back problems

[pieperz06]

well i got a problem and i cant decide if it from the way i drive or if it is some thing else.

im haveing mid to lower back pains after i go racing and i think im starting to pinch a nerve. or atleaset that is what my GF thinks(shes a nurse). when ever i drive for over 3 hrs i get out of the car with a debilitating head ache to where i almost fall over and it hits me like a rock no warning what so ever. she thinks my lower back disks are being compressed.

i know it is not from dehydration because i drink a ton of water.

do yall have any idea of any thing i could do that mite combat this.

by the way im 19 so its not like its form old age

 

[Bingo]

Do you have racing seats?

 

[Black_GT]

Do you have racing seats?

Exactly...

 

[Philostang]

Heck, even if you don't have racing seats, it's not like the OEM seats have great lumbar support anyway. You may be just getting thrown around a lot more in the car than you think. If you're in a production seat, are you at least running a CG-Lock?

On the flip side, I run Kirkey Deluxe Road Racing seats in both driver and passenger sides. They're remarkably comfortable (even that lovely 5 hr drive back from Putnam...over god-awful construction...past the famous Chicago pot holes...). At any rate, the bottom is a bit thin and I'd recommend a high density foam pad (or one of those jet fighter pads they sell at Pegasus). When I drive on track I don't use one, but it might help you.

One more thing, until just recently I was running a foam lumbar support in the driver seat only. That thing ROCKS!! I love it, but thought it was just a perk for me. I had a bunch of family out at my last event and my brother sat in both seats because he complained a bit about his back. He freaked when he sat in mine, "like night and day" he said. You might look into one of those as well.

Good luck with your back; I really feel for folks with back pain. My old man has some bad back pain and it just kills me to see him sometimes...I really hope you resolve it soon.

Best,
-j

 

[pieperz06]

yes i do use a CG lock and are you saying i need racing seats or that is my problem

 

[Stangmeister9]

id say a combonation of motion sickness with some over stressed lats and forearms that are all tied to each other (hence, the cramping).

by the way ordered those slicks should get them tomorrow. thanks for the link!

 

[Bingo]

I am not a doctor, but I do have some common sense. Taking high speed turns without the proper lateral support in your seat would, in my estimation, cause muscle fatigue and soreness. By virtue of not having any support, you clench your muscles to keep from sliding around. A racing seat with the proper harness would probably alleviate these problems.

 

[pieperz06]

id say a combonation of motion sickness with some over stressed lats and forearms that are all tied to each other (hence, the cramping).

by the way ordered those slicks should get them tomorrow. thanks for the link!

nice cant wait for some competition. i just got in a adj front sway and adj endlinks

and im most likley going to have some new seats by then

 

[Philostang]

Just to be clear, you're saying after 3 hours of hard driving on track, correct? Or are you saying this happens after a 3 hour highway cruise?

If it's the track, then you are probably fighting to stay put. The stock seats suck for lateral support. The CGLock helps a lot, but nothing like a real seat. I ran the CGLock for a few years and towards the end (as I got faster) started to get cramps in my middle back as well, but I never got headaches, etc.

Once you get the kind of support a proper seat gives you realize just how much you can relax the rest of your body and concentrate on driving. An added benefit is the feedback you get from the car - your communication with the car is greatly enhanced.

Here's what Dave affectionately calls, "the office":

Best,
-j

 

[pcdrj]

I used to get rug burns on the outside of my knees with the stock seat. That's how much effort it took to stay put. I'm running Corbeau FX1's and no more issues.

 

[pieperz06]

I'm running Corbeau FX1's and no more issues.

that is what i am thinking about getting

 

[Random Asshole]

Just to be clear, you're saying after 3 hours of hard driving on track, correct? Or are you saying this happens after a 3 hour highway cruise?

If it's the track, then you are probably fighting to stay put. The stock seats suck for lateral support. The CGLock helps a lot, but nothing like a real seat. I ran the CGLock for a few years and towards the end (as I got faster) started to get cramps in my middle back as well, but I never got headaches, etc.

Once you get the kind of support a proper seat gives you realize just how much you can relax the rest of your body and concentrate on driving. An added benefit is the feedback you get from the car - your communication with the car is greatly enhanced.

Here's what Dave affectionately calls, "the office":

Best,
-j

Those are some sweet looking seats! Are those the "intermediate road race seats"? They don't look nearly as flattering in the catalog. I wanted to do a copycat of yours and Dave's setup next year, but now that I know I can fit four tires, all my tools/gear, and still have room for a passenger..it's becoming a difficult decision to make. I won't put a hitch on my car, I WON'T DO IT! lol. That would be funny sight though, the three trailer-kateers on a convoy. We would need CB radios.

 

[pieperz06]

Those are some sweet looking seats! Are those the "intermediate road race seats"? They don't look nearly as flattering in the catalog. I wanted to do a copycat of yours and Dave's setup next year, but now that I know I can fit four tires, all my tools/gear, and still have room for a passenger..it's becoming a difficult decision to make. I won't put a hitch on my car, I WON'T DO IT! lol. That would be funny sight though, the three trailer-kateers on a convoy. We would need CB radios.

suck it up and get a trailer every thing would be so much easier that is going to be one of my next mods as soon as i know how to do the wiring

speaking of wiring do yall know of any guides to doing the passenger seat when putting in different seats so that i will not throw any codes i would rather not have any lights i know there are like 2 different threads on this but noting substantial as far as what to do on a step by step basis which is what i NEED lol

 

[Philostang]

Carl, these are the Deluxe Road Racing Seats. I'm not sure that Kirkey is still making this level of seat; they seem to have dropped it from their listings. They now go from the intermediate to the full blown containment. FWIW, I got mine used (saved over 50%), so if you look around you can still find the Deluxe available.

As for the trailer and hitch, I feel you...so that's why I made a quick-release hitch! Four pins pop out and wallah! No more hitch. All that stays on the car when I'm not hauling the trailer are two short "ears" bolted to the frame rails. I'm loving the set up.

Ah yes...that was from back in the days before the bastards stole my welding rig! I used to be able to do cool stuff like that...*sniff*

Oh, and as far as the convoy goes, MAN did Dave and I get some stares on the road. I thought it was pretty cool, but I think Dave has a different relationship with the cops than I do.

Pieperz, the wiring is cake. I think I even have a YouTube link somewhere that runs you through it. Also there is a document link that is in one of those threads that is pretty good. Sadly it doesn't seem to have worked for me. I still get annoying beeps about my seat belt (I think I can try the procedure again to get it right), and my airbag light is always on. I even connected the bladder and slipped it under the seat pad of the new seat. There's a mystery terminal on my car that I bet is the culprit (I had side air bags on my seat and there are two wire terminals that seem to go along with it...I only capped the one discussed in the thread).

Best,
-j

 

[pieperz06]

how did you set up your hitch with the pins

 

[Philostang]

I'll see if I can get some decent pics of the chassis ears, but basically I just copied what another guy did (diff. forum, forget the link, could prob. find it though).

The idea is to take a standard hitch, cut off the ears that go up to the chassis, and then weld on longer 1/4" thick plates that allow you to pin them together. I designed mine (like the one you see below) so the pins go through the original hitch ear plates, and then reinforced this with another 1/4" plate. So on the bottom side, the pins pass through 1/2" thick of plate, then through a 1/4" plate offset and extended from the upper portion of the original ear. Here's a shot of the other guy's lower hitch (mine looks virtually the same, although I preserved even more of the original hitch).

The shots he had of the chassis side were horrible, so I'll try to get more later.

Best,
-j

 

[pieperz06]

I'll see if I can get some decent pics of the chassis ears, but basically I just copied what another guy did (diff. forum, forget the link, could prob. find it though).

The idea is to take a standard hitch, cut off the ears that go up to the chassis, and then weld on longer 1/4" thick plates that allow you to pin them together. I designed mine (like the one you see below) so the pins go through the original hitch ear plates, and then reinforced this with another 1/4" plate. So on the bottom side, the pins pass through 1/2" thick of plate, then through a 1/4" plate offset and extended from the upper portion of the original ear. Here's a shot of the other guy's lower hitch (mine looks virtually the same, although I preserved even more of the original hitch).



The shots he had of the chassis side were horrible, so I'll try to get more later.

Best,
-j

that is great i would love some more info as far as which hitch that is and what all i need to do on the chassis because i need me a hitch lol

 

[BBQBats]

Those are some sweet looking seats! Are those the "intermediate road race seats"? They don't look nearly as flattering in the catalog. I wanted to do a copycat of yours and Dave's setup next year, but now that I know I can fit four tires, all my tools/gear, and still have room for a passenger..it's becoming a difficult decision to make. I won't put a hitch on my car, I WON'T DO IT! lol. That would be funny sight though, the three trailer-kateers on a convoy. We would need CB radios.

Reminds me of your old fox body!