Driving/Seat Position

[makard]

At 6'8", my seat is mounted against the floor (to provide required 2" clearance of helmet to roof) and nearly all the way against the sheet metal upright for the rear seat (to provide leg room). We extended the steering column and lowered it so the steering wheel is reasonably close (wrist at top of steering wheel with arm extended). Due to lack of headroom/leg room in virtually every vehicle made, I've never had the opportunity to drive in the "race" seating position, so I've always been in the "gangsta position" when I drive. Being accustomed to such, I've never been able to understand why folks make it out to be such a big deal....comfortable & secure is what I think is truly most important. ;-)

[gearheadE30]

I'm 6'4" with a corbeau CR1 for track/autox stuff, but sport seats otherwise. I sit pretty close to the wheel, but with my build it makes it very difficult to get the wrist on the rim of the wheel bit, because I can't tilt the seat forward enough without hitting my head. Thus, I have a bit more lean than I'd like, but its the same with both seats. On the street I usually sit a click or two further back. any more than that and I can't heel and toe smoothly enough.

[einstein57]

I'm six one and I sit one click back and two clicks tilted. I can't sit upright with a helmet. Just got a sparco junior to remedy that.

[BimmerScreamer]

I found this write up,

http://www.e30m3project.com/e30m3performance/myths/Driving_Position/driving_position.htm

My self, I am 5 10 so I have room to play with, right now I have a Sparco speed and a deep dish omp wheel. Most other people who sit in my seat say they feel crowded by the wheel but I like it. I also have a tall AKG shifter so everything is close, I like how the shifter is almost a forward reach from the wheel.

[CincinnatiKid]

At 6'8", my seat is mounted against the floor (to provide required 2" clearance of helmet to roof) and nearly all the way against the sheet metal upright for the rear seat (to provide leg room). We extended the steering column and lowered it so the steering wheel is reasonably close (wrist at top of steering wheel with arm extended). Due to lack of headroom/leg room in virtually every vehicle made, I've never had the opportunity to drive in the "race" seating position, so I've always been in the "gangsta position" when I drive. Being accustomed to such, I've never been able to understand why folks make it out to be such a big deal....comfortable & secure is what I think is truly most important. ;-)

How did you mount your seat against the floor?

[makard]

How did you mount your seat against the floor?

My RaceTech seat has the rear of the bottom bolted directly to the floor and it is tilted so that the front is supported by Aluminum spacer plate. The seat also is attached to a larger than required seat-back brace. This configuration absolutely maximizes headroom. :)

[ck_taft325is]

How'd you get the idea at 6'8" that an e30 would be a great choice of car? I'm not hating, I think it's awesome. I've just been friends that were sky scraper built and they wouldn't even ride in it for fear of not fitting.

[Massive Lee]

How did you mount your seat against the floor?

You can do something like that (old, old pictures).
Take note that a floorpan was actually cut and used to mock up. Seat was moved toward the tranny tunnel to center with the steering wheel, and to clear the seat's shoulder with the cage. The sidemounts are the 6 years old prototypes.now shorter. Aluminum angles are from any hardware store. You only need a drill.

[briansjacobs]

my seating position is the same regardless of what car I am in. My race car or my E46 or my Denali. Seating position is the same in all and mirrors are set the same on my street cars as my race car.

when in the seat your wrist should rest comfortably on the steering wheel with a nice bend at your elbows. your side mirrors should not duplicate your rear view mirror, they should start where your blind spot is in your rear view.

[JGood]

your side mirrors should not duplicate your rear view mirror, they should start where your blind spot is in your rear view.

This is something people need to do. Not should do, but NEED TO DO. I get in other peoples cars, and I can see more of the side of the car out of the rearview then I can the side mirrors. They have them angled down at the tires for parking, or straight up so that the sun goes in their eyes, or inward so they can see their own stupid faces, but not outward where they should be.

[briansjacobs]

Jgood, love the sedan in your sig.

[JGood]

You can do something like that (old, old pictures).
Take note that a floorpan was actually cut and used to mock up. Seat was moved toward the tranny tunnel to center with the steering wheel, and to clear the seat's shoulder with the cage. The sidemounts are the 6 years old prototypes.now shorter. Aluminum angles are from any hardware store. You only need a drill.

This is exactly how I have mine set up. Your braces with angle aluminum. Lightweight, cheap, strong, and very easy to modify/move around. My seat is almost touching the floor in the back with this setup.

[makard]

my seating position is the same regardless of what car I am in. My race car or my E46 or my Denali. Seating position is the same in all and mirrors are set the same on my street cars as my race car.

when in the seat your wrist should rest comfortably on the steering wheel with a nice bend at your elbows. your side mirrors should not duplicate your rear view mirror, they should start where your blind spot is in your rear view.

What a luxury! Unfortunately, IMO, it isn't possible to achieve the same seating position in any production car that I am aware of compared to what one can accomplish custom-mounting a race seat directly on the floor and the seat back actually touching the upright for the rear seat in an e30... When you're 6'8" the factory seat adjustments simply don't permit adequate legroom & headroom & the perfect steering wheel location simultaneously. For the knees to clear the dash....the seat has to be all the way back and for the head to clear the roof the seat has to recline considerably in most cases....leaving one considerably farther away from the steering wheel than the optimum location as steering columns are typically not long enough to achieve such. Factory seating with adjustable tilt to the base help this significantly by allowing the rear of the seat to go lower with the front as high as possible (makes egress more difficult, but improves driver comfort considerably). Only in convertibles, motorhomes, and my high-top Sprinter work van have I had the luxury of sitting upright without bending my neck for head clearance...and the convertibles had me looking OVER the windshield like the character in the James Bond movies (unfortunately I have friends with photos from BMW autox events with me driving Z3s and Z4s to prove this). ;););)

[Massive Lee]

Tall guys have no option but to seat on the floor. ;-) Seat needs to be lowered a huge 4" from stock...

In regard of seating position, it will also affect the way the pedals are activated. Especially important if one runs a boosterless brake system. Finding the right position so that the leg can press the brakes with full force can make a huge difference. Two years ago, one guy at Targa Newfoundland had problem pressing the brakes. Then we worked a bit, looking for a more ideal seating position allowing to properly and naturally apply force on the pedal. And it worked. ;-)

[CincinnatiKid]

Nobody makes a fixed floor mount for a Corbeau adjustable race seat, so basically unless I fab something custom I'm screwed.