STR Miata MX5

[Kristoffer Gjevre]

14.2 BODYWORK

B. The driver and front passenger seats may be replaced, with the
following restrictions: The seating surface must be fully upholstered.
The top of the seat, or an attached headrest, may not be below the
center of the driver’s head. The seat, including mounting hardware,
must weigh at least 25 pounds and must be attached using the OE
body mounting holes/studs. Additional mounting points may be added.

With my size it is a tight fit for me to get into a Miata MX5 (although I was able to fit and drive it at the zoom zoom event a few years ago).
With this ST rule seems like I could maybe put a different seat in that would give me some more space?
Anyone know if that is feasible and what kind of a seat to use, and/or can point me to some forum where they might know?

Thanks,
Kristoffer

[Kristoffer Gjevre]

BTW, February 2010 Grassroots Motorsports has the article "Choose Your Weapon" with some STR analysis towards the end.

[Steve Ekstrand]

In that article I prefer the visual interpretation of ST.

[Sebastian Rios]

Oh yeah nice pic Steve!

Kristoffer: Yes you can replace the seat in STR, not sure what aftermarket brackets are available for the MX-5, that is likely to be the biggest hurdle.
Kirkey makes lightweight seats in large sizes that can be adapted to fit most any car, you may have to add ballast with a Kirkey to make 25lbs.

[Max Hayter]

Goodwin sells seat brackets for the NC...

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Pe ... -0176.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Jason Isley BS RX8]

The NC has a good bit of space. The MX-5 Cup car that SportsCar built a few years back had a Racetech RT4009WHR in it at one time. http://www.racetechseatsna.com/products ... 9009HR.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Steve Lepper]

Goodwin sells seat brackets for the NC...

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Pe ... -0176.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Those are Mazda Motorsports seat brackets... everyone sells those. I've got a set here: they are easily adapted to any seat.

The toughest part of any aftermarket seat in an MX-5 is the shoulder area: a lot of seats are too wide here. There are a couple of aluminum seats (Kirkey and others) that have no or little shoulder support, so fit fairly easily as long as you don't need one of the "wide" models. You have to add a big hunk of ballast, but the good news is you can put it right on the floor.

Also, don't look at Cup car interiors as they are missing all the factory interior panels. For STR we have to keep all of those parts stock.

[Kristoffer Gjevre]

Thanks, lots of good info.
I need to go sit in one again to see how I fit since its been a few years since I did that.

What forums do you recommend I go read for learning about things like tires and wheel fitments and other mods for STR and MX5 (I am totally green in this area)?

[Mako Koiwai]

Just talk to our STR'ers Max Hayter, Steve Lepper, Henry Bjoin and Jeff Cawthorne ... they'll all be there this weekend. You already know about the current GRM magazine. Otherwise SCCA Forums

[Max Hayter]

And here...

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=341128" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Kristoffer Gjevre]

BTW, Max, what kind of wheel size and tires do you have on your car (stock or maxed out)?

[Max Hayter]

BTW, Max, what kind of wheel size and tires do you have on your car (stock or maxed out)?

17x9 with 245/35/17 Toyos.