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

Randy LaJoie is a three time NASCAR Busch (now Xfinity) Series champion and lifetime racer. In the early 70s his father purchased a race seat from the legendary Mark Donohue! This custom seat became the one Randy used when he began to race. Eventually he realized he had something not only more comfortable, but significantly safer than most racers, and saw a business opportunity. Now Randy's business "The Joie of Seating" has produced over 10,000 hand fabricated racing seats for all disciplines of auto racing!
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[@ryanhunsinger]

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?

[@ryanhunsinger]

@@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@kevinfortier6077]

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

[@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!!

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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 .

[@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.

[@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.

[@Robmc7759]

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

[@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

[@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!!

[@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.

[@richreinhart7181]

Drank with randy at the Syracuse mile many years ago

[@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!

[@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.👍🏁🎯

[@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!

[@brucewrandol]

I remember when he started his company. Impressive information.

[@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

[@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.

[@mistertheking]

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.

[@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 😂

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@dbest4541]

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

[@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!

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

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

[@24Garland]

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

[@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

[@timewithoutconsequence4611]

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

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Jason!

[@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.

[@baims8367]

These are the sexiest damn racing seats 💺 there is. They do it w cool ass covers and prints. I love em..

[@Stapleton42]

Me too

[@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. 😊

[@CliffsideStables]

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

[@billiverson9014]

Another pole position presentation..! I witnessed Randy winning the Daytona 300 on February 15, 1997. The ticket was $30.

[@brianbeilmann2992]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@danielhedrick5886]

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

[@jeremy8169]

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

[@mikemaccracken3112]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@buddybarker1044]

Excellent! Very interesting

[@spartamx71]

As a fan of AMC Javelins and Donohue’s Trans Am exploits, this is so interesting

[@Stapleton42]

Totally!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@jasonfields2798]

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

[@Jason1Pa]

I didn't know he made seats! I'm learning something new every day! 😆

[@tonjakangas3633]

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.

[@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

[@jeffjohnston3504]

I got to see, meet, and watch win the BGN race in 1997 at IRP my hometown. Randy was awesome. Even though I was rooting Jason Keller or Elton Sawyer lol 😆 😂

[@TOMCAT5.5149]

A true American.. he will not go out of the country.. good for him!!

[@danwiththe8647]

how good is the Frenchie, what a little weapon!

[@bennyhelgeson401]

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

[@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!!

[@jessecardinaels]

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

[@Ronaldl2350]

Merry Christmas Mitchell and Logan.

[@richardharvey8939]

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

[@morelanmn]

I love the fact that Laloie is a "Safety First" company.

[@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!

[@willynelson3410]

We use his seats !! They are the cats ass !! Love it !

[@justinholder9678]

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

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks again! We appreciate you Justin!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@gorjlg]

Got to hang out with Randy at the Charlotte dirt track when we were racing there. He seemed really nice.

[@BigfootSOH]

Great video, guys! Merry Christmas! :)

[@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.

[@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! 😂

[@silverss396chevelle]

Another great video. His kids program would be my reason to purchase his products. How do you come up with these ideas to interview??? You have a gift and are getting exponentially better with every video! It kinda reminds me of the old show on TNN (that alone should tell you how old) WINNERS with Neil Bonnett and with Darrell Waltrip. You let the person being interviewed speak and interject questions that the viewer is almost thinking themselves. Keep up the great work - I can't wait to see what you bring us next.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man. That’s a great thing to be compared to. I just enjoy learning peoples stories and hearing WHY they are passionate about a particular thing. How certain life paths came to be. Things like that.

[@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

[@luv2race116]

Met Randy several times at supernationals hes a great guy.

[@428eliminator3]

Every time I see Randy I'm reminded of the time he called Bobby Hamilton Jr. "Barney Rubble" after they crashed. 😂

[@garyk76]

Was always 1 of my favorite Busch series driver

[@USN_Ret-]

Merry Christmas!

[@rosswilson4196]

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

[@frosportinternationale]

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

[@Stapleton42]

Our pleasure!

[@scottsherrington7294]

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

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Scott!

[@unclebones2488]

great video thank you for the tour

[@hdbikerdave5835]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas!

[@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!

[@claymillican25]

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

[@richardboggs260]

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

[@caseysmith544]

Small sleeping/shower quarters seems to be a necessary thing for racers and the manufacturers in NASCAR. My parents do not have sleeping quarters at the Greenhouse but they have a wash sink in the big plastic tub style and if worst case my parents could make the short hose style faucet to that longer with an actual hose added to the short hose so people could shower in the Boiler Room if needed, just get a wash-tub, some aluminum tubing bent into shape with added legs hold up a curtain, and the person is ready to go.

[@TheSmoothGrind]

Awesome tour and story. Thanks for sharing!

[@jft3426]

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

[@larryburwell8550]

Great video guys I'm glad you posted it

[@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