David Hodgkins
06-13-2013, 11:39 AM
When Dave Smith came out to HB for the weekend at the end of April, I had him sit in my Roadster to get a feel for what Wookie compatibility REALLY means. He couldn't work the clutch! It was too far away. He confessed that he was a little worried about making the 818 Wookie compatible. I could see it in his face. He was a little taken aback by how big my Roadster cockpit is. Would it turn out that the 818 is NOT Wookie compatible after all?
To set context, here's Dave Smith with a pair of typical customers, Erick Parga and his father Art:
http://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/epgoodguys2.jpg
Now, here's Dave -with Randy and Julie Jones - standing next to a Wookie:
http://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MG_56212.jpg
Now before you really get into reading what follows, remember that we are talking about Wookies here. The 99th percentile in terms of height. I'm further hindered my my, ehem, "robustness". I'm 6'6" with size 16 shoes and as recently as 3 months ago, tipped the scales at a WHOPPING 345. Ouch. That was hard to type. I've lost 40 lbs since then, but will still be north of 300 when I visit FFR this weekend.
I understand that I'm outside the design parameters of this little rocket of a car, which is the size of a Miata, S2000 or a Lotus Elise. None of which I can even sit in. Those are SMALL cars, and Dave stating that big guys like us would fit was introducing a major design factor into a design that is a lightweight track weapon. I've known all along that the idea was to be able to sit in it, look through the windshield, and work the pedals. That's pretty much it. I'd still probably look like a clown in one of those circus cars, but I'm ok with that because the car will be as fun as heck. The fact that it is a roadster helps because I have no expectations of fitting under a roof. The FACT is I have unreasonable expectations to be able to fit in any car this size. I'm a BIG dude, so it's what it is. But Dave Smith said Wookies would fit, so I've been watching to design come together with a very strong desire to build one myself.
I do have some experience getting an FFR to work For my size. My Roadster is big enough, unlike most. I have several simple mods to add 4" of legroom, accommodate my size 16's and lower the seat 2" so I look through the windshield instead of AT the upper edge. The result is a car that fits me like a glove. It is truly Wookie compatible. All with very simple mods. Kirkeys tilted forward a bit and mounted on fixed brackets on the floor. Adjustable Wilwood pedals. Different sheet metal from FFMetal. And I cut the driver's footbox crash bar out. BTW in a MKIV I probably wouldn't have to do that since it was redesigned. As the car is now, I've even had a guy 6'10" sit in it and he could close the door and work the pedals. So when it was stated that the 818 would be Wookie compatible out of the box, I was very excited to say the least.
So back to Dave Smith. He frankly had underestimated what it would take to get a guy my size into the 818. I sat in the first frame, and when I sat in the body mock-up and had Dave take some pics, everything was pointing to being able to fit just fine. The first sign of trouble for me - which I subsequently kept to myself until now - was when I sat in the frame at the open house last year and had Henry take a pic. The car felt too tight. Kind of like how I feel in my boss's 911. My leg was up against the shifter and my legs were splayed pretty wide. The good news it that I FIT, but it wasn't ideal. Now, these were stock Subaru seats. I've known all along that I'd probably need Kirkey seats to fit, and I'm fine with that.
But Dave had different ideas after sitting in my car. He went back to Jesper and Jim and had them design a different bulkhead and also new gas tank that is taller and fits behind the passenger only. These will be offered as options on the 818. He doesn't have part numbers yet but they are designed. They might even have prototypes now, but I don't know that. He says this change will allow SIX INCHES OF ADDITIONAL LEGROOM with a Kirkey racing seat!
This convinces me that the 818 will have clearly the biggest cockpit of any FFR. There are quite a few guys around who race FFR's at 6'5". They will be right at home in the 818.
Dave and his team have done it again. I am positive that the 818 will be big enough for those of us who hail from the forested planet of Kashyyyk. I can hardly wait to get my 818, and build it here on the forum.
Thanks Dave! I'm so happy I could dance...
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18366&d=1371142164
To set context, here's Dave Smith with a pair of typical customers, Erick Parga and his father Art:
http://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/epgoodguys2.jpg
Now, here's Dave -with Randy and Julie Jones - standing next to a Wookie:
http://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MG_56212.jpg
Now before you really get into reading what follows, remember that we are talking about Wookies here. The 99th percentile in terms of height. I'm further hindered my my, ehem, "robustness". I'm 6'6" with size 16 shoes and as recently as 3 months ago, tipped the scales at a WHOPPING 345. Ouch. That was hard to type. I've lost 40 lbs since then, but will still be north of 300 when I visit FFR this weekend.
I understand that I'm outside the design parameters of this little rocket of a car, which is the size of a Miata, S2000 or a Lotus Elise. None of which I can even sit in. Those are SMALL cars, and Dave stating that big guys like us would fit was introducing a major design factor into a design that is a lightweight track weapon. I've known all along that the idea was to be able to sit in it, look through the windshield, and work the pedals. That's pretty much it. I'd still probably look like a clown in one of those circus cars, but I'm ok with that because the car will be as fun as heck. The fact that it is a roadster helps because I have no expectations of fitting under a roof. The FACT is I have unreasonable expectations to be able to fit in any car this size. I'm a BIG dude, so it's what it is. But Dave Smith said Wookies would fit, so I've been watching to design come together with a very strong desire to build one myself.
I do have some experience getting an FFR to work For my size. My Roadster is big enough, unlike most. I have several simple mods to add 4" of legroom, accommodate my size 16's and lower the seat 2" so I look through the windshield instead of AT the upper edge. The result is a car that fits me like a glove. It is truly Wookie compatible. All with very simple mods. Kirkeys tilted forward a bit and mounted on fixed brackets on the floor. Adjustable Wilwood pedals. Different sheet metal from FFMetal. And I cut the driver's footbox crash bar out. BTW in a MKIV I probably wouldn't have to do that since it was redesigned. As the car is now, I've even had a guy 6'10" sit in it and he could close the door and work the pedals. So when it was stated that the 818 would be Wookie compatible out of the box, I was very excited to say the least.
So back to Dave Smith. He frankly had underestimated what it would take to get a guy my size into the 818. I sat in the first frame, and when I sat in the body mock-up and had Dave take some pics, everything was pointing to being able to fit just fine. The first sign of trouble for me - which I subsequently kept to myself until now - was when I sat in the frame at the open house last year and had Henry take a pic. The car felt too tight. Kind of like how I feel in my boss's 911. My leg was up against the shifter and my legs were splayed pretty wide. The good news it that I FIT, but it wasn't ideal. Now, these were stock Subaru seats. I've known all along that I'd probably need Kirkey seats to fit, and I'm fine with that.
But Dave had different ideas after sitting in my car. He went back to Jesper and Jim and had them design a different bulkhead and also new gas tank that is taller and fits behind the passenger only. These will be offered as options on the 818. He doesn't have part numbers yet but they are designed. They might even have prototypes now, but I don't know that. He says this change will allow SIX INCHES OF ADDITIONAL LEGROOM with a Kirkey racing seat!
This convinces me that the 818 will have clearly the biggest cockpit of any FFR. There are quite a few guys around who race FFR's at 6'5". They will be right at home in the 818.
Dave and his team have done it again. I am positive that the 818 will be big enough for those of us who hail from the forested planet of Kashyyyk. I can hardly wait to get my 818, and build it here on the forum.
Thanks Dave! I'm so happy I could dance...
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18366&d=1371142164