Bster13

I think a 7 replica looks "funny" as is...so a helmet isn't going to change things much. If anything it'll cover my "funny" mug as I drive by onlookers. hehe. I used to ride from 7am until dark w/ the bike for long trips. Prolonged exposure to noise is what I'm looking to avoid, so as much hearing protection (ear plugs & helmet) is what I'm after. I don't find ear muffs comfortable so I figure I'll take the ear plugs plus helmet and enjoy the added bit of safety a helmet provides. The helmet won't help w/ bodily impacts, that's true, but concussions are never fun as I recall......or don't. I also want to run with a minimal windshield to cut down on drag (higher top speed @ HPDEs and better MPG on the road) so the helmet should help greatly w/ comfort. Plus, the helmet will have an intercomm wired into it so I can speak to my passenger and play music at speed. I've never worn a Hans device, definitely good neck protection, but would it be too restrictive in your range of motion side to side such that it would be a liability? Everyone has their own balance of safety/comfort/fashion/practicality. Who knows, I might ditch the helmet idea when I pick up my car, we'll c. :cheers:

I've only done VIR North, South, Patriot on my track bike, never the full course I guess. I could hit indicated 150 on my R6 on the front straight of VIR North....hopefully some day I'll get to run the full course w/ the seven.....but def. not w/ my EVO, too much for consumables!

I think Mike should lobby for easier inspection in the state of CT for kit cars *hangs head*

Yes, 75 pairs just for me will last a LONG time, but I'll have the GF in tow a bunch and I'm sure I'll need spares for everyone that has said they wanted a ride when I get the car. I plan on wearing the helmet every time I am in the car to cut down on wind noise (hearing damage) and added protection (I feel naked coming from riding motorcycles and wearing helmets all the time).

Just purchased 75 pairs for $12.49 on EBAY w/ NRR33 in preparation for my trip to OK to purchase and drive back my Super Stalker at the end of the month!!!! (can you tell I plan to be driving a bunch with that many pairs? haha)

I dig the cleaned up rear end.

Hello Asylum67, welcome to the forum. The link you posted does not look to be working properly. Looks like the domain expired on 7/23. I look forward to checking it out! Thx.

(Former) Long time motorcyclist here who learned about good hearing protection a long time ago. I use these plugs: http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/earsoft-yellow-neons1.html NRR of 33 is about as good as it gets and they are comfy for me. I find that if I throw the plugs in the wash they clean up real nice and I don't need the more expensive ones. All ear plugs (material aside) are not the same. The NRR is huge! http://www.coopersafety.com/NoiseReduction.aspx Safety for my head during impact and safety for my hearing are only part of the reason why I'll be wearing a helmet while in the car...the other reason is comfort and fatigue. I learned a long time ago limiting the noise did wonders for improving my concentration and ability to drive long distances on the bike. Having a helmet and ear plugs is the way to go for me. Great topic!

nice to hear u had a nice time. what were the specs for your car?

I think with perfectly place "winglet" on a windscreen, I might be ok with cruising on backroads with no earplugs, but without them, I could feel it getting to me throughout the day when I was a passenger. Also, over time I bet I'd go horse with all the questions I like to ask of the drivers () if I talked all day. hehe. So I guess when I get my stalker I'll check things out and see what works for my passenger and I. Was more wondering if you guys like to talk between cars on a trip and if I should plan for it. (I'm actually a big advocate. My motorcycle touring buddies do it all the time and it's really nice) Thanks!

I have toured for years on a motorcycle solo... I quite like it, but it's no longer in the cards for me. I am fortunate to have a GF who wants to ride along, but she'd get very bored not driving the car herself and having no music or me to listen to. Does your wife suffer from the same boredom encased in a helmet all day in the 7? Or can you talk to each other at various speeds w/ the helmets on still?

Couple of questions... -How often do you find yourself on a day-ride or touring with other 7s? Would it be worth having (FRS most likely, possible CB) communication ability between cars to sort directions, road hazards, planned stops etc.? -Communicating w/ passenger... w/ no doors or roof in use, no wings on the windshield, etc. how difficult is it to communicate with your passenger around town? What about 40-50mph on a twisty backroad? Highway? -If you do communicate w/ other 7s while driving. How do you do it? Simple hand-held FRS radio in each car if you're not using speakers? -I would enjoy talking with my passenger or other 7 owners while driving, but my passenger and I will be wearing helmets/earplugs with speakers inside. To join the iPod/FRS Radio/GPS turn-by-turn instructions together I was considering some of these: http://www.mixitproducts.com/ [/url]http://www.cellset.com/Motorcycleitems.html http://www.electric-avenues.com/amplirider.html Maybe one of these would be the central place to tie things together...or I could go my old school motorcycle route and purchase an Autocomm/Motocomm/Starcomm device to join everything together in my helmet speakers. Thoughts?

Yup, my motorcycling buds definitely jumped on that device when it came out. When I used to ride the Garmin Quest was the one to have. I am going to go with some sort of Nuvi, but just the auto type and no waterproof designation. This will save me some dough, give me some of the advances features that I can use in my EVO and in the Super Stalker, and then I can throw a ziplock bag over it for rain or go for a RAM Aqua Box. Still researching, but narrowing down my choices within the Garmin line that can do pre-planned routes. (Tomtom is useless since u can't transfer routes I've planned on the PC to the device without the unit trying to recalc) Next I'll need some sort of mixer to take all these audio inputs and output them to speakers inside the helmet. I've come across a few items, but haven't had time to read up on them yet. What are you guys using to tie in a driver & passenger set of helmet speakers, plus an iPod, GPS, and perhaps a CD Radio or FM radio?

It will be a super stalker running w/ no weather protection. I'm used to a motorcycle with full rain gear. we'll see over time what sort of weather protection I add if any, but this first GPS has to account for rain one way or another.

autocomm/starcom needs audio out from my GPS device. The Nuvi 500/500 does not have this feature, but is waterproof as compared to Garmin models with audio out...then I'd need an aqua box to keep things dry. I've always worn earplugs on bikes...thank god. I'll be doing the same, helmet or not with the 7. So it's either the Nuvi 500/550 or something like my (stolen) Nuvi 750 or greater that can take mapsource direct-routes in a waterproof case OR.......... find a comparable TomTom (their interface gives more flexibility and I like their user community sharing road corrections and IQ Routes feature) that does direct routes like mapsource can for certain Garmin models. It pisses me off I cannot find a way for Tomtom to do direct routes (what you make on the PC with Mapsource is EXACTLY what you get on the Garmin GPS, no variation, no recalculating between via points etc. etc.)

Yeah, not being able to hear the directions probably isn't a deal breaker, but it'd be nice.

I am picking up my Super Stalker at the end of August and driving it from the Midwest on a 2k mile trek home. I will definitely want a GPS on my dash as I'll be in unfamiliar territory. I am close to picking out a GPS, but I'm wondering about how loud the open exhaust will be and how audible the GPS will be at highway speeds? One GPS in particular (Nuvi 50/500) meets me needs except is does not have an audio-out jack to output the GPS's instructions to a speaker system or to speakers in my helmet (probably will wear the helmet all the time, and definitely while on the highway). Thanks, Bryce

Doh! Well I'm sure my Stalker won't be mint for long, but I think I'll start out with a small shelf off the hitch and some waterproof soft bags. The rear lid (provided I don't scuff it to all heck) will be a nice platform: http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/bster13/Fred5_2.png

Very cool. Can you link to an example of the waterproof ski bags? I might incorporate something like that too.

Found some more info on the Luggage rack: http://caterham.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/wheel-or-no-wheel/ Not sure if that can be mounted on my Super Stalker though. I'm quite used to string plugs, rubber cement, and a portable electric pump though. Hrmmmm.

Looks like I have some reading to do. Hopefully they have a solution that is adaptable to the stalker. Thanks!

I also wonder about obscuring the license plate.

Here is a picture for reference. You can see a shelf may obstruct the brake lights: http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/bster13/26600017_2.jpg

The Super Stalker I am considering has a 1 1/4in hitch on the back. Since this Stalker has no trunk space, I am considering ways to get additional luggage space while touring. If someone could chime in with the width of the stalker at the rear (not including the fenders, just the rear trunk part) that'd be great. I am also up for other people's solutions. Here is what I see out there on the Internet: http://tinyurl.com/3a2k8v2 It's light (aluminum) but I'm not a fan of the basket design since I'd like to lay out stuff like camp chairs horizontally on the shelf. http://tinyurl.com/37alzmr It's steel, so heavy, but compact....perhaps a little too small since it's meant to fit between the width of a Goldwing. http://tinyurl.com/35ugcbv Probably good sized (again, need to know the width of a stalker minus the fenders though) but again, heavy and steel. http://tinyurl.com/34goj37 Probably too wide, but cheap and strong. I have a wiring hookup for the hitch, but it'd be nice if I could avoid obscuring the brake lights so I don't need to add lights to this shelf. I'd love to find something in aluminum to keep the wight down and I don't think it'll ever see more than 100lbs on the back. Thoughts? Has anyone else done this? Thanks, Bryce

The car will be the Brunton Super Stalker with 275hp/300tq. Mid 1400s for weight I'd guess. If aero will get to me before gearing, I understand why someone would take all the other listed advantages of the 13in tires for an HPDE. I'll most likely run Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires at first, and move to 13 inchers as I learn the car and my driving progresses. @Hank - good point. haha. (Sorry to put this in the wrong category, never knew there was a Tire & Wheel section until today, doh.)