Helmet issue!!

[polopharm]

I am going to a track day tomorrow. After doing some odds n ends to prepare- I tried to put on my helmet- I can't !
While seated in the car in virtually any seat position, my helmet is in full contact with the roof.
I am around 5 10 to 5 11. My later model Recaro seat does not appear any taller then the stock one which I have.
The sunroof frame is part of the problem. At this point I am at a loss as to what to do. Any ideas ?

[player1up]

Maybe change the seating position. Might have to scoot the seat forward and lean the upper part back a little...that's if you've got enough space for your legs...but that probably brings your knees in contact with the steering wheel...
On another note, does anyone else think these cars need a flat bottom steering wheel?

[polopharm]

That's the only position that works but my shins are then both planted on the under side of the dash. Which makes shifting difficult.
I am used to an upright position close to wheel so that you cannot lock your elbows. This also to me provides the best visibility.
Although it seems dumb I may try and check out different helmets.
How did the race cars do it ! Especially adding in a cage.

My steering wheel is a nice smaller one that the PO installed. Any bigger and I would not need hands as I could just steer with my knees.

I read a lot about cabin "roominess", but my mr2 is a smaller car with more driver room. Including the fully caged one.

[168glhs1986]

I was wondering why you had that issue and then saw our cars differ by a sunroof. I would remove the seats and see if there is anything g you can do to lower the position by altering the brackets. Seats come out in 5 min and worth a look.

[player1up]

That's kinda what I expected, knees in the dash, sorry.
What helmet are we talking about? DOT or SNELL approved?
You do bring up a good question though.

How DID the racers fit in there? Maybe they had fiberglass racing seats or were small guys.

I'm guessing that the "roominess" comments are relative.
"It's roomier than I expected" ..."it's roomy for a race car" something like that...compared to my 73 Duster it's a sleeping bag with wheels.

[polopharm]

My helmet is a race approved car helmet. But it kind of has a taller dome on top. Like it is trying to be more" aerodynamic" but in an enclosed car .....I was thinking of borrowing one of the open face ones that seem just round on top.
I am guessing the race cars had seats bolted directly to the floor. And where perhaps custom made. I am not a big person.

[zin]

Maybe you could look into an old school, open face helmet?

Mike

[Johnny]

I autocrossed with my helmet on with plenty of room in my car. (open top)
........but even in mine it is close to the soft top I had at one race. (the point of being in this thread)

[Rrider]

In my hatchback I would open the sunroof. I don't know if that is allowed for you..

[turbovanman²]

Shave off the top of the helmet,

[polopharm]

Just put my hoosier r6's on the wheels I got from rossion.
Lets see if they fit , or like the helmet, be too tight.
Thats the rears. Fronts are fine.

[turbovanman²]

Nice rims,

[bfarroo]

Are the Hoosiers a cheater type tire that is bigger than the size suggests. I wouldn't think 225's would look that much bigger in the wheel well. My car has 25 year old crap 205's on it so its hard to compare.

Also when you have a chance could you get me the part numbers off the front and rear square side markers on you car. I've found the rectangle ones but mine is recessed for the square ones like your car has.

[player1up]

So you've got 225's on the front too?

[polopharm]

I have 205 front 225 rear. It worked out .....except 2 laps into first run radiator hose to water pump broke. Lost all coolant temp pegged at 250. Blew at least head gasket. ----

[player1up]

I have 205 front 225 rear. It worked out .....except 2 laps into first run radiator hose to water pump broke. Lost all coolant temp pegged at 250. Blew at least head gasket. ----

OH NO! Sorry to hear that...That's the fat one, right? That same hose blew on mine on Friday but I managed to catch it before it got too hot.

[player1up]

Are the Hoosiers a cheater type tire that is bigger than the size suggests. I wouldn't think 225's would look that much bigger in the wheel well. My car has 25 year old crap 205's on it so its hard to compare.

Also when you have a chance could you get me the part numbers off the front and rear square side markers on you car. I've found the rectangle ones but mine is recessed for the square ones like your car has.

My maker lights have this on them:

PM155-15
SAE AP2-76-DOT

Both the amber and red lights have the same markings.

They are NOT Grote lenses but Peterson Manufacturing ( thus the PM in the part number ). I haven't been able to find them new ( just lenses ) but Peterson has LED versions of the amber ones

[polopharm]

Spoke to a friend of Johnny with the red factory built IMSA car. His seat is set on strips of 1/2" wood and bolted thru the floor.
Not ideal set up but I may do the same but with some square metal tubing. He is 5 '11" and clears the roof fine.
He is sending me pictures of his roll cage too.
He says it bolts to the floor via aluminum sandwich plates. It does not go thru either front or rear bulkheads.

[jacob mosler]

Some shots of the pole cat

I'm 6ft 220 and I fit but I go take the bottom cushion out. And it's a standard race sparco.

[RoadWarrior222]

You need to hit some country railroad crossings at about 80mph, compress the spine a bit with a few hard landings.