Region: Detroit
Car #: 73
Year : 1990 Posts: 385
Status: Offline
posted
I am pretty much the same measurements as your friend. The trick is buy an aluminum seat, mount it directly to the floor (lean back as needed) and build the cage around the space that is left over.
I have pictures, pm me with your email.
(edit) the ironic thing is I just noticed that after hitting the "post" button the screen says "sit tight" how approperiate...
-------------------- Matt Johnson 1990 SM #73 - yet another red miata.
Region: Northwest
Car #: ICSCC #322
Year : 1990 Posts: 283
Status: Offline
posted
You tall guys have it rough.
Being 5'7" is where it's AT. You fit into ANY sportscar, and you're right at breast level of supermodel types. Plus, the air isn't all thin down here either.
At 6'3"/34" inseam I can get away with an FIA seat on the floor and no seat padding ... but I agree with Johnson, if I was any taller-torso'd I would *need* an aluminum seat .
-------------------- Visit the Midland City Arts Festival!
Steven Holloway
Blue Eyes, Aquarius, hates being squeezed to the grass in SowDiv!
Region: Lonestar
Car #: 97
Year : 91 Posts: 740
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by bbenthin: You tall guys have it rough.
Being 5'7" is where it's AT. You fit into ANY sportscar, and you're right at breast level of supermodel types. Plus, the air isn't all thin down here either.
Yeah, it only takes this much of US to equal that much of THEM! Concentrated, like orange juice
-------------------- If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's got electrical problems.
Region: Detroit
Car #: 73
Year : 1990 Posts: 385
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by bbenthin: You tall guys have it rough.
Being 5'7" is where it's AT. You fit into ANY sportscar, and you're right at breast level of supermodel types. Plus, the air isn't all thin down here either.
The air may be good now, but wait until us tall guys start flatulating - much more air flow up here :-)
-------------------- Matt Johnson 1990 SM #73 - yet another red miata.
Region: SoCal
Car #: 42
Year : 1991 Posts: 84
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Matt Johnson: I am pretty much the same measurements as your friend. The trick is buy an aluminum seat, mount it directly to the floor (lean back as needed) and build the cage around the space that is left over.
Does leaning your seat back adversely affect your driving position? Is it comfortable? Also, how much clearance do you have between the top of your helmet and the cage?
I'm looking into getting an SM and being 6'4 this is a big issue for me before I dive in. Thanks for the help!!!
Region: NWR/Oregon; ICSCC
Car #: 70
Year : 1991 Posts: 1111
Status: Offline
posted
I'm 6'2" tall, and it's tight. I bought a car from a guy who's 6'1", so I was confident that it would work for me. I adjusted the seat--aluminum seat bolted directly to the floor--a bit, and raised the cage so that I would have a couple of inches above my helmet, but there's no room to move the seat farther back, I think, and no way to get more head room. I don't know it it would work if I were three inches taller.
Region: WDCR - 042
Car #: 75
Year : 93 & 95 & 99 Posts: 3727
Status: Offline
posted
Like the ooch, I am 6'3"+ and can drive an FIA with no padding. I have an aluminum seat in my car.
-------------------- Mike Collins MEATHEAD Racing http://www.SHEETZ.com The MEATHEAD Racing 2010 Calendar is up!!!! www.MEATHEADRacing.com SMAC Member WDCR-SCCA SM Drivers Rep. ALL OPINIONS ON RULES OR SPECIFICATIONS ARE JUST THAT, MY OPINIONS!
Region: Detroit
Car #: 73
Year : 1990 Posts: 385
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by ethan666:
quote:Originally posted by Matt Johnson: I am pretty much the same measurements as your friend. The trick is buy an aluminum seat, mount it directly to the floor (lean back as needed) and build the cage around the space that is left over.
Does leaning your seat back adversely affect your driving position? Is it comfortable? Also, how much clearance do you have between the top of your helmet and the cage?
I'm looking into getting an SM and being 6'4 this is a big issue for me before I dive in. Thanks for the help!!!
I am not sure that I really leaned mine back a lot, just enough to make it comfortable... I did extend the steering wheel back about 3 inches to make the driving position more comfortable for me though.
Clearance: the clearance issues I had to deal with were more the lateral clearance between the mid/top of the left side of my helmet and the bar above the driver's side door. My solution was to build a halo style cage (I could get it tucked into the roof and A-pillars better than other designs). As it sits now, I have a bit over an inch between my helmet and the FIA padding on the cage, and probably 2-2.5 inches between helmet and roof.
Again, this is with an aluminum seat with minimal padding on the seat pan. I did make a 2 part urithane seat insert for my lower back - amazing how much more comfortable that is...
-------------------- Matt Johnson 1990 SM #73 - yet another red miata.
quote:Originally posted by Matt Johnson: I am pretty much the same measurements as your friend. The trick is buy an aluminum seat, mount it directly to the floor (lean back as needed) and build the cage around the space that is left over.
Does leaning your seat back adversely affect your driving position? Is it comfortable? Also, how much clearance do you have between the top of your helmet and the cage?
I'm looking into getting an SM and being 6'4 this is a big issue for me before I dive in. Thanks for the help!!!
I'm 6'4"; if you over 6' you are used to a compromised seating position in most cars anyway. This is no different. It's more of "laid back" posture vs. the up and down posture usually preferred. But you get used to it.
Region: SoCal
Car #: 42
Year : 1991 Posts: 84
Status: Offline
posted
Thanks guys, i did finally purchase my SM and we were able to install the seat so that i fit!
Aluminum seat bolted to the floor, leaned back a bit, added a steering wheel spacer to bring the wheel closer to me. I think I may even have an inch to spare.
Region: DC Region
Car #: #0 SSM #0 SM
Year : 1990 Posts: 351
Status: Offline
posted
I'm 6'5 and 205 (plus 60lbs). I fit with a Kirkey Drag seat minimal padding. The trick is to have the seat in the car on the floor THEN build the cage or at least the main hoop. If you don't get the hoop back as far as you can the seat has to be more upright and then your head gets too close to the roof. My 2nd car had that problem and I had to "massage" the floorpan.
So what you guys are saying is a guy 6'2" and 290lbs should stear clear as it sounds snug for a lot of you. That sucks as i was starting to really take a good look at SM as the class i wanted to get into for racing. Randy
6'4, 280#, 38 waist, 34 inseam, 2XL shirt....no problems with a Butler seat.
Sitting/driving the car is not the problem. If the cage is not done correctly for a big guy he might not get over the top Nascar bar on driver's side. MiataCage has accomodated this issue with their new design for big guys
Region: Mid-South
Car #: 54
Year : 1990 Posts: 711
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Back-n-Black: So what you guys are saying is a guy 6'2" and 290lbs should stear clear as it sounds snug for a lot of you. That sucks as i was starting to really take a good look at SM as the class i wanted to get into for racing. Randy
No - you will be fine - I was 6'1" and 280 when I built my new car. Use a Kirky Seat - bolt it to the floor and have a good cage welded in and you will be fine.
If you're close or can ship the car I recommend that you have Drago do it - the cages he's done for big guys are great - I had mine done by another guy but he copied Jim's design.
Sweet that is good news. I still want to go to Skippy's MX5 3 day class before i take the plung and buy into Sm racing but after watching some of the vid's on this site........ i know i will love it. Little under powered, but that takes skill to go fast. Nice.
Region: NYR
Car #: 7, 17
Year : 94 Posts: 44
Status: Offline
posted
Unless you really need seat time (i.e. track newbie = under 40 HPDE days or very few races) I would recommend against the Skip 3 day school in the MX5. After discussing with the instructors, they say the following on the MX5: 1. They cover up a lot of the student's mistakes because it's a forgiving chassis 2. The formula cars are much harder to drive, and will make you a better driver overall.
I agree with both, having driven both. If you go skip, do the Formula. Then get your SM, and you'll get used to it in 3-4 events I'd bet. I'm on 3 races in my SM now (first time driving a miata EVER was in Qual for the first race, literally) and I still placed 38/44. I improved my lap times by 10% within 3 races and it's only going to get better. The Miata's not hard to drive, it's just seat time. Be a better driver first with the formula cars, then move to the Miata... but that's my opinion, and I'm no Miata expert..
Good luck.
PS - I'm 6'4" 215lb and I have a kirkey, laid back a bit and I'm good. All my length is in my legs, and with a slightly smaller than stock steering wheel, and 2" of spacers, I fit GREAT. The only thing I need now is a gas pedal spacer since I can't blip enough because my foot is too big (size 13).
-------------------- J Curry Member Odd Duck Racing Team (Mills, Gregg, Curry) Car #7/17/71 depending upon event
Region: OVR
Car #: 08
Year : 95 Posts: 644
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Willie the Tard: somebody has a cage kit that the main hoop lands on the rear shelf to allow you to mount the seat all the way back
My cage is set up this way. Its an older SM as I had the cage done before there were so many options. I went with Kirk Racing and had it shipped. I just welded it in and have added extras over the years. I have an FIA seat, but I want to be lower so I'm looking at doing something different in how I mount my next seat.
Region: Lone Star
Year : 1990 Posts: 4253
Status: Offline
posted
I think if you're setup to go into SM, take the plunge, spend the $3k or whatever instead on track days and a coach (SM driver that will coach you on setup and driving)....maybe rent a car or what the heck, just buy it...if you don't like it you can sell it and you're probably out less than the $3k you would spend at Skippy.
-------------------- "Your victory is tainted! Asterisk! Asterisk!!!"--Lisa Simpson
Region: NYR
Car #: 12
Year : 1991 Posts: 620
Status: Offline
posted
I'm a big fan of the three day formula school at skip, and I'd say the main adjustment I had when I went into my SM was with the braking, and the weight of the car.
6'2", 170 lbs, got into my miata with no problem. Kirkey bolted right to the floor, had no problems with the old school hard dog cage. I did put in steering wheel spacers.
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