Scottish Elises

Hi Folks,

I am possibly considering replacing the elise with a caterham, as seems all the rage at the moment My problem is my size 11 feet.


I've driven a few caterhams. An SV chassis which was brilliant, and a perfect fit. A race car, with no seat or seatbelts, and a road car with plush seats. The race car had tight pedals, and the road car gave me cramp in both legs after 2 minutes. I'm excluding the SV from my search, as all the K series SV's are too slow, and the CSR's are too expensive. So, i am stuck with a narrow chassis K series model.

Is there anything that can be done to make a bit more space in the pedal box? I need to drive a caterham again, as its been a year, and i have forgotten exactly what the issue was, but if i remember rightly, it was a general lack of space, and ability to feel which pedal i was about to stomp on, (or which 2 pedals when i got it wrong)

So, any experts with any tips??

Neil

Have you lost my mobile number?


I'm 5'11" so a bit shorter than you with size 11 feet and I fit in without an issue - what you need is the custom foam seat.

I'm working tonight, but if you want head over tomorrow afternoon you can have a seat mine (currently out of MOT though)

My pedals are set at the middle position too - so there's scope for them to move back too if required.


Mac

mckeann wrote:Hi Folks,

I am possibly considering replacing the elise with a caterham, as seems all the rage at the moment My problem is my size 11 feet.


I've driven a few caterhams. An SV chassis which was brilliant, and a perfect fit. A race car, with no seat or seatbelts, and a road car with plush seats. The race car had tight pedals, and the road car gave me cramp in both legs after 2 minutes. I'm excluding the SV from my search, as all the K series SV's are too slow, and the CSR's are too expensive. So, i am stuck with a narrow chassis K series model.

Is there anything that can be done to make a bit more space in the pedal box? I need to drive a caterham again, as its been a year, and i have forgotten exactly what the issue was, but if i remember rightly, it was a general lack of space, and ability to feel which pedal i was about to stomp on, (or which 2 pedals when i got it wrong)

So, any experts with any tips??

Neil

Not an expert of course... but I found this problem when I drove ed's superlight. Size 11 feet and I found it difficult to press the clutch without catching my brake foot......

Could be because I've hardly driven it though and my feet/brain are still working on Elise pedal spacing (if that's possible). Def. found that the pedals were too close together though.

So, what are we doing wrong Mac?

You need a 'fitting' session.

First thing I did with my car was take all the pedals out and 're-arrange' them to suit me and my feet.

The brake and clutch move together and have 3 positions, rear, middle, front and the throttle also has 3 independant positions, each can be adjusted up and down independantly irrespective of the pedal position . . .

The pedals can also be bent left and right . . .

On my car we bent the clutch to the left, the throttle to the right and left the brake alone . . . I cant drive the car with normal shoes on at all, but with my driving shoes on it's perfect . . . we also adjusted the throttle pedal end to Lawrence spec . . . which I think works better . . .

Took an evening with myself and Lawrence working on it, but night and day compared to how it was when I bought it . . . for me . . .

Different cars are configured very differently so what works for one person may not for you . . .

Also you need to decide on a seat before you do this . . .

Happy to help if you need it . . .

Fd

Cheers Fergus,

I'm going round to Mac's on monday night for a fitting session, just to see what the problem is, as i cant remember. His car is off the road just now. Is yours driveable??


Neil

banana is road legal and has removable seats but a wee bit far away to have a play

mckeann wrote: Is yours driveable??
Neil

I bloody well hope so . . . it'll be taxed and completely road legal (cough) on Tuesday . . .

Fd

For the record I'm only shy of an MOT - I should have one at some point this week also, when I get round to fitting my fog light.


Mac

mac wrote:For the record I'm only shy of an MOT - I should have one at some point this week also, when I get round to fitting my fog light.


Mac

Sorry Mac, couldnt remember if you said it was tax or MOT, so didnt want to speculate. Sorry for the insinuation that your caterham is an unreliable wreck

bare feet...........

tut

An exciting development...good luck Neil!

tut wrote:bare feet...........

tut

I was going to suggest we amputate his legs........last thing we need is another bare footed driver!

Fergus,

What was Lawrences's pedal mod?

David

Some pedals have a tubular section welded on the end, you cut that and open it up so there's more pedal for your foot to catch . . .

Fd

My throttle ends on a tubular section..........


or should I say it ended.........






Mac