DaveEstey
DaveEstey PowerDork
7/15/15 8:29 a.m.

Endurance racing gets hot. Drivers are cheap and don't buy cool shirts. Could I run coolant lines around the back of an aluminum race seat to help cool things down? Should be simple and nothing to get tangled during driver changes.

Apexcarver
Apexcarver PowerDork
7/15/15 8:34 a.m.

I dont see why you couldnt.

Only thing is I see it curing some swamp ass, but not doing all that much to cool the driver. You would have the insulation of the drivers suit and less than half the contact area to cool the driver.

alfadriver
alfadriver UltimaDork
7/15/15 8:40 a.m.

Could integrate that into an existing AC system. That would work well.

(and yes, the AC drains some power, but I bet the alertness gained would be faster (and safer) than the power lost in terms of time)

stafford1500
stafford1500 GRM+ Memberand Reader
7/15/15 8:45 a.m.

How about inserting the fluid coolant line in the seat foam, with attachments out of the way of typical driver contact. That should get the coolant close to the driver but you will still not see 100% benefit since the drivers suit will act as an insulant.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
7/15/15 8:52 a.m.

I think a driver's suit is going to insulate from much of the benefits. A NACA duct funneling air to blow directly at the driver would be just as if not more effective (except when stopped, obviously).

"Real" endurance race cars like Daytona prototypes have sealed cockpits and AC. With some lexan and judicious use of great stuff foam you could probably do something similar. Or... insist people buy some damn cool shirts. I made my own cooler and plumbing for less than $50... the shirts are $100. Not a lot to pay to stay fresh compared to other race related expenses.

DILYSI Dave
DILYSI Dave MegaDork
7/15/15 8:54 a.m.

We made a cool seat. It wasn't all that effective.

RossD
RossD PowerDork
7/15/15 8:56 a.m.

I think it would work if you had it in the pad or attached to the back if you insulate it. Just use something that doesn't burn. Can you still buy asbestos?

wvumtnbkr
wvumtnbkr GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
7/15/15 8:56 a.m.

Ours works great! It cools the parts of your body that have no airflow.

We used fishing line to sew 1/4" flexible line on the seat cover ( bottom and back).

It works amazeballs!

I just went up to a larger cooler so it will last the entire 2 hour stint.

wvumtnbkr
wvumtnbkr GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
7/15/15 8:58 a.m.
DILYSI Dave wrote: We made a cool seat. It wasn't all that effective.

Where and how did you place the tubes?

DILYSI Dave
DILYSI Dave MegaDork
7/15/15 9:04 a.m.

Sewed tubing into the seat pad.

It worked, but the amount of cold that got to the driver, compared to a cool shirt, was inconsequential.

DaveEstey
DaveEstey PowerDork
7/15/15 9:36 a.m.

Yeah the shirts are pretty reasonable. http://www.amazon.com/Cool-Shirt-CW-M-Water-Medium/dp/B000K3GHZY

I think I'll build a bilge/pump setup and if they want to be cool they can buy a damn shirt.

motomoron
motomoron SuperDork
7/15/15 10:40 a.m.

Just race an open-cockpit car. Fresh, refreshing breeze and some organizations even loan you an umbrella when you're stuck in grid for 20 minutes in the blistering sun while they clean up crashed Miatas/oil before your race can go :)

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