Best helmet seat??

[DDtB]

The current S2 seat I have in the Elise is great for road driving, with lots of nice padding and a high headrest to lean back onto.. but it's possibly not the best for me on track. It tends to push my head out forward when I have my helmet on, putting a strain on my neck... and I tend to lean my head into the corners too, which doesn't help.

The net result is that my neck feels like it's broken just now - after the Amp3 day on Friday - and I can't even bend over to put on a pair of socks without help!!!! It's not the first time this has happened to me either.

So if I was to change the seats in the car... are there any which are not going to force my head so far forward !?!? e.g. corbeau le-pros?? Thinking a harness would potentially help me too.

Cheers,

Dave.

[Corranga]

Is it not possible to buy a flat backed helmet that may help you out with your current seats?

Chris

[DDtB]

Is it not possible to buy a flat backed helmet that may help you out with your current seats?

Chris

Dunno... is it??

[Andy G]

i'd try harnesses first mate - you might find that sorts the issue. Especially if you have it tight as it will go.

Was watching your video and noticing how far you were leaning in to the corners

If you are much better strapped in torso wise, and the lap belt part, should keep you rooted to the seat then it should make things better - worth having a go and seeing if it better certainly.

Failing that might be worth speaking to Renmure about neck strengthening excercises?

[renmure]

i

Failing that might be worth speaking to Renmure about neck strengthening excercises?

Interestingly I have a bit of a "dodgy" neck at the best of times and sometimes get sore even after any sort of spirited driving in any car, even a B-road cross country bit of fun in the Mini. But... I never have any bother whatever in the exige, even on track. Its the only car with harnesses.

Obvious route to follow is (a) get your neck sorted for now, (b) get some harnesses for the car. Alternatively (c) flatten the back of your head and get a suitable helmet.

[DDtB]

Hmmmm... sounds like harnesses may be an idea then....


but then you get into that whole argument about whether you need seats with harness holes etc...

[kenny]

Interestingly I have a bit of a "dodgy" neck at the best of times and sometimes get sore even after any sort of spirited driving in any car, even a B-road cross country bit of fun in the Mini.

Likewise, I have had a few lower neck / shoulder area injuries. I often get quite bad neck and shoulder pain after track days and road runs, I can feel my muscles are incredibly tense during the event and sometimes feel as though they are siezed up a few hours later, usually some strong painkillers, heatpacks and a good massage from friendly female do the trick

[campbell]

your head is the wrong shape, Dave, you will have to sell the car

or learn to drive it like the Stig

[mac]

I put harness in the S2 after hurting my back on a regular basis whilst driving the car on track. Made a huge different, as Andy says, your much better restrained so that you can't twist so much. That and wearing you collar should be enough. You can get flat backed helmets too - but generally they are the same size to the widest point.


Mac

[alicrozier]

Dave,
I noticed from your vid that you lean your body and move your head alot (helmet was getting in the way of the camera!).

Better restraint as mentioned would probably help. Keeping your torso and head still will also improve your driving IMO making car control easier - gives you a fixed point of reference wrt the car. You're probably also using the wheel prevent leaning which is never good.

An example of keeping your head still below:
Patrese in a Civic Type R
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oIhGJyLR6TI

Watch Patrese's relaxed driving position (probably 2nd view after you watch his wife's reaction the first time!)

[Cisco]

Ali,

That's a brilliant link

Dave,

Another vote for harnesses on track.

Take care,

Frank

[campbell]

Well done Ali, that cheered up an otherwise miserable 1st day back at work after hols!

Ricardo is, as you say, very controlled and relaxed. Same can't be said for his missus, but how often have all of us experienced that kind of reaction...on the road

btw, was it just me or was she "a bit younger" than him?!

classic stuff, keep em coming

[j2 lot]

btw, was it just me or was she "a bit younger" than him?!

Talked continuously while he grinned inanely, sure that is familiar to lots of us too ?

Noticed she was doing a bit of peanut smuggling too

[Corranga]

You can get flat backed helmets too - but generally they are the same size to the widest point.

...cos it doesn't actually make your head any smaller...

Flat back might help reduce the 'wobble' caused by the helemt rolling on the seat kinda thing, actually that said, it might mean more contact is made with the seat making everything worse...

How does a harness help though, surely your head is still pushed forward by the shape of the seat and that's the problem...?

Chris

[mac]

Most folk will lead their head into the corner a little bit or at least let it be pulled over by the G force working on it. What you might find is that Dave is pivoting from the waist and his neck is try to compensate for his torso moving whilst also allowing his neck to turn too so that there is two forces at work. ????


Mac