Cockpit size (VD 95 onwards)?

[Mr.Jingles]

Can't remember who told me, but someone mentioned that the change in FF regs around 95 resulted in genuinely wider cockpit sizes in the newer cars, VD's being much more generous than say Mygale.

How much of an improvement are we talking about here? I'm pretty broad across the shoulders so in my VD88 I have to sit lower down to 'tuck' my arms in the gap between the top tube and the one runnning diag down to give myself any kind of change of making lock to lock.

I'm wondering if a newer car would solve that problem, if not my laptimes (!) - not that I have the budget mind, but still, it'd be handy to know.

[SAMD]

LOL The things we dream up to justify our expenditure

You definately new a newer car! it would be faster plus, (the killer blow) it would be safer.

If you have your elbows in between those two tubes and you get a whack on the side.....
How would you support your wife and kids

[Mr.Jingles]

Every little bit helps?

She wants a caravan, I want something shiny and new..... if I can prove it's safer it would certainly be an easier job!

I doubt I would go faster in the newer car... but I'd go a damned bit faster than in a caravan! somebody help!

[Triple J Motorsport]

I have not drive a post RF99 Van diemen but I understand as you do that they are wide. I have heard they aren't great for tall drivers though.

I have raced a SJ01 and they are ok for normal people I am not a skinny rake by any means more the other end of the scale! I had a foam seat made and there was alot of foam. The only issue I had was with my arms and gear lever was positioned for someone 5'2" (I am 5'10"). Mark edwards has an SJ00 and he's 6'4" ish but he couldn't drive an RF00.

I have had 2 post 2001 Rays Kent and Zetec, No problem with height, (wideth loads foam) or arms.....Chris Acton has a Ray and is very tall guy.

[Mr.Jingles]

Cheers for that - I'm 5 foot 7 so Mr Average on that front, but something like 55cm in a direct line from the outside edge of each shoulder.... the VD is a fair amount less than that, I'd need to chop one arm off to fit the 'best' seating position!

On the safety front - after the horrendous shunt involving Marcus Allen at combe the other weekend, getting myself fully inside the cage took a leap up the priority chain....

[littleblackflash]

I've just brought a RF95 because I had the same problem in my old 76Hawke DL15. The RF95 is much wider and I can easily fit in my 6"2 15stone frame.

[Barry Pomfret]

The biggest cockpit is in the latest Van Diemens. As said previously the RF95 is fairly generous, I managed to drive one fairly easily, I then swapped to an ex works RF98 which had some extra tubes in the cockpit and it was a complete nightmare with the lack of space. Since the RF 98 I have prepared a RF99 for another driver and own an RF00, the cockpit in the RF00m is 2.5" wider than the RF98.

[Mr.Jingles]

So you'd pick a 00 over a 95?

[JohnMiller]

Of course you would. How many races have you seen won by an RF95 in FF1600, or anything else for that matter?

[Mr.Jingles]

Point taken