Lower Profile Helmet?

[94boosted]

Unfortunately my car has a sunroof, not the way I would have wanted it but it is what it is. Yesterday I noticed just how badly cramped I was in the car with my head really pushing on the headliner. This may be a silly question but is anyone aware of a lower profile SNELL rated helmet. Something that can gain me even 1/4" to 1/2" of headroom would be awesome. 5 minutes on Google leads me to believe that the HJC AR-10 II seems to take up a little less space above the head than most. 

I currently have a ZAMP FSA-2.

[Ryan S]

My shoei open face is pretty good, you are welcome to try it next time I am racing (probably May 6 as I will have at least the MR2 out by then).

[Reijo]

Don't know if you can lower your seat (some cars actually have spacers etc.)?  Others have taken some of the seat material out to lower the seating position for this reason.

Another trick I've seen is leaning the seat back (and perhaps moving it forward to compensate for the longer reach?) ...

And, of course, in time the seat will wear a bit and you will sit a bit lower. 

Disclaimer, I have not tried any of these tricks so this is 2nd hand!  hahahaha

[94boosted]

My shoei open face is pretty good, you are welcome to try it next time I am racing (probably May 6 as I will have at least the MR2 out by then).

Thanks Ryan, I'll take you up on that offer.

Don't know if you can lower your seat (some cars actually have spacers etc.)?  Others have taken some of the seat material out to lower the seating position for this reason.

Another trick I've seen is leaning the seat back (and perhaps moving it forward to compensate for the longer reach?) ...

And, of course, in time the seat will wear a bit and you will sit a bit lower. 

Disclaimer, I have not tried any of these tricks so this is 2nd hand!  hahahaha

There's no spacers or washers or anything else I can remove and I believe a foamectomy of the seat base is technically not allowed in street class.

[MurrayPeterson]

I will be at Fort Macleod this weekend, so you can try my Shoei on for size.

[Ryan S]

You could also remove the foam, and use a good amount of weight over a few days to compress it, then reinstall into the seat.  Not technically a violation of the rules.

Personally I think it is ridiculous that mods to accommodate larger drivers are illegal in street class.

[majormojo]

1. Protesting a foamectomy would be a weenie move for sure, but it happens.

2. Take the foam you cut out, put it in a ziploc bag and stuff it under the seat. No weight/material removed from the car, so problem solved.

[PedalFaster]

(2) is still not compliant, but it ratchets up the weenie protest factor.

Then again, this once got protested (portion of the airdam protruding from the allowed green area), so never say never:

[Midnightsky]

I'll be staying tuned to this thread as I have always had that problem in almost every single car I sit in.  Leaning back is not a bad way to go, some cars that only works to a certain degree tho.  The compensation Reijo suggested does work, pushing the seat forward an extra bit after tilting it back more, its not ideal but certainly a better balance in the long run versus pressing your helmet into the headliner.

[94boosted]

I will be at Fort Macleod this weekend, so you can try my Shoei on for size.

Thanks Murray!

[E6Cueman]

I appreciate this thread.

Sunroofs are pure evil... but GM IMO is the worst offender for head room of any manufacturer. I fit more comfortably in a Ferrari 458 than I do a Cadillac ATS.

Foamectomy on the seat? I always foamectomy my helmets. Grab some scissors and cut the padding out of the top of the dome. Not saying cut the actual structure of the helmet, just the padding that is there for comfort.

You could also wear a tonsure?

[94boosted]

Foamectomy on the seat? I always foamectomy my helmets. Grab some scissors and cut the padding out of the top of the dome. Not saying cut the actual structure of the helmet, just the padding that is there for comfort.

Haha can't tell if serious

[E6Cueman]

All jokes.

My approach is generally to squish my body into the smallest space possible with the hopes of teaching it to reverse grow. Wedging my spine between the base of the seat and the roof of the FRS, and then driving at speed through the rolling surface of that YYC lot has done wonders for my stature.

Its also why I hang out in airplane bathrooms so much... especially when the seat belt sign is on!

Hopefully all this pain will eventually net me some seat time in a Lotus Elise!