After each 20-30 minute HDPE session, my arms are seriously fatigued and ache. At the end of the day, they're like noodles. I always have a proper seating seating position, my car still has power steering, and I don't feel like I'm overly tense (no death-grip on the steering wheel).

I try to brace myself with my legs, but that only goes so far. I think I'm using the steering wheel quite a bit to brace myself in the turns, which is causing my arm strain. Is this a common problem? Will a good seat take care of it and let my arms concentrate on steering instead of holding on for dear life?

 

hit the weight room, nancy boy

I got my first HPDE coming up at the end of the month, I know Im gonna feel the wrath for sure, especially with no PS, no harnesses, stock seats, and crappy camber settings Im guessing a nice racing seat would help out a lot.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Batoutahell &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Will a good seat take care of it and let my arms concentrate on steering instead of holding on for dear life?</TD></TR></TABLE>
yes it will

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Batoutahell &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Will a good seat take care of it and let my arms concentrate on steering instead of holding on for dear life?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Along with a harness to keep you from having to grip the wheel to stay in place.

 

Jim, if you're using the stock seatbelt, try locking it before you go out to drive. Slide the seat all the way back, yank the seatbelt so it locks, then slide the seat forward to your normal position. It's good to be tight and have a little pain in the shoulder, cuz that would keep you awake.

It won't hold you down as tight as a multi-point harness will, but still does the job fine. And of course a bucket seat would also help.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Jim, if you're using the stock seatbelt, try locking it before you go out to drive. Slide the seat all the way back, yank the seatbelt so it locks, then slide the seat forward to your normal position. It's good to be tight and have a little pain in the shoulder, cuz that would keep you awake. </TD></TR></TABLE>

y0 j00 can even get da 'PoWeReD By H0nDa TyPE R' SeAtBelT pAds!

Thats a neat trick though, I never thought of that

 

I usually do lock the seatbelt, then slide the seat up into place for a tight grip. That helps, but I still feel like my upper body slides left to right too easily. I'm not sure if I'm ready for a nice racing seat and harness, because I'd like to have a cage in place before I go that far. I was just wondering if I was the only one with this problem. Every once in a while I try to talk Wes into selling me his JDM recaro since he's using the m00gen seat. At least I could still use my stock seatbelt with the recaro.

 

maybe you're too tense and you need to just relax before you go out there.

edit- even if your grip aint' too tight, you could be tensing your arms too much.

 

Hey Jim, a seat would definitely help, and a harness would help even more. Over the winter you should throw in a roll cage, get a 5 point harness, and a more supportive seat. It makes a huge difference. You will be way less fatigued.

 

A good Seat wil Definately help. Along with Four point harnesses!
Also, Braille Auto Development is coming out with a bolt-on steering quickener for our cars. It will reduce the number of turns by 50% from 2.9 to 2.1 turns lock to lock and will bolt on in 15-20 minutes! With hand tools!
For more info email: quicksteer@hotmail.com
-Blake

 

If you get one nice seat, dont you have to get 2. A lot of the tracks require the same setup for the instructor that the driver has. I too was thinking about getting some firmies instead of the stock squirmies...

 

Just FYI you can use the stock seatbelt with many bucket seats. You just have to thread it through the side holes.

On my SPG I don't even have to do that. My waist and legs sit level with the top of the side bolsters so it's resting on me still.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by White Dragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey Jim, a seat would definitely help, and a harness would help even more. Over the winter you should throw in a roll cage, get a 5 point harness, and a more supportive seat. It makes a huge difference. You will be way less fatigued.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's the plan, Stan.

 

another thing an instuctor told me was to pull the steering wheel the direction you are turning rather than push..

if that makes sense..

also dont give the wheel a death grip, that will wear you out!

 

How in the hell do you expect to pass people at MAM with girly arms?

Dbl A -who is out of shape and lacks s00per arm strength.

 

Yeah EP, I understand what you mean. I get worn out not by steering, but by holding onto the steering wheel through a corner.

Trust me, we'll ALL have tired arms at MAM. Me from hanging onto my steering wheel, and everyone else from repeatedly extending their left arms out the window to point me by.

 

http://www.turnfast.com/tech_d...lasso
This really helped me learn how to steer with more control and in a more relaxed position.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Batoutahell &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Trust me, we'll ALL have tired arms at MAM. Me from hanging onto my steering wheel, and everyone else from repeatedly extending their left arms out the window to point me by.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yoyoyo - 'nancy drew' why don't you start driving on the street w/o ps & then those girly arms will feel wonderful after a track event. I didn't find MAM hard at all when it comes to steering.

Then again, I wasn't quite as fast as you were hehehe

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 98ITR#0020 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you get one nice seat, dont you have to get 2.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, The driver has to supply the same safety for the passenger that he has for himself. As Far as getting 2 NICE seats, well the drivers can be super nice and you can throw a big ugly cheap seat in the passenger side. Nowheres does it say, THE SAME SEAT FOR BOTH PEOPLE, in any regulations.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 98ITR#0020 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A lot of the tracks require the same setup for the instructor that the driver has....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not the tracks, the sanctioning body who put the event on. Plus if the instructor does not feel safe in the car, he will not get in.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Batoutahell &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think I'm using the steering wheel quite a bit to brace myself in the turns, which is causing my arm strain. Is this a common problem? ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's because you are, this is common in HPDE unless you have a seat and a roll-bar with harness. If you would like a quick fix that will help a little, Find a seat in another car that is more of a bucket seat. Rip it out of that Honda and put it in yours.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Batoutahell &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Will a good seat take care of it and let my arms concentrate on steering instead of holding on for dear life?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, and harness

 

Another fix is to get some of the rubber mesh mat material - the kind you line cabinets with. Line your seat bottom and seat back, and secure it... you wont slide around as much.

RJ

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Quote, originally posted by FURBALL B-16 »
...if the instructor does not feel safe in the car, he will not get in.


You should give the instructor the same protection that you give yourself.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed. However, at the last 2 NASA events, we had a 2 differnt Cobra Replicas that only had a roll hoop for the driver, not the passenger, and the instructor got in the car both times (2 different times) and the car was black flagged both times and brought in.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">he will be less effective as an instructor because you will be throwing him all over the car and he'll be wasting too much energy on supporting himself in the car.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Good info, Thanks George

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The instructor is supposed to look at the car before he gets in it, but time doesn't always allow very much of an inspection, what with the way we shove instructors around all day long.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes he is,
But George, There is plenty of time to check the car before the first session of HPDE 1 and 2. There is plenty of time as long as the student is on grid in a timely manner and the instructor is on grid and not running late.

This happens more then I would like to see. Also if the grid goes and you or the instructor are not ready, The instructor should still go over the car no matter what. This is safety for you and the rest of the field. No one should feel rushed, it's a fun event.

I look at it this way, If the student is late getting to grid, The instructor should take as much time as they need to tech the car, If the instructor is late to grid, the car should still be checked but after the session you should have a talk with unkaford (sorry can't sphell his name) and tell him what happened and have another instructor in your car the following session or weekend.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Solracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Agreed. However, at the last 2 NASA events, we had a 2 differnt Cobra Replicas that only had a roll hoop for the driver, not the passenger, and the instructor got in the car both times (2 different times) and the car was black flagged both times and brought in.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is an example of how the instructor does not take the proper time to go over the car. I mean, HOW do you not notice a roll hoop is not there on a car that has no roof?