

I am about to take delivery of an S3 which has the Cobra high back seats which i guess must be 4 or 5 years old. They are in great condition and will be coming out of the car in a week or two. (They are surprisingly comfortable!!) If anyone is interested in them before I put them on Ebay please let me know.

Jon

[msd1107]

Jon,

Where are you located? Shipping costs are a factor.

David
1968 36/7988

[Dag-Henning]

Hopefully, a suitable seat can be found asap. I had a nasty crash this weekend in the "Velodromloppet" in Sweden, sliding off on oil and hitting a Cortina sideways in the kitty litter....The TT seat I was sitting in splitted, but I got off with a broken rib and a nice blue/yellow tan down my left side.........A proper seat that also allows for a side intruder bar to be fitted is really a must when racing Elans! ( some pics on www.historisk-racing.no )

Dag

[rgh0]

hi Dag

Sorry to hear about your crash but glad not to much damage to you. I hope the car is not to bad either.

cheers
Rohan

[Dag-Henning]

Hi Rohan , and thanks ! Click on the link above, choose "Galleri" on top, then "Velodromloppet" on the lhs, then " 2009 Velodromloppet - ?rnulf Hjort-Sorensen" . My sad car is on page 3..........
I'll dismantle and check, but the frame and lhs of the body needs some adjustments......

Dag

[Old English White]

hi Dag

Sorry to hear about your crash but glad not to much damage to you. I hope the car is not to bad either.

cheers
Rohan

Bonjour Dag,
Had a look to the gallery of the 09' Velodromloppet , this morning ...
I think Rohan -as me- try to be nice .
We know how fragile are these Elan racers .
Btw is the red 'tina not the one of your team mate's !?!
Best regards,
Christian.

[Dag-Henning]

Bonjour Christian, and thanks for your sympathy ! The "funny" part of the story is that I built the engine in the "tina" last year...Now it blew up in a big way, having a rod looking out the side of the block, causing all this oil to be left on the track. Rolf "Myggan" Nilsson , -the Swedish Elan driver -, and myself was abt. to lap him, and both slid off and into the Cortina......It turned out that the Cortina driver suffered some loss of oilpressure during the last three laps, but didn't pay notice......He is not in my team though.....I have a part in the red "tina" nbr. 22 , that did quite well..
Yes I agree, the Elans are fragile, but very (!) rewarding to drive and the best of fun !!
BTW , the red Elan going sideways on the first pic, was spectacular indeed....(!!) He lost it holding full down the straight, turning 180 deg., and coming to a halt without a scratch. Our engines are abt. the same, and with my 4,44 rear, 5.25M13 tyres and 7800 revs. , I did abt. 195 km/h..........He was a bit quiet for while, before finding his old self.....
Dag