So do to safety concerns with my head protruding above the factory roll hoops in the stock setup I'm exploring a few ways to make my car safer. obviously a 4/5/6 point harness is out of the question without a aftermarket roll hoop but i would like to at least get the top of my helmet below the "broomstick test". I think i might try to use a sparco sprint 5 seat (http://www.sparcousa.com/pseats_comp.asp?id=622) with buddy club seat rails. i have heard that the buddy club rails can get you 1.5-2" lower than stock and the sprint 5 are supposed to be very low also which leads me to believe that i should be able to get sufficiently low with this setup to avoid having to gut the interior for a roll bar. also this allows me to still buy a roll bar and a 4/5/6 point harness down the road. for reference i am 6'0" and 185 lbs and the car is a 2000 ap1.

thanks for your help
greg

 

also currently my head is at 3 inches above the broomstick test

 

"track legal" is not a standard definition.

if you want to just pass the broomstick test, you'll most likely have to get an aftermarket bucket seat with a roll bar. i'm 5'10" and even with a low bride bucket seat, i was nowhere near passing with the stock hoops.

and you don't have to gut the interior for a roll bar. you just have to spend a long time re-assembling everything.

 

One thing you need to remember is that the actual roll hoop inside the plasic covers is lower than the cover itself. If you are 3" over the broomstick, a low seat and rail alone will not be enough to make you pass.

Safety is one thing you don't want to skimp on.

my $0.02

 

Is it still a good idea to run the sprint 5 with the factory seat belts because it would just as safe as stock but lower which is better

 

No, because the OEM seat has a hinge with ability to flex. A fixed back seat does not. Don't use racing seats with OEM belts. Do it or don't.

Also a replacement seat bumps you out of B-stock if you care.

 

[QUOTE=CKit,Feb 21 2011, 10:09 PM] No, because the OEM seat has a hinge with ability to flex.

 

Greg was talking about a fixed back seat without a roll bar for a guy that still won't get under the factory roll hoop.

If you can get under your roll bar, that's slightly different.

 

I don't follow this at all. A sturdier seat in a crash with or without a roll over would be safer. The stock seat hinge isn't a player because the seat belt locks you into place during the crash so you can't "flex" with the hinged seat.

 

You need to check with your local tracks and track day organizations to find out what is "track legal." Here on the east coast it is extremely difficult to find an organization that will allow you to run an HPDE with just the stock S2000 roll hoops. You'll have to have an instructor in your right seat and normally both seats have to be set up the same. No instructor wants to ride in a stock seat with 3 point belts along with a student in a lower racing seat and 6 point racing harness.