Drivng position for fixed seats...

[spic]

I have just fitted my new fixed buckets and have to say even at there furthest point forward the drivers seat is a little further back than i would normanly have it...saying that though i can depress the clutch with ease (just) and my arms are in the perfect driving position after fitting my dished wheel and boss, I guess my question is how do you guys drive / sit while racing in regards to your leg positions ?


Thanks

Steve.

[UweM3]

you might need you wheel closer to you than you think before you haven been on track.
Hence the dished wheels available. Usually pedals are too far away.
I have adjustable bucket seat mounts and move the seat a notch forward for track.

[djs325]

I have to run the seat as far back as possible to get the legs of my 188cm frame into position. But my arms are short so I use a boss kit and bolt on quick release to bring the wheel further back. I also dropped the column in my car, because as you add extensions to the wheel, it gets further elevated. I also sit fairly low in the car as well, hence the column lowering.

You still need to be able to get the brake pedal down to the stop in an emergency - that's your test of distance to pedals.

[Cotty]

I use a boss kit and bolt on quick release

Which quick release did you get?

[kimbo]

Not sure what mounting system you're using, but we position the seat by sitting the driver in all his kit (it makes a difference) in the seat inside the car and moving it about until it's right.
Then mark the position of the runners on the floor, position everything accordingly and fix it down, re-inforcing mounting points as appropriate.

Kim

p.s. off topic, but when my son was kart racing at quite a high level, we spoke to Steve Tillett (his company makes the best kart seats) about positioning the seat, which HAD to be a precise measurement from the rear axle centre line (can't remember exactly, but say it was 103mm).
We said something like - he has got long legs, can we cut that down to 97mm, he said "cut his legs down - the measurement is 103mm".
In kart racing, the seat position is VERY important. In a car just be comfortable but don't make the mistake of being too far from the wheel / pedals - it can really inhibit you if you're stretching to reach!!

[billgatese30]

You still need to be able to get the brake pedal down to the stop in an emergency - that's your test of distance to pedals.

Quite correct, even leaving an inch or two wrth of reach left after that is good, as even if you find out suddenly that you have no brakes at all, being able to push the pedal through the firewall might not slow you down, but it does wonders for your morale... I should know

VVVVVV

http://thetrackdayclub.com/forum/downlo ... G_0300.JPG

[spic]

Thanks for the replys, im guessing if i can depress the clutch to the floor then i should be able to do the same to the brake ... im also fitting a boss kit and bolt on quick release along with a omp dished wheel so my arms to the wheel should be in a good position ... I guess like karting the whereabouts of my body wieght in the car could make a fraction of a difference if i was racing and would that be more to the middle of the car ?

[kimbo]

I guess like karting the whereabouts of my body wieght in the car could make a fraction of a difference if i was racing and would that be more to the middle of the car ?

In a kart, your body weight is half the total weight, so small changes have a large effect.
With a relatively heavy car, weight isn't really the issue here - much more important to be really comfortable. Forget the laid back 'racing' driving position - take a look at how touring car drivers sit - always bent arms and knees, to give them more leverage on the controls. Useful to sit as low as poss though.
Now if you can push the seat back into the rear footwell space using a floor mounted pedal box and lowered and extended steering column (like the touring cars) then you've got the best of both worlds, but the car wont be much use for anything other than track work, if only because your peripheral vision will be blocked by the B pillar.

Kim

[spic]

Thanks for the advice Kim, i have just been back out to the car and infact once the cusions are fitted to the seats i still have a good inch or so to go before my leg is straight, my arms are nice and bent to about 20/25to position... the seat mounts i have used are original cobra fixed bucket seat mounts which i have already drilled extra holes in to get them further forward, just wasnt sure if other people had the same problem with feeling a little further back than normal ?

Thanks for all your replys.

Steve.

[Black_Potato]

You should 1st fit it to your legs as you suggest, then play with the rake and with the steering wheel loose in your hands and then work out how many spacers&Dish you need to get it to that position. If your an odd person shape wise you could need to modify the peddle box but its unlikely.

Do this with the seat on the brackets but loose on the floor, have somebody help hold the seat when you get in and out and to mark the floor position when you have it right.

You may find you need to modify the floor to take the seat where you have located it. This however is a good time to re enforce the floor as OEM seat fixings may not stand up to a BIG impact.

And yes bias it towards the middle if you can but the percentage difference will be minimal.

[UweM3]

You should 1st fit it to your legs as you suggest, then play with the rake and with the steering wheel loose in your hands and then work out how many spacers&Dish you need to get it to that position. If your an odd person shape wise you could need to modify the peddle box but its unlikely.

Do this with the seat on the brackets but loose on the floor, have somebody help hold the seat when you get in and out and to mark the floor position when you have it right.

You may find you need to modify the floor to take the seat where you have located it. This however is a good time to re enforce the floor as OEM seat fixings may not stand up to a BIG impact.

And yes bias it towards the middle if you can but the percentage difference will be minimal.

sorry but I disagree about the OEM seat fixings. They have passed tests at BMW with the much more heavy stock seats, what test have DIY drilled holes in floor with plates passed?

[djs325]

Krontec QR-01 - available from www.krontec.de

As fitted by BMW Motorsport to the R56 Mini Challenge car, GT4 M3, and as used by a bunch of other professional outfits!

I use a boss kit and bolt on quick release

Which quick release did you get?

[Black_Potato]

You should 1st fit it to your legs as you suggest, then play with the rake and with the steering wheel loose in your hands and then work out how many spacers&Dish you need to get it to that position. If your an odd person shape wise you could need to modify the peddle box but its unlikely.

Do this with the seat on the brackets but loose on the floor, have somebody help hold the seat when you get in and out and to mark the floor position when you have it right.

You may find you need to modify the floor to take the seat where you have located it. This however is a good time to re enforce the floor as OEM seat fixings may not stand up to a BIG impact.

And yes bias it towards the middle if you can but the percentage difference will be minimal.

sorry but I disagree about the OEM seat fixings. They have passed tests at BMW with the much more heavy stock seats, what test have DIY drilled holes in floor with plates passed?

This isnt DIY prep.. its race car prep, Do you think the touring cars use the standard fixing points ? I agree though that just drilling some holes and using spreader plates isnt a great idea.

We effectively use the same approach to the roll cage, take a piece of tube run it acoss the car from the center tunnel to in front of the the B pillar and weld it in on every side. this goes in just behind the squared off box section in the car floor or if the driver is shorter between the 2.

It improves rigity whilst giving a lot more metal to fix the seat to compared to the standard floor pan it also allows you to use the center fixing holes in the after market brakets so you dont get the leverage of using the front of the rear ones.

I'm having a car built at the moment and if I get a chance I'll take a picture before the seat goes in to show you what I mean.