North Coast Cab

"All cars will be equipped with a seat back brace except as provided in Safety Rule 27 below. Said device will mount securely to the roll cage/bar and will rest firmly against the back of the seat. The portion that contacts the seat will
be a minimum of twelve (12) square inches and larger is suggested. The seat construction must be compatible with the seat back brace and not pose a hazard to the driver. The seat back brace for composite seats must have a minimum of thirty (30) square inches contacting the seat back, and must have 0.5” to 2” of high density foam padding between the brace and the seat back. The seat back brace cannot be bolted to a composite seat unless the manufacturer has designed the seat to bolt to a brace."

What constitutes a composite seat? Anything but an all aluminum seat or only those foam filled shells?

Bryan Watts

In this case, composite = non-metal

That said, does PCA allow you to run without any seat back brace at all as long as you have a current (i.e. less than 5 years old?) FIA approved composite seat?

Kerrigan Smith

I would say anything but an aluminum or steel seat, yet some composite seats are designed for a back brace. I would call somebody at PCA for tech and ask them if you need a back brace for a FIA approved seat; which most of your high end composite seats that are new are. If buying just ask first.

Most sanctioning bodies that feature more current cars have moved away from back braces with todays seat technology. Most historic racing still uses them.

analogmike

yes.

Geoffrey

As long as the seat is within 6 years of the FIA manufacturer date, you do not need a seat back brace.

Mike Buck

Yes, but the mounts and rails must be FIA (not less than 5) too. Having an FIA seat is not in and of itself the only requirement. My seat mounts don't have a date on them, so I wasn't sure how I'd prove their age. Rather than fight the issue, I put a seat brace on my composite seat. It isn't too back stabby though, by design.

Geoffrey

6 Years

911racer

WOW, Really. Are there dates on the seat mounts too ?

I understand the reason for having a date on the seat. The composite material can be effected by UV or wear, but what the heck on the metal brackets ?

What would be next, dates on the bolts used to bolt harness to the chassis?

The high density pad material is actually hard to find. Not that many people sell it. Also, seat back braces larger than 12 square inches are hard to find. All of the popular ones (like the IO port) are about 2" x 6". I actually can not see a commercially avaliable one that is large enough to qualify for the 30 square inches.

Also, no guidence as to the thickness or material of the brace ? Can it be alluminum ?

gums

you guys know what started the whole seat brace thing don't you?

mooty

no, pls elaborate

chrisp

If you haven't found any try this: http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...p?Product=2396

You can use the IO Port with a plate welded to it, get a custom set up or use this B-K brace: www.bkauto.com/porsche/r9020.php

gums

About 10 years ago at a Metro DE, Lime Rock Park, a 911 driver lost it in the rain on the front straight and backed it into the pit out retaining wall, not a huge impact, but the seat back broke and so did his neck as a result, against the roll bar, or harness bar, crossmember. Tragically, it was fatal.

Larry Herman

Frank, it was at the Club Race. It occurred during practice. The car had a roll bar and all the proper PCA safety equipment as mandated at that time.

gums

I was pretty sure it was a DE, although I was not there. Dreadful all the same. The guy was an acquaintance of a patient of mine, she told me he was heir to the John Deere fortune.

Geoffrey

Frank, it was a club race, not a DE and there were a combination of issues with that accident. First, the seat was an older seat that, while legal for PCA, was not constructed very well and the driver was recommended to replace the seat. Second, the seat was moved by his mechanic to remove an ECU for PCA compliance checking and when repositioned, only 1 of the sliders locked in place. When he hit the wall, the unlocked slider slid and the seat broke from twisting.