[Spits] Spitfire Leg Room

[Nolan]

Some short legged drivers find it uncomfortable on the highway as well. 
Most of it from my observation of my own discomfort seems to do with the leg 
being twisted outwards.

The stock knee bolster just isn't enough.  If I simply put my fist down 
between the bolster and my leg it helps a great deal.  So a rolled up towel 
or such stuffed there would work.  As well an improved bolster.

I've also used my left foot to hold my right foot more upright.  Sounds much 
more awkward than it is.  On a long drive, my right foot tends to twist as 
my heel slips under the brake pedal.  If I let my left foot hold the heel of 
my other foot in place, I stay more comfortable.  A little bracket bolted to 
the floorboard to hold my heel would probably work just fine.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Macartney" <standardtriumph at btinternet.com>
To: <spitfires at autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Spits] Spitfire Leg Room


>I always felt a little sorry for owners of LHD Spitfires regarding legroom. 
>It was something of a
> bete-noir within the company when compared to RHD cars. I drove plenty of 
> both versions and while
> the brake and clutch offset was never an issue for me, the location of the 
> accelerator on LHD was
> agonising after more than about an hour at the wheel. I was 6'1" in those 
> days, so I sympathise with
> those of that height and more. I only saw one car where the owner had done 
> something and while it
> was the better part of 40 years ago, he had:
>
> 1. Relocated the driver's seat runner a little further back, and
> 2. Had changed the accelerator from a pendant pedal to an organ type from 
> a Spridget. At least it
> looked like a Spridget pedal. I think there was a split cable as well. 
> Cable from pedal ran upwards
> and then backwards  to one side of a simple crank to which the carburetter 
> cable was attached to the
> other side.
>
> Really can't remember the specifics now except for the fact it made a LHD 
> Spitfire a MUCH more
> comfortable car to drive and, more importantly, it worked very well.
>
> FWIW....
>
> Jonmac
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