lowering a sport seat for helmet clearance

[gareth]

before anyone says it, i know the height is adjustable just not enough

i've been thinking about track use on my car and though it's not the ideal tool for the job, it's perfect for blatting across the continent, over the alps, italy, alps, nurburgring then home again in comfort, at speed and without a numb bum due to my sport seats.

unfortunately i can't fit my fat head in if i wear a helmet not ideal.

i'm hoping i can fit some 4 point harnesses in addition to the standard ones (on quick releases maybe) and lower the seat somehow so my head fits in. then i'd be sorted

ideally i don't want to fit a motorsport type seat if i can help it and removing the sunroof for clearance is also out of the question.

any cunning suggestions anyone?

[billgatese30]

I've wondered this too as every track car I have had has meant that I constantly sit there with my head on the roof when on track.

[AlpineAde]

I run E21 Recaros with modified frame/rails and find that they sit fractionally lower than my Pole Position shell did. Clearance is pretty good.

[djs325]

Helps if you have no sunroof...

[Theo]

Short of getting a decent side mounted seat I don't see a solution. It's just one of the many comprimises of using a road car on track I think.

[gareth]

cheers for the comments. i think E21 recaros may be rather hard to source

for track use in the UK, i'd be tempted to get a cheap racing bucket seat and swap it over for the day.

i wonder if a custom subframe using the original seat but permanently fixed into a lower position and my desired reach could be fabricated. i like to drive close to the wheel, in the same position as i would do on track so it could in theory stay there. nobody else drives my car so i don;t really need it to be adjustable, and having rear doors means it doesn't need to fold forwards

does the OEM seatbelt buckle fix to the seat or the subframe?

[handpaper]

Gareth, you have my sympathy!
The only way I could avoid bashing my helmeted head was to lower the seat all the way, tilt it right back, and recline the back a little, too. Not ideal in terms of support or control.

Having had some experience of swapping seats in and out of my Touring for a couple of trackdays this year, I'd say it's not too much of a hassle. Two nuts at the front of the seat, two bolts at the back and it's out. Sport seat out and bucket in takes about 10 minutes with a 17mm socket (and long extension for the nut by the transmission tunnel).
The OE seatbelt buckle attaches to the seat with another bolt, so you'd have to either mount it to the bucket (or subframe) somehow or, better, use a harness.

You could probably fabricate a fixed bottom mount for the Sport seat which would lower it enough, but it will never be as supportive as a bucket/harness combination.

[gareth]

i've just been out, sitting in the car with my helmet on, looking like... err, a total helmet!

i've found that if i lean the seat back three 'clicks', i can get enough headroom but i'm then too stretched with my arms (not too bad but i do like to sit close.

the obvious solution... as i have a Personal (similar to momo etc) wheel, i'll buy or knock up a spacer for it, to sit betweent he wheel and adaptor boss.

why didn't i think of this before?

[Simon13]

Never had this problem and i'm 6 foot tall

[gareth]

i'm 6 feet tall too, i guess i must have short legs and a long body if you see what i mean.

when i used to drive my ex's E34, i would use the exact same seat position, she's 5 foot 3 inches!

[gareth]

well i've been busy during lunch breaks at work and have knocked this little chappie up (the silver bit...)





i can now recline the seat the few clicks necessary to get helmet clearance and still get a nice comfortable grip on the wheel. The gearstick is a little bit far away now as i'm used to sitting more upright so i'll probably keep missing gears now

with it fitted and the seat in the normal road position (only possible without a helmet) it's like sitting in a F1 car (i have done while visiting Jordan about 9/10 years ago). it's great
the only problem is not being able to reach the indicator stalk properly so it's really only for the track, cool to have though and takes about 3 mins to fit