Expert: Dan Liddy - 2/5/2009

Question
At what point should driving comfort be sucked up? I mean sacrificing performance for comfort in endurance races right?

Answer
I'm sure there are a lot of opinions.  I have driven more than a few endurance races, and my feeling it that you have to keep the driver alert more than anything else.  That would mean there should be some consideration for heat reduction in the cockpit, some provision for keeping him hydrated, and some consideration for keeping his blood chemistry in a normal range. That would be blood sugar (food) and various electrolytes (Gator Aid or other fitness drink) in a proper balance.

To accomplish all this without adding significant weight, or air resistance is the trick. Most of the Daytona Prototypes and the ALMS cars have elaborate vettilation systems for driver cooling, cool susits for the driver, and elaborate drink bottle arrangemennts.  Yet it still get's incredibly hot in those care.  In a typical race of that type it's common for a driver to lose 10 Lbs. of water weight.

Even in my club racing I lose significant amounts of water weight over a weekend.   To stay even with the electrolytes, I drink Propel fitness water, and still have to take a calcium supplement.
When we start racing , we find what we can tolerate - - -and adjust to it I guess, automatically. I have a couple of little 'inventions' that help me, so do most other drivers. I've fooled around with drink bottles and given up. Now I wear a fire fighter's frozen gel pack inside my suit which gets me through about an hour of summertime racing without much discomfort.

Interesting question. I don't know what pro teams consider a sacrafice- -  but you can bet that pro drivers are a lot younger and in better shape than I am.  

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida