Pic of the week makes me cringe!!!

Stack · #1 03-01-2006, 04:19 PM

OK... I had to point this out...

At first glance HORAAYYY!! for Z3s with roll bars... but upon closer examination... what's the point?!

No padding to speak of
The heads of two of the three drivers in the pic stick above the roll bar!!!
Driver in the red car using stock seatbelts

BuZZword · #2 03-01-2006, 04:56 PM

I see what you are saying about heads. Mine is in the green car. I have tried to bang my head on the roll bar, but have not been able to do that. I am not saying that in an accident I wouldn't, but have not done anything about it. As far as the heads above the bars, Mine is also if I sit where and how I want. I like upright. In order for my head to be below I have to lower the seat as far as possible and tilt the back to the rear and move the seat forward. I will investigte further about my head hitting and padding. I do not run with the top down any longer because the car is my more aerodynamic with the top up. A person on another board who had a son that worked in a wind tunnel facility and showed pictures of the Z3 with top down and air going over the windshield and just rolling into the cockpit and causing a lot of turbulence. The other pictures showed top up with a nice smoth air flow over the car. I don't know if padding will fit on the bar with top up.
p.s. The person with the red car now has a Z coupe and I don't think she is doing DE events any longer.

Stack · #3 03-01-2006, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuZZword

I see what you are saying about heads. Mine is in the green car. I have tried to bang my head on the roll bar, but have not been able to do that. I am not saying that in an accident I wouldn't, but have not done anything about it.

When it comes to your head, better safe than sorry

Bad part is, you'll never know for sure until it happens (which obviously we hope never will)... just remember: chances are, your seat will break (especially if its stock) in the event of a major impact, either from the front, or from the rear. From the rear is worse, because your body will want to stay in one place, while the seat and car will try to occupy the same space... more often than not, the seat back will lose that battle, thus exposing your head to the roll bar. In a frontal impact, the initial force will be your body against anything in front of it, then a recoil back or to the side - again, the seat back will probably lose this battle too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuZZword

As far as the heads above the bars, Mine is also if I sit where and how I want. I like upright. In order for my head to be below I have to lower the seat as far as possible and tilt the back to the rear and move the seat forward. I will investigte further about my head hitting and padding.

Many miata owners or tall drivers will invest in a good racing seat, or hybrid seat that sits much lower than stock seats. You want to be more upright than not for track driving because of fatigue and vision. Just keep in mind, if you do events with instructors, you need to provide the same seating/restraint system for the passenger side as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuZZword

I do not run with the top down any longer because the car is my more aerodynamic with the top up. A person on another board who had a son that worked in a wind tunnel facility and showed pictures of the Z3 with top down and air going over the windshield and just rolling into the cockpit and causing a lot of turbulence. The other pictures showed top up with a nice smoth air flow over the car. I don't know if padding will fit on the bar with top up.

What about hard-tops for the Z3s? I would think aerodynamically they would be a little better than a soft top (and probably look better too), and if steel, would provide a bit of stiffness and additional protection as well.

As far as the padding, the good stuff, SFI or FIA rated, is 'C' or 'U' shaped, so the top or back of the bar would not have padding on it, theoretically allowing clearance for the top.

If you can ever compare the good stuff with the tradiational foam padding, it's a no-brainer which you should use. It feels hard to the touch, but because of its high-density, it absorbs and dissipates SO much more energy around the roll bar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuZZword

p.s. The person with the red car now has a Z coupe and I don't think she is doing DE events any longer.

Thats a shame! You don't see enough of those on track... its one of my favorite bimmers, especially the M version

Lobo6 · #4 03-01-2006, 09:21 PM

At the risk of tee'ing anyone off I thought the concept was an actual "on track picture"? A good shot of cars in staging is OK, however I think the entry (posted my Carm) of my friend wheel lifting at Sebring while being chased my a bunch of BMW E30's captured more of the spirit of "track". No offense to you Buzzword.

BuZZword · #5 03-02-2006, 04:53 AM

No offense taken. I agree that the action shots are more dramatic, I just thought the three Z's in different colors all with the same roll bar at the same track lined up on the false grid at the same time in that particular order was a kind of unique shot. I had a couple more shots to submit, but come to think of it one was an autocross action shot and the other was a Hans Stuck car in the garages at MidOhio. Just an old formula car in absolutely georgeous shape. I'll hang on to those, especially since I can't figure out how to post them.

Lobo6 · #6 03-02-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuZZword

No offense taken.

Glad you got my point. The shot was good. Esp good for Joe Marko at HMS Motorsport as those are his roll bars.

I do a lot of business with them for helmets, driving shoes, gloves, etc. Joe is a good guy and I can actually drive over to shop.

Toycar 1 · #7 03-02-2006, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuZZword

I had a couple more shots to submit, but come to think of it one was an autocross action shot and the other was a Hans Stuck car in the garages at MidOhio. Just an old formula car in absolutely georgeous shape. I'll hang on to those, especially since I can't figure out how to post them.

You can always post picture in the "Photo Gallery" Forum