So strange to be sitting out the 2019 autocross season this year after participating in last 11 consecutive seasons with you guys!
I hope you guys are having fun and slaloming fast.
I am working on getting my car ('68 Porsche 912 coupe) running again so I can join you for the 2020 AX season.
But...... there is a serious obstacle that I need to get over (aside from fixing my car). I need your help.
The years are catching up to me so I now suffer from the affects of collapsing cartilage discs in my lower back. Unfortunately, I have found that driving my low slung, relatively stiff springed 912 definitely aggravates my back.... in a very bad way. Doh! Different lumbar pillows and padding have not been helpful.
Most of the recommendations I find revolve around me not driving a low slung and stiff springed car anymore. Much to my chagrin, they have a point. My Honda Element has a much softer suspension and a seat that is much higher than my 912. The seat position in the Element allows my knees to be about level with my hips (having the knees at or below the level of the hips while sitting has proven to be important). Guess what, driving the Element does NOT usually aggravate my back even with 2+hrs of commuting each day.
What can I do?
I can't be the only person around that has a bad lower back AND wants to be able to drive a fun, low, stiff, sports car!
Being determined and stubborn, I really want to continue driving and AX'ing the 912. Soooo....
I'm hoping any of you that have experienced this conundrum and found solutions will share them.
My plan (under construction):
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Step One
Continue doing my daily stretches and pilates-ish morning routine.
- this keeps my back manageable and in check for the most part
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Step Two - Get a new driver's seat for 912
The seats in my 51 year old car are original. I'm sure I can reap some real improvement by upgrading.
The Recaro Ergomed seat is out of my league
- too big, too heavy and too expensive (~$4k).
I am looking for a manually adjustable seat (recline, lumbar support, forward/back slide, etc.) that will
- fit in the small cockpit of the 912
- has sufficient bolstering for AX'ing
- is shaped in such a way to give me the best chance of success at not aggravating my back
- the more positional adjustment points probably the better
I am willing to spend some money on this (just not $4k !!).
Any thoughts? Any recommendations?
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Step Two - Back brace
I am considering wearing a lower back brace any time I am in the 912.
There are a couple of write ups I have read from people that claim it helps.
My old thick leather weight lifting belt, which many of you have seen me wear when I swap wheel sets at AX events, would be incredibly uncomfortable for longer drives (like the 2 hours it take to get to/from Marina). So I purchased a "Mueller 255 Lumbar Support Back Brace" from Amazon. It is pretty comfortable but obviously I'll have to see how it feels using it in the 912.
Any thoughts? Concerns? Recommendations?
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Thought for the future - trailer the 912
Not really feasible for me right now but it is something to consider for the future.
The idea is to minimize my seat time in the 912, Lessening the exposure my back has to the "back aggravating" 912.
For each autocross at Marina, this would save my back from 4 hours of 912 commute time.
This trailering idea is a very expensive proposition as I would need a trailer, a tow vehicle, place to put them, etc...
Obviously this is not really a solution but a pseudo work around as it does solve the real problem that the 912 hurts my back!
I used to enjoy driving my 912 to and from work a couple of times a week (which I have not done for the last couple of years because of my back). I'd sure like to be able to do this again.
What I really want is to find a way I can drive my 912 without it aggravating my stupid lower back!!
Ok guys, I open this forum thread to discussion

When considering your responses to my dilemma, please don't simply say "You are screwed, sell the 912" !
I understand that ultimately it may be the reality I must face, but for now, I'd like to see if there is any way I can keep my back happy-ish and drive my 912 too!
Yikes, this has become more long winded than I had intended.
Thanks for reading this and thanks in advance for any constructive comments & suggestions you may have.
I hope to be able to get back out on the AX course with the 912 & you all soon.
Take care, be safe & go fast!
Cheers,
-WhuGmiT
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