I guess I am either really short (5' 7") or have short legs, but I feel like I sit way too close to the steering wheel on our H1 Racecar (EK). The problem with sitting close is that:

a) I feel my vision is being impared by the A-Pillar (versus sitting farther back from it,where it would proportionately take up a smaller % of the overall view)
b) At the moment, my arms extend at a comfortable distance to the steering wheel, WITHOUT the quick-release installed. When the quick release is installed, it brings the steering wheel 3 inches closer to my body, which is too close.
c) Most importantly, as I sit forward in the cockpit, the driver side window opening becomes smaller, and more difficult for me to crawl out of it during a safety inspect, and I hope (cross-fingers) that I never need to escape out of the window.

To make matters worse, we installed a Sparco Touring seat (Elephant Ears) last night, and that just made the window opening smaller. Luckily I am super skinny, and can still fit through the opening in the window... Skinny and Short, as you can tell, im a hit with the ladies...

Does anyone have any suggestions that will:
a) allow me to sit farther back (and still hit the pedals to full extension)
b) which in turn, should allow me to use the Quick Release

The wooden blocks on the pedals in Indian Jones come to mind.... Does anyone out there add a significant amount of thickness to their pedals? If so, how? Any other solutions?

I know someone out there is 4'9" and has solved this!

 

 

Thanks RJ,

I actually was able to score a kids booster seat from Denny's... the brown plastic saved me about 8 lbs over your suggestion, thanks anyway. Next!

 

Tilt the seat back?

 

Dennis, I am 5'7" (30" inseam) and don't believe I have the problem you describe. It may be due to the chassis difference ?? (2g CRX) but it could also be the rake of the seat. You might want to try putting one of those phone books under the front mount of the seat and see if that helps out at all.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phat-S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dennis, I am 5'7" </TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry the hear that...

Well, I have the sparco aluminum mounts and have adjusted them to "full tilt" and it helped alot, but still not enough.... I have a feeling we are going to have to build our own brackets, which I would rather not do if I dont have to.

I was just wondering if there was something obvious that other people did, that I'm missing...

I will try to post some pics for feedback.

Thanks for the help!

Dennis- wishing he was as tall as Andy Hope or John McNulty.

 

Put sparco or stock sliders back in to raise the seating position up?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Put sparco or stock sliders back in to raise the seating position up?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Since we may have multiple drivers, I did do that... and it did help also. Oh BTW, my eye level is perfect, forgot to mention that. I Just think I sit too close for some reason...

Does anyone out there do any major lengthening, thickening (is that a word?) to the pedals? Anyone every change their position?

 

It does sound like j00 may have unusually short legs...

i'm 5'-7" on a humid day and I have no problems reaching the pedals and still have plenty of room for quick release steering wheel.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by D.CACO &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dennis- wishing he was as tall as Andy Hope or John McNulty.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Tall drivers ( I am 6'0 so not even very tall) have their own set of problems. My seat mount is custom just to get low enough to comfortably clear the cage (I'm long torsoed). I imagine Hope and McNulty have the same problem.

Your best bet is to invest in a custom mount. Street cars force you to live with the adjustment range the manufacturer decides to build (which is never perfect). In a race car your options are limitless. If you are comfortable you will drive better. Come July at Willow Springs, 25 minutes into the race and 100+ degrees outside, the last thing you want is to be uncomortable with your driving position.

It should not be hard for someone to fabricate pedal covers that will give you some additional thickness.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by El Pollo Diablo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It does sound like j00 may have unusually short legs...

i'm 5'-7" on a humid day and I have no problems reaching the pedals and still have plenty of room for quick release steering wheel.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What type of QRealease are you using? And is this mated to a standard momo/sparco hub (approximately 4 inches long, i think)?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rickpeak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I imagine Hope and McNulty have the same problem. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I have sat in his seat, and he definately has alot of rake for him to clear his head... His seat is super awesome, Racetech? Race Fab? Something like that...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rickpeak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your best bet is to invest in a custom mount. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a feeling we will end up having to fab one up.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rickpeak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Come July at Willow Springs, 25 minutes into the race and 100+ degrees outside, the last thing you want is to be uncomortable with your driving position.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Been there!!! It sucks! Although, I wouldn't say that my position is un-comfortable- just not optimal. I am comfortable in hieght and rake (although I will try more rake). I just feel a lil clausterphobic and think I would like to sit farther back.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rickpeak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> It should not be hard for someone to fabricate pedal covers that will give you some additional thickness.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds like the problem can be solved through the pedals...

so, Is there anyone that has adjusted the thickness of their pedals other than a simple Pedal cover set? Anyone know how much thickness I can add, safely? Will the thickness screw up the geometry in some way that I cant think of right now? Anything really important about modifying the pedals that I should consider (primarily safety)? Anyone with experience?

 

Not that I am in any way qualified to say whats safe or not - what about thick blocks of aluminum with some type of milled foot surface screwed directly though the exsisting pedal - seems like you could easily gain 1.5 - 2" of thickness here..

ceas..

 

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

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


HAHAHAH I like this idea next time I will mention this to people that barely see over the dash.

 

5'7" in a 5G coupe. I have the seat tilted back way more than the Sparco brackets would allow. I had to fab up some myself with two more holes in the front.

Part of the reason is the HANS device. Part of it is my my teamate who is 6'-ish. We have the QR fitting welded to the stock steering shaft & a 1/2" spacer.

Did you fab up a mount or are you using the factory seat parts?

 

try a quick release with minimal extension such as this one

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elgorey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">try a quick release with minimal extension such as this one</TD></TR></TABLE>

Beat me to it...

Of the QR's that LTB sells here: http://www.ltbmotorsports.com/dilquicrelhu.html

There is 3/4" difference between the tallest and shortest.

---------------------

Another option would be to just buy one of the universal quick releases (basically these without the adapter plates) and weld them to the steering column. This would eliminate the length of the hub adapter and probably get you back close to stock placement again.

Someone (I forget who) makes a quick release that is a hub adapter/QR in one piece. I think this would be overall shorter as well. It was very expensive though.

 

check it out D.... I'm 5' 8" and I always seem to find ways of moving my seat further back and inwards. I think seat position comfort is very important in racing.

I have always found that i needed to move the steering wheel back, in fact, I'm sure ive moved the wheel back more than 3 inches. I have only pedal covers on the pedals and ive even pulled the seat padding out of the Sparco Pro2000 seat. Some people like to sit up high to seee over the hood, but no matter wher I sit I cant see over the hood, so why bother. I went for lower center of gravity instead. That puts my legs almost completely horizontal and Im on my tippy toes on the clutch, which I dont mind.

Its always been custom brackets, steering wheel extenders, pedals, and shifters in racecars to me and so it sounds like it will be the case for you. Good luck!


see you at BW!


by the way, you can be glad somewhat like me that we dont have to worry about trying to remove that much more weight from the car to get the weight down! We were pushing the cars in the trailer this weekend and someone says "lightest one gets in to steer"....and it was me

 

by the way, i got in one of team lexus' GS race school cars and they welded threaded rods to the stock pedals to move them out 6" and its adjustable with some nuts. (stock pedals just modified)

keep in mind now that the arch that the new position of the pedals sweeps is totally different than stock, you will have to test the new position to see what you like.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicrr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">5'7" in a 5G coupe. I have the seat tilted back way more than the Sparco brackets would allow. I had to fab up some myself with two more holes in the front.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

We were about to drill a couple of holes above the highest setting in the front to get more rake... I think we are definitely going to do that tonight.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicrr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
We have the QR fitting welded to the stock steering shaft & a 1/2" spacer.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm... thought of it. Visions of steering wheels popping off because of bad welds run thorugh my mind....!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicrr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Did you fab up a mount or are you using the factory seat parts?

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

Sparco Touring w/ aluminum brackets fitted to Sparco sliders (using a small bracket we made) mated to the Sparco Civic bracket which is mounted to the floor. basically all sparco.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ceas &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> thick blocks of aluminum with some type of milled foot surface screwed directly though the exsisting pedal - seems like you could easily gain 1.5 - 2" of thickness here..

ceas..</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was thinking of placing a spacer in between our sparco pedals and the OEM pedal with a few bolts running through the whole unit, and self locking nuts (of course). I was also wondering if anyone has done this without any issues... Loss of pedal feel, safety issues (when the spacer/pedla assembly falls out, I'd be SOL!)

I think we are going to try this out tonite as well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SBE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
by the way, you can be glad somewhat like me that we dont have to worry about trying to remove that much more weight from the car to get the weight down! We were pushing the cars in the trailer this weekend and someone says "lightest one gets in to steer"....and it was me </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm always the lightest one! HA! It's our secret competetive advantage...

Thanks for all the replies guys, we appreciate it!

 

Come by the car if you want this weekend @ BW. You are welcome to sit in the seat. I can also give you some ideas on how to work on the QR set up if you like.

Yellow #11 H4 Civic Coupe

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicrr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Come by the car if you want this weekend @ BW. You are welcome to sit in the seat. I can also give you some ideas on how to work on the QR set up if you like.

Yellow #11 H4 Civic Coupe</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for the offer, I will definitely take you up on it! Can't wait for the weekend.... (I wanna run counter clockwise dammit!)

 

OT: The direction won't really matter to me. I have been to BW a total of two times.

The first time, was for the 3 hour night enduro two years ago. It was a total cluster...well you know. It was our third race ever & first @ night. We were lucky not to wad up the car.

The second time was last week Monday for a Suby WRX day. I drove a total of three laps while instructing a friend. (Suby Dude if any of you travel in the Suby circles) It was track thirteen....IIRC.

Totally blows that you guys won't be coming up here to one of our home (NorCal) tracks this year!!