With my seat all the way down I have about 1.5" of headroom (without a sunroof). Once the helmet goes on, though, things get a bit cramped and I have to start compromising my driving position. I'm curious how much headroom could be gained by removing the OEM headliner and replacing it with something custom (but thinner). Also, how much do racing seats typically lower the seating position? I suppose it would also depend on the mounting bracket, right?

Appreciate any suggestions and/or pics.

 

Having removed the rear grab handles, the liner is indeed pretty meaty. Onasled, and maybe a few others can confirm, but I'd say that you can gain about 1/2 an inch, and maybe more...

I find that the MINI has a lot of head room compared to my other current car, and past ones. I have not driven with a helmet though...

As I understand it, aftermkt seats do sit lower, how much, I'm not certain. You can also go straight to the floor, and that gets quite a bit lower; probably too much for some...

I'd leave the liner as is for now, and see if you can sit in some MINI's with afermkt seats to see what that does for you, with helmet. Unless you are really tall, particularly above the waist, I bet that will be the ticket, albeit not a cheap one... unless you wanted seats anyway.

 

Try reclining the seat back 1 click. I'm 6' with a 32" inseam and have 3" of headroom.

 

Reclining the seat even one click is not a great solution as it puts him in not the best driving position.
I also touched the headliner with my helmet, but once on the track it just never bothered me.
I would say you would gain about 1 to 1.5" w/o the headliner on a sunroof car. Problem is that it's just not very pretty under there.

 

I have little clearance on teh street but never enought that it's bother some, however with a helmet, my neck is crampted and I have to slouch. Not horrid while on the track, but the next day my back kills. I slid the seat back one click and comprimised, but my foot work still got screwed up occasionally from having to reach farther. From all the looking around I've done I've come to the conclusion that doesn't change until I swap the seats, the sooner the better.

 

I'm 6' 3" and quite a larger inseam, I bolted mine to the floor. Works great!

 

I'm 6'5" and didn't really have a problem with the stock seat. You'll gain a couple of inches with a true racing seat. Also if you remove the headliner you'll gain an inch. You should be seating in front of the cross bar on the roof. Sit as close to the wheel as you are comfortable with.

 

Bolted your OEM seat to the floor? Or do you have a race seat? Did you use OEM mounting points?

 

Sorry, I have a SPARCO race seat. I don't know if they used the OEM points - probably since I know that my seat will not go any more forward.

 

Ok. Thanks.

 

just cut a hole in your roof

 

you install a "Gurney Bump" that was used on the GT40s raced in the 60's

and a race seat will lower you dramatically. I'm 6'4" and had no clearance problems with or without the race seat, of course I don't have a sunroof.