Westfield - size limitations?

[scooby_doo_do]

I use to own an Ultima, which regretably i had to sell for my new house, however i've been looking at Westfields/Tigers etc - but being 6"2 and around 14.5 stone just wondering if i would actually fit and still have my head under the roll bar.

Any suggestions/thoughts other than chopping my feet off and eating more lettuce?

Thanks

Craig.

[Sam_68]

I'm 6'0" and 15 1/2 stone on a bad week, and I fit even a narrow body Westfield just fine (though I don't like driving with sidescreens - never did, even when I was 10 1/2 stone wet through). TBH, I've never been that keen on the wide body Westfield (which is now standard), 'cos I feel like I'm rattling round in it.

Roll bar is no problem - you can either weld a 'hump' on behind your head, or it wouldn't cost that much to get a complete new roll bar fabricated to whatever height you wanted.

The only real answer is to try one for size, though...

[singlecoil]

This question crops up time and again on this forum. Fortunately I am well qualified to answer as I am bith tall, and work with different makes and models of kit car.

And the answer is- you have to try the car in question for yourself. There are various ways you can do this. You can go and see one that you fancy that's for sale, or you could ask on here,or much better on the WSCC forum for somebody local to you who would let you try his car on for size, and I'm sure you will get plenty of offers.

Do not rely on anecdotal information, different people get their height and weight from different parts of their bodies. I used to share a car with somebody who was exactly my height, and I always had to adjust the mirror when I got into it if he had been driving it.

[nike 5]

When you say, will I fit under the roll bar, I am reading if you draw a line from top of roll bar to furtherst point of engine, will your head be within this zone.

Make sure you go for one with Westfield's RAC rollbar, (or upgrade to this). The RAC rollbar is 2 inches taller than standard cosmetic bar (personally worry that, a single hoop would provide limited protection), the RAC bar is braced.

Also the kind of seats will have a dramatic effect on the answer, how they are mounted (eg are they are on runners or fixed).

If you have flat seats you will will rattle around in the car, but I admire Sam_68's dedication in going from 10 1/2 stone to 15 1/2 stone to try to solve this ;-)
I bought race seats, which has enabled me to sit lower, and holds me in place. Trust me, race seats with no padding are surprisingly comfortable.

You have received good advice from previous replies, go to local club to try cars for size.
http://www.wscc.co.uk/local.htm

Best regards
6foot 2
Westfield wide body

[Sam_68]

nike 5 said:

...I admire Sam_68's dedication in going from 10 1/2 stone to 15 1/2 stone to try to solve this ;-)

It's taken me 20-odd years and many, many pints of beer. Not something I'd recommend to the amateur.

[Tim.C]

Expanding foam seats are the way forward to really get comfortable. Doesn't matter if your a Giant or a Hobbit; it works both ways. If you aren't terribly fashion consious, gaffer tape looks smart enough. If this isn't good enough, I've seen them trimmed and covered in both gelcoat and carbon fibre.

I wouldn't use anything else, and I've previously had Cobra Roadsters, Swabs, GRP and Intatrim seats.

[Sam_68]

Tim.C said:

Doesn't matter if your a Giant or a Hobbit; it works both ways.

It does if the distance between the transmission tunnel and the outer frame tube is 18" and the width of your arse is 22".

[singlecoil]

Sam_68 said:

Tim.C said:

Doesn't matter if your a Giant or a Hobbit; it works both ways.

It does if the distance between the transmission tunnel and the outer frame tube is 18" and the width of your arse is 22".

That is a very good point, and that (although the discrepancy isn't as big as your example), and the lack of legroom, means I literally cannot get into a Tiger Avon

[rhinochopig]

I'm probably one of the biggest users of a Westy. I'm 6'5" tall - with a 35" inside leg. I'm also very broad shouldered. I fitted in the standard car - just - fitted with the covered shell seats. I could not fit at all in the padded seats - far too small.

To get a comfortable fit in my factory built car, I had the steering column raised higher than standard - it improved knee clearance - and had it extended, again to improve clearance. I also had the RAC RB fitted, which with a helmet on was level with the top of the helmet. With hind site I should have had a full cage as I suspect my helmet might have scraped had I ever rolled the car. My BIL who is your height though had no such problems.

Funnily enough, everyone who drove my car much preferred the driving position that my revised steering column set-up provided. A few of Westy's guys said it was much more comfortable than standard - it was similar to WTC / WRC where the wheel is very close to you and your arms are quite bent.