Last weekend I ran my first Autocross event. After I put on my helmet, I climbed into the car only to find that my head hit the headliner of the car! I damn near didn't fit!

I adjusted the seat height all the way down, but my helmet still brushes the headliner slightly. I can drive with it like that, and I don't feel that it's hindering my performance. I'm 5'9", not super tall by any means.

Anyone else have this issue?

I'm just guessing that you have a moon roof... I'm not much taller and have the same issue. It's a bit odd the first time or three. After that, you get used to it.

If you do a search for ' Kirkey ' you will find my posts and solution to this issue.

I'm 6'3" with no moon-roof. The roof of the car would actually prevent me from getting my helmet completely straight above me with the stock seats (now that racing seats are in... not such a big problem).

Nevertheless, I minimized the problem slightly by moving the seat a little closer to the steering wheel and then putting the seat back just a little bit... well within safety parameters. But as has been said, after two or three times out you won't even notice that your head isn't straight up and down... might make left turns a little bit troublesome at first though.

Out of curiosity, what racing seats did you use?

I am thinking of racing seats too

6"0 and have slight problem with helmet. I had to choose a helmet that fits in my driving position!

people, people how tall you are has nothing to do with how you fit in the car...

torso length is the issue.. i am 5'10" and have the torso of a 6'5" person... makes riding bikes hard also...

but big advantage if you are a x skier. i just got into a car with a sunroof in a helmet.. i am almost afraid to get in my car.. i may never track day....

beers :beer:

you have very short legs :rolleyes:

I recently installed Recaro Pole Position seats with custom side brackets and Recaro sliders using the floor mounting tabs from the OE seat sliders, I now have a mile of clearance

the typical racing side mounts everyone sells won't put the seat low enough

^^ no kidding.....:) I am making custom brackets this week. I have access to a laser cutter....so I just need to design something and get it cut and welded.

I wish this car had a flat floor with symetrical seat mounts :( Would sure make this easier...

I had the same issue except i'm only 6'0 in a non moonroof car. Leaning the seat back seemed to do the trick, I normally like to sit fairly straight up when I race. I would say if that doesn't work you need a different rail or seat like everyone else suggested.

6'5 + helmet = no autocross for Jedi :(

I think driving position is paramount in getting a good time in track day/autox.

I need a solution (which also has to look good) like TeamRX8.

After a couple of weeks....

had that issue before I got my racing seats... I'm 6"1, and replacing the seat seemed to be the only solution. Made a customer base mount, bolted the seat with OMP side mounts, now my helmet is a mile away from my roof!!

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l317/myjunwrx/Photo-0078.jpg

Would some of the people with custom mounts please post pictures of the mounts if possible? Want to get this done myself, but would help if I had something to help guide the design.

Last weekend I ran my first Autocross event. After I put on my helmet, I climbed into the car only to find that my head hit the headliner of the car! I damn near didn't fit!

I adjusted the seat height all the way down, but my helmet still brushes the headliner slightly. I can drive with it like that, and I don't feel that it's hindering my performance. I'm 5'9", not super tall by any means.

Anyone else have this issue?

Are you hitting the top or the side of the headliner or both? It's a tight fit laterally as well. Try different helmets before making radical changes to seats. If it's a daily driver, remenber that your side airbags are in the seat and there are some electronic issues-there are some posts on this. Have someone measure the distance between your butt and the floor pan with the seat down-not much room to work with. After switching helmets, I settled for a slightly more reclined position than my ideal at the end of the day.

The only issue I have it the lid hitting the top (I don't put it down). I'm 5'8" but I still want racing seats :wiggle: in yellow.

Would some of the people with custom mounts please post pictures of the mounts if possible? Want to get this done myself, but would help if I had something to help guide the design.


DITTO!!!

I'm definately going to be in the market here soon for some custom or aftermarket mounts and bucket seat.

A DIY on the mounts would be :worship:

6'0, moonroof, BS so can't have after market seat. lower seat all the way, recline slightly, take out all lumbar support to sink into seat more, lower steering wheel, I have about 1/2 inch to spare. driving position is just fine.

haha this is funny to me...im 5'1 and i have my seat all the way raised with a helmet :) but sorry to hear some of yous are having issues

well I can post a sketch of the bracket I made for the Recaro PP seats that fit the rest of my personal setup, can't guarantee how well it will work for anything else ...

I easily have several inches above my helmet with the seat back set almost vertical and it adjusted full forward with the steering wheel close to my body, my preferred positioning. My helmet would hit the frward and side headliner area with the OE seat adjusted the same in it's lowest position

haha this is funny to me...im 5'1 and i have my seat all the way raised with a helmet :) but sorry to hear some of yous are having issues

Haha...Laugh it up shortstop...:)

That would be great team, good point about whether or not it will be compatible with other bucket seats may just have to go w/the Recaros...I'll figure sumtin out because the 2 legged brace and head tilt are a definate no go :hahano:

Out of curiosity, what racing seats did you use?

sorry it took so long to get back to you...

I've got Sparco Evo L s . But we also had to have special mounts made to get the seats farther down.

One thing with these seats is the stock seatbelts are basically useless with this seat, so you will have to put a harness system in the car if you use the evo l.

you can make the OE seatbelt work with some innovation

http://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php?p=1866944&postcount=468

i'm 5'8" and my head would touch the ceiling a little bit, not to the point of uncomfortability (it's a word, seriously), but i noticed that in tight turns i was using my head to brace myself. i had a really sore neck the next day, and i realized it's probably really unsafe.

i don't want to put racing seats in right now so, so i'm talking to doctors about having a vertebrae or two removed so i fit better

Just raced another AutoX on Sunday and did some more seat adjusting. Now I clear the headliner only by the thickness of a flea's pubic hair. It works for me and I really don't have the money for racing seats just yet.

Now if only I had a alignment rack in my garage.....

you can make the OE seatbelt work with some innovation

http://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php?p=1866944&postcount=468

My question with that set-up is where does the shoulder belt lie with someone in the car and buckled in? It also looks as if the effectiveness of the belts will be very dependant on how far back the seat is... I would really want to see what the set-up looks like with people of different sizes in different positions...

it shouldn't matter, the buckle is on the seat mount and moves with the seat just like OE and the belt side slides along the floor bar mount just like OE and the shoulder belt height adjustment is still OE :dunno:

people of large sizes are SOL because they won't even fit in this particular seat

I just set it up like OE, fit me perfectly and locks me in so well (with the belt emergency latch kicked in and the seat slid forward to hold it tight against my body)that I opted to not install a harness for autox to avoid the weight penalty

6'5 + helmet = no autocross for Jedi :(

were you there at the autocross practice when Spice Boy went on the ride along with me. Don't know how that boy fit, or even got out at the end of the lap :)


For me, I am just used to driving now with my head tilted. :uhh:

it shouldn't matter, the buckle is on the seat mount and moves with the seat just like OE and the belt side slides along the floor bar mount just like OE and the shoulder belt height adjustment is still OE :dunno:

people of large sizes are SOL because they won't even fit in this particular seat

I just set it up like OE, fit me perfectly and locks me in so well (with the belt emergency latch kicked in and the seat slid forward to hold it tight against my body)that I opted to not install a harness for autox to avoid the weight penalty

Ahh ok... I was just curious because it looked like the shoulder support would force the belt either too high or too low.

Hey... if it works for you and seems to work properly, no reason not to do it.

Helmet came in and with some adjusting of seat, putting it all the way down and reclined a bit I fit. Also sliding back the moonroof cover helped a bit too. I'm 6"3 BTW

I'm 6'0" and did my first autocross yesterday. It's the first thing you notice when you sit in the car the first time with a helmet on. I had to pull the seat forward a little and lean it back a little.

haha this is funny to me...im 5'1 and i have my seat all the way raised with a helmet :) but sorry to hear some of yous are having issues

Haa...this is why you rawk...good to know your getting some good helmet too...

6'2" w/o sunroof and I got's no problem...