Randy LaJoie's Former NASCAR Shop Turned Racing Seat Factory! (How Its Made: The Joie of Seating)

[@ryanh-c7i]

Randy is looking good. I finished 2nd at a sprint car race at the Charlotte dirt track a few years ago and in victory lane this guy was walking by. He said good job, then we asked him to snap a couple cell phone pictures with our crew and he did. He looked in the car after and told me my seat is a piece of shit lol. It was Randy. He’s a solid guy who really cares about making racers safe.

[@rosscollins2910]

Did you buy one? And how do you like it?

[@ryanh-c7i]

@@rosscollins2910 I almost did but I got an SFI carbon fiber seat instead and then I retired from driving after a couple more years. The biggest reason I went with the carbon seat is I was having big weight fluctuations because of my thyroid and the carbon seats are one size fits all (you just change the molded insert if you get bigger or smaller as opposed to having to change the whole seat). I’ve sat in the Lajoie seats though and I would definitely recommend them. Randy was definitely right about the seat I was using being a piece of shit and he was very helpful. He emphasized that he didn’t care if I bought a seat from him or not, he just didn’t want to see me get hurt - Racing needs more people like him.

[@stevenbongiorno9277]

Randy and his dad were our home town heroes. It’s good to see that he’s doing something great for the sport

[@scottbame6378]

K😊😊

[@labrd41]

Back in the 60's I would watch Randy's father, Don LaJoie's 7-11 modified at the Racearena in Danbury CT. A real crowd favorite as was Randy in the Late 70's, early 80's. Good memories.

[@Stapleton42]

Man that’s wild

[@steveanderson8137]

Loved watching Randy run trucks

[@OddballHillbilly419]

Randy had one of the worst wrecks I've ever seen at Daytona.

[@chriszucker7500]

In the mid 70s we'd go to LaJoie's junk yard in Norwalk Connecticut. When you walked thru the shop you'd see the modifieds they were building for tracks like Danbury. Great memories!!

[@labrd41]

@@chriszucker7500 Yep they use to try and hide them behind the green curtain. Don't peek, you would get hollered at. The good old days. 60's and 70's

[@DayNNyteDJs]

These guys were at a racing expo years ago when I was getting into racing. They were really top notch. Randy was right there sizing people for fit.

[@steveanderson8137]

I think I’ve mentioned this on another video but I really admire the genuine interest and respect you guys show to your hosts. I think it makes them share more and we get some great stories out of it.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Steve we think so too. We’re actually into it and knowledgeable enough to ask questions they haven’t heard before

[@stevensaxon8888]

@@Stapleton42 please do a follow up video with Randy. We need to hear about his racing career. I pulled for him and Dale Jr in the Busch series

[@billsynder9896]

I bought my son a Lajoie seat 20 years ago, had the shoulders widened and new upholstery done, but the seat is still in great shape. It is still in our car.

[@bradpearce9969]

Love seeing the OG’s staying in the business. Randy was a great Champion. He is keeping the future generations of racers safe!!

[@mikehoncho658]

Man I'm just now catching up but I haven't missed one, I've been with this channel since the first Earnhardt RV that was overpriced and trashed and I've learned so much and become a nascar fan but only old school nascar

[@Robmc7759]

Stapleton killing it again with the videos. 32:50 the Robert Pressley seat. I love it.

[@Jeffbambam]

Randy revolutionized the racing seat industry. This is one of those tours that I always wanted to see . I recall Mark Martin being very impressed with his seats early on .

[@MaggieandMissyPugs]

It is so great to see RANDY. I always enjoyed his interviews. What a neat guy. You really have to thank God for people like Randy.

[@stevenroberts1392]

Damn, this is a bucket list thing for me. Appreciate this so much, I adore the Lajoie's. Thank you guys.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Steven!

[@KEIFabrication]

Always been a LaJoie fan because they were from the "north". Used to race at the Waterford speedbowl with his son? brother? nephew? Russel. I built street stocks for the tracks up here in the 1990's. One of my customers, Joe Pelham #66 was a friend of the LaJoie's and brought me one of the fiberglass seats to install for him that came from that mold you showed. It was the best fitting and most comfortable seat I ever installed. Very cool to finally see where it came from!

[@speedwaystevecronk6680]

We are not getting any younger, to make it to a older age in racing it is going to have to be done safely. Just from my days racing a midget I can relate to what Randy said about neck fatigue. The 704 area code is full of racing history and I am so glad your on the quest to show us the story's. Thanks for all your work on video's / edit . Merry Christmas Logan , Mitchell and Shelby.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Steve!

[@dustinstan21]

This video has changed my opinion on Randy LaJoie. He is much more personable than I previously thought. I never doubted his seat products, but him on tv comes off differently.

[@craignesbitt7856]

I heard about their seats via Cory's podcast and the old man talking about the design. The program for kid's seats is amazing and a testament to what he says about safety.

[@kevinfortier6077]

Pleasure seeing Randy again. I use to watch him race at Stafford and Thompson

[@dbest4541]

Back in the mid to late 80's I spent many hours at Lajoies salvage in Norwalk, CT. What a cast of characters..👍🍻

[@joshuapaulsen7414]

Man, this one was so cool. Loved how chatty Randy is, Mitchell would just observe something and LaJoie would run with it. Seems like a cool dude to be around during one of those jello shot parties. I think the basketball-loving shop dog might have been my favorite, though. Mitchell and Logan, again...I really hope you guys a great Christmas, and thank you so much for bringing us this content. No one else compares.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks joshua. We definitely enjoyed filming this. Hopefully we can see Randy and Leo the basketball dog again soon 😂

[@michaelpeace716]

We ran a LaJoie seat in our super late model. The first time I sat in a LaJoie seat, I knew that’s what I wanted. Most comfortable seat I’ve ever sat in.

[@brucewrandol]

I remember when he started his company. Impressive information.

[@larsbambi1575]

Back in the 90s that was a fun shop to hang out at. Randy had a go kart track in the back. Up top he had blackjack tables a couple slot machines from the races in Vegas. Also back then he had an original Richie Evans modified sitting on flat tires. Not sure if it's still there it's been a long time

[@h.h.legacydiesel6724]

Great to see Randy Lajoy, He has saved many lives. Great stuff! I know that He can't show seats going together, lots of secretes! Again, thank you for sharing, you two are awesome, 👌🏻 you may be a small business, But you are HUGE on content! It's the questions that l want to ask while watching, and you or Logan usually ask! So thanks, it's the content that makes a difference! You have it! All the best to you both in 2023! ✌🏻🧡👍🏻🌬 ❄️🌧 🇨🇦 ☃️🎄🍁. P. S. Love the new hoodie design.

[@americonoffroadadventures8132]

This is the best development in modern racing, along with the HANS device. Like Randy's shirt says, makes racing safer. He belongs in the Hall of Fame. Thanks

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!!

[@dave3156]

I remember Randy racing against KH and the Blue Deuce in the Busch series. Very interesting how he goes through the sizing process. Thx for sharing!!

[@stinkybeagle]

Really good video. Thank you. Always like to see how stuff is made. Thanks to Randy for taking the time to peel back the curtain. Best part of the video: French Bulldog.

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

Randy Lajoie Was Amazing NASCAR Drivers From The 80s And Early 90s Thanks For Uploading

[@arrowkart4j]

Like Randy and his family. His Dad was the man at Danbury. Builds quality seats and is a great guy. Thank you and Merry Christmas

[@Stapleton42]

Merry Christmas Jim!

[@jasondudley362]

Would have been cool to go through juniors shop at the farm before it got sold with dw It still floors me I’m 49 you guys are young and really enjoy the old nascar beginning if more people were like you guys nascar would have a chance to grow when people forget and loose interest the decline starts I admit when I watched the 01 Daytona 500 i watched my hero get killed I lost intrest in it .you guys shed light on the sport when in my opinion was the guys that did this to put food on the table not the 20 million dollar drivers of todays nascar thanks Mitchell and Logan for brings this to us merry Christmas

[@timewithoutconsequence]

I drove out there a couple of years ago. It’s an antique shop now.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Jason!

[@claymillican25]

Randy is a great guy !!! Another great video thank y’all.

[@whac1c]

He's a really genuine guy, old school too. My dad grew up at the Danbury Racearena, and his love for racing was passed down to me. Randy's son, Corey, ain't that bad of a driver either. Hope Spire brings a good piece this year for him.

[@24Garland]

Merry Christmas to everyone on this comment page. Thank you Logan and Mitchell for all the work you do for the Great videos!!!

[@Stapleton42]

Merry Christmas David!

[@headbrown5629]

Dave Marcis crashed at Pocono in the mid 90's "I think" & he said those shoulder straps that hooked to the helmet Randy mentioned saved Dave's life. It was a hard, hard hit.

[@caseysmith544]

Yes, Same reason Rusty Wallace in the 1990's survived a crash that took life of the then Guy racing the 1 McDonalds Car At Wakins Glen. That was in 1994 or 1995, the same year Rusty Did the No Pit stops at a Short track to win, causing the new rule of the Fuel Cells in at Short Tracks to this very day.

[@24Garland]

Merry Christmas to Mitchell ,Logan, and Shelby !!!

[@CliffsideStables]

GREAT show; thanks for interviewing Randy! He has made a very positive contribution to racing. Tim in northern TN

[@steveperyer4850]

Thank you for this interview. Randy Lajoie is a treasure, and living just across from New England, from Lake Champlain, I saw him race up here, then , followed him when he went south! Always a good guy, and never dull talking with Randy. He did a great thing keeping in the sport, and being very safety conscious. I hope you enjoyed the visit as much as I did. 😊

[@BRIANCOTNOIR]

Randy was one of my all-time favorite drivers growing up. I had the Pleasure of meeting him at Stafford Motor Speedway in the Early 2000s. Such a great guy.

[@Outtacontrol304]

His pit crew came camping at my campground back around 97, they were tent camping, on Harleys n cool AF. Had the honor of driving a couple of them around to the store n what not since it was raining the first day.

[@eddie8279]

I love the way you bring the back stories from history of drivers and teams accomplishments off the tracks. I have heard of and seen Randy in the racing world but didn't know about his business and commitment to drivers safety. Great, informative video and one drivers personal commitment to safety. Thanks to Randy and his organization,and to you and Logan for sharing with us!

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Eddie!

[@rodney1818]

I think it's so funny the way a dog will be all happy and playing but let somebody come through the door and see that bark change

[@380.motorsports]

I got my first real close up look at LaJoie seats at this years PRI show and the detail in design compared to other brands is very evident. Randy has a great design and very safe one. Hearing him talk its obvious he has built his years of racing experience into the designs he makes. This shop tour was perfect timing after just seeing the products up close. Great subject for a video! Thanks.

[@Stapleton42]

thanks man!

[@davidfleishman2275]

Yes I did learn a lot.Both on Jimmy Means and Randy LaJoie.I watched both of those guys race in the days back.Again thanks for the great videos.Thanks for allowing the fellows to speak and tell all.

[@brianhowe4875]

Always enjoyed watching & cheering for Randy race. Glad he found his place in the market after he hung up his helmet. Mitchel & Logan, please keep these vids coming. Love seeing the Winston Cup racers today and hearing their stories

[@gr4eme1975]

That was great, I see so many KZbinrs running those kirkee seats in drag cars, these seats are so much nicer and you can see how much more support they would give.

[@Stapleton42]

Man those kirkey drag car seats are so freakin uncomfortable I can’t stand them

[@paulbreen5885]

Well have to say another great video, just fascinated by the old shops. I usually listen to you talk and look in the background to see all the equipment and tools from back then. It amazes me how small there shops were but such great things from them. Randy is a great pioneer for driver safety for sure.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Paul!!

[@bennyhelgeson401]

Another "home run" video. Thanks for informative but entertaining year. All the best to you and Logan in upcoming years.

[@th3prof3ssional]

Glad to see all the banners from winning are up in the rafters when my dad was his crew chief "Birdie" I haven't been in there since Bace was there lol

[@rickyboothe2434]

This is a great interview with Randy I always enjoyed his interviews after a win just to listen to him talk He wàs a straight shooter

[@jasonfields2798]

Okay I will leave by saying keep up the great work and Merry Christmas Mitchell and Logann

[@VeliusCoba]

Great video as always, Randy was 1983 Rookie of the Year @ My hometown track New London-Waterford Speedbowl. I met him @Thompson Speedway In Connecticut w/Steve Park and Tim Fedawa.

[@mikemaccracken3112]

I followed Randy for years here in Connecticut. His nephew Ronnie Silk raced against us at Waterford Speedbowl back in the day.

[@gregorygolden1296]

Looking back, I remember the wreck Randy had at Daytona where he hit the inside wall with the bottom of the 07 car. I cringe about Everytime I see that crash. How he survived that with out being killed or crippled is amazing. Thank GOD he did. Today a lot of drivers owe their lives to his seats. I have raced in seats that were fiberglass,made from a barrel and even a stock bucket seat. Today's drivers are 100 times safer than the CRAP we sat in back in the day. Thanks Randy for making racing a whole heck of a lot safer.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Gregory. You’re absolutely right.

[@TKangas]

Merry Christmas! To Y'all. Love our New England Modified Roots, I also watched Donnie! and Dad was chassis guy at Bace, too for BGN Fina/ Kleenex.

[@frosportinternationale]

Great stuff. Thanks to Randy for being so open with the tour, and you guys for capturing it.

[@Stapleton42]

Our pleasure!

[@buddybarker1044]

Excellent! Very interesting

[@richardharvey8939]

Merry Christmas to you both. That dog has big balls. 😂

[@CR7659]

Even just driving a street car it's important to have seats that fit you. When I bought my '88 G20 conversion it had these side bolster bucket seats that were too narrow for my frame, they didn't support my spine very well. Which after a 150-mile drive resulted in my throwing my back out. It was so bad I finally went to where my previous '91 G20 was parked and swapped in a seat from that one. That van had sort of flat, almost pillow top seats so width wasn't an issue and my back was supported. Before it died I'd driven it from NY to SC and back and I could go all day with just fuel stops and be fine. After that, no more back issues. Thank goodness those conversion seats are all made pretty much interchangeable where they mount. The only other time I'd been in a car with just bad seats like that was an Olds Alero rental that was like sitting on a wooden bench and it did the same thing, made my back hurt. That one was strange because we'd had a Grand Am 2 years before, same body platform, and the seats in that were totally different.

[@larryburwell8550]

It's a fact LA joie is the king of seats and started this wraparound style. The carbon Fibre ones like nascar drivers use is much more expensive

[@TheSmoothGrind]

Awesome tour and story. Thanks for sharing!

[@jeremy8169]

I enjoyed listening to Randy talk about his seat and how a legend Mark Donahue helped in making the seat of the future.

[@chadgable9809]

Thank you! Awesome video! In the 90’s Randy LaJoie was my Busch Grand National pick. (I still call them the Busch Grand National Series)

[@Stapleton42]

Its Busch series to me too lol. I am so glad Craftsman is back for trucks!

[@brianbeilmann2992]

Nice info. Surprised this was so interesting. Guys sure saves some lives! Sorry about that Chewy doesn’t sell basketballs;)

[@richardboggs260]

Excellent seats thank you for the video Merry Christmas to you and your family

[@MRALL4FUN]

Man I love all your videos. Just being able to see and hear all the history and stories is absolutely PRICELESS!!

[@retrocny5625]

Randy is a national treasure lol. Been rooting for Corey in the cup series for a while now too. Also a true story for me, I got to befriend Casey Lajoie on iRacing a few years back, spent quite a bit of time racing with him and hanging out in discord. Super chill dude. Eventually I stopped having the free time to take sim racing that serious anymore, but it was a lot of fun.

[@billdeacon458]

Merry Christmas, Mitch and Logan.I can’t say enough how much I admire your videos…As many have said and I will say again, this history needs to be preserved. These folks are all legends no matter how big or small..I’m looking forward to what you have for 2023..One thing I really like is it seems they’re all glad to tell their stories…Their out there and I know you will find em….

[@ScottSherrington]

Thanks again for another great history/technical video, the knowledge that us being documented is priceless.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Scott!

[@jft3426]

Great video, with outstanding content. The abolute foundation of a race car driver👍

[@macsmith-cg6wg]

The whole time I was watching this l kept thinking about the drivers in the 60's and 70's what they would have done to have a seat like that. Randy was the man back in the day racing the Busch series or what ever it was at the time. Cale Yarborough would have loved to have one of these seats.👍🏁🎯

[@johnalbano3rd785]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@Stapleton42]

Merry Christmas John

[@timkoryciak5622]

Great video, Very informative about the development and manufacturing of custom racing seats. Keep up the great work.

[@rayhendricks7379]

Hopefully we get a couple shop update videos soon but I'm not complaining!! ! Yall are doing a great thing documenting all this history

[@Stapleton42]

Coming soon. Literally working in the shop right now lol

[@jdhaase1417]

Will never forget my first 100 lapper. Couldn’t hold my head up lol. My neck was done! Bought a $10 aluminum head rest at a swap meet that winter and took care of that problem until safer seats came along.

[@FrankFlatOut]

Absolutely love watching these videos. It was pretty cool I seen a video the other day about the Ford Taurus they modified and they cited your video lol

[@Stapleton42]

Yes I watched that video too!

[@kennyfofo]

Merry Christmas!! Keep telling the stories of the evolution of racing from the guys that did it! Great content!

[@JC-gw3yo]

Very nice man and therefore very fine products... Great to learn about this fantastic product

[@BigfootSOH]

Great video, guys! Merry Christmas! :)

[@notboeingnotgoing5483]

Great content, Randy is a great guy and an all around "good old boy" he's a hand shake kind of guy. I have always liked Randy and was hoping that the 50 Bud car could have led to more for him in cup when he stood in for the injured Ricky Craven. His son is a darn good racer and giving the 7 car a great ride for an underfunded team. Randy was a beast of a racer in the 90's. Really appreciate your interviews I used to work in BGN, Cup, CART, ChampCar, Trans AM and more recently IMSA so its great to see these videos....keep it up

[@caltrask130]

This is another great video. I learned a lot about race seating I would never have known. Randy seems so knowledgeable about how seating affects driver safety and performance in race conditions. It was good to see what he is doing now.

[@Stapleton42]

I agree! Thanks man

[@ericdanielson1138]

I have not seen the inside of that shop since 1999 when I worked for Phoenix Racing . I have the right rear corner off the # 1 Bob Evans 100,000 dollar car That Randy drove. Randy #1 and David Green #41 Were our drivers at charlotte that Race and Randy got crashed out. Merry Christmas to you all thank you for the content. Keep em coming.

[@rosswilson4196]

I knew that Randy made the best seats. Thanks for showing us how it's done.

[@justinholder9678]

Loved the shout out to Rambo!!! Awesome video once again!

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks again! We appreciate you Justin!

[@irongoatrocky2343]

back in the day I used a Butler Built Seat got the add-on headrest for it as well. From there id take the time to mount it in the car so it was a comfort fit and could still handle the car. (GM G body) was a comfortable seat for what I was doing at the time, The key was taking the time to fit it into the chassis using Uni-strut 90 degree brackets and fabricated 10gauge steel mounts as well as 1.5 in tubing to attach it to the cage, not the floor pan! The track I raced at liked the way I did it that they made the rule adjustment that all seats needed to be mounted directly to the cage as well.

[@MikeSkateTV]

Merry Christmas Logan and Mitchell! :D Cannot wait to see what you have in store for 2023 and I hope I get to go out to North Carolina to go see the RCR Museum!

[@jacobpollan858]

This is so badass... Learned a lot about randy after watching a Sunday Money episode (Corey's old podcast), and then did some more research. Randy's the man, this is awesome Mitchell!

[@Stapleton42]

That is awesome! Thanks Jacob

[@cmr189psu]

Merry Christmas Logan and Mitchell.

[@jessecardinaels]

My step dad used his racing seats racing late models in CA. Awesome to see where it was built.

[@ctsishawn1]

Cool I stumbled upon your video. Conveniently enough through your M Martin videos. But was in the shop a couple weeks ago fitting an old lajoie seat I picked up 2nd hand to me. Randy and Lisa are top notch and the wife and I played a little B-ball with the fur kid Leo too! 😂

[@LesMorrisracing]

Season Greetings Mitch and Logan Very cool video. 🎄🎄🎄🎄

[@jerrellkull5347]

Killin it as always ! Merry Christmas Logan and Mitchell. Y'all take care.

[@MrSaxojes]

Great video, love Randy already lol there was a 12 gauge shotgun behind him by his desk in his office. Love it!

[@MM_in_Havasu]

More great video content here! Would like to wish you both a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! You guys will hit it out of the park in 2023. You know that I appreciate the efforts that you & Logan put forth in filming & editing these videos so that we can all have some NASCAR history along with some really great interviews! I'm there with you all. Thank you for this video, you guys, as always, ROCK.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks mark!!

[@danielhedrick5886]

That was different and informative on what goes in on racing seats.😮

[@shafferjoe1962]

Once again, thank you both for making another cool video. About something no one really thinks about till you have buy one, then you have to think which one. Now we know who the king of seats is. God bless you both

[@richreinhart7181]

Drank with randy at the Syracuse mile many years ago

[@adamjdiamond]

A truly enjoyable interview to watch. Great business, genuinely American made 🇺🇸

[@arthurfricchione8119]

You always say glad your here well I’m glad you’re putting out these videos because otherwise we would never know that back in the day racers are still contributing to the sport. I really don’t follow the sport like i use to but your videos are like following a whole new sport. Both yourself and Logan have a safe and enjoyable Merry Christmas Artie 🎄

[@Stapleton42]

Merry Christmas Artie!

[@hdbikerdave5835]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas!

[@joesanders652]

Love what yall do , merry christmas

[@Stapleton42]

Merry Christmas Joe!

[@davethomas8060]

Another great video, really interesting how seats are made, watched Randy drive for years, so cool to see what he's up to. Must have been hard for you guys to decide to move south, but I know it will pay off in the long run. Can't wait to see more NASCAR history, and your in the right place to get it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you guys and your family. GBY

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Dave!