Drink Bottle

[Buc01]

As the summer months are coming and the associated hot temps, I was wondering if anyone had ever installed some type of a drink bottle in their FC or FF. I run a 1991 VD FC and about halfway through my races I always get "cotton mouth". Have always thought about designing and installing some type of small simple drink bottle system in my car. If anyone has done it successfully or unsuccessfully, I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you,

Aaron

[John Green]

Bruce May showed me a cheap drink bottle/cool vest trick......hang an IV bag around your neck. Fill with ice and zip in between drivers suit and chest....run tube under helmet to drink as ice melts and keeps you cool as well. Caution, do not use unless it is really hot out. I did it once on a somewhat cool day and nearly froze to death.

[last]

As the summer months are coming and the associated hot temps, I was wondering if anyone had ever installed some type of a drink bottle in their FC or FF. I run a 1991 VD FC and about halfway through my races I always get "cotton mouth". Have always thought about designing and installing some type of small simple drink bottle system in my car. If anyone has done it successfully or unsuccessfully, I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you,

Aaron

Hi,
I did design & install a drivers drink system for Indy cars, twenty years ago. I must have used a small 12v inline pump, vinyl tubing & a push button on the steering wheel. What was important was having a very light check valve inline so the fluid only flowed when the driver turned it on & also kept the line filled. I cant' remember if it had a check valve breather on the bottle so not to create a vacuum.
nick

[Rick Kirchner]

Out here in the land of over 100 in May and single-digit humidity I had that problem as well. I figured I could live through a half-hour of dehydration but the cottonmouth was on occasion actually painful and distracting.

Solved the problem a different way - when I get in the car i tape a lifesaver candy to the top of the dash and stick one in my mouth before I head to grid. On the grid I use the second one, and make sure I crunch it up while we form up in twos for the green.

The sugary coating keeps the throat from drying out, and lasts through our typical race distances.

[CF56]

When I lived and raced in Phoenix I used a CamelBak on my chest, under my suit and between the shoulder straps.

[chuck cecil]

I always put a piece of chewing in my mouth at the 1 minute warning,would last whole race. no dry mouth.

[BURKY]

I always put a piece of chewing in my mouth at the 1 minute warning,would last whole race. no dry mouth.

Just don't choke on it.

[Fred Michael]

Our Indycars use a Camelback bag and what is essentially a windshield washer pump but for a 40 minute race you really should be hydrated enough in the days leading up to the event to not need a drink bag.

[Buc01]

Out here in the land of over 100 in May and single-digit humidity I had that problem as well. I figured I could live through a half-hour of dehydration but the cottonmouth was on occasion actually painful and distracting.

Solved the problem a different way - when I get in the car i tape a lifesaver candy to the top of the dash and stick one in my mouth before I head to grid. On the grid I use the second one, and make sure I crunch it up while we form up in twos for the green.

The sugary coating keeps the throat from drying out, and lasts through our typical race distances.

Rick, Thank you for the suggestion. I would have never thought of it. I stay hydrated during the race weekend, but the cotton mouth that shows up mid race is what I am trying to eliminate. I race in the WRL as well and the Miata I drive has a drink bottle (is way to big to work in FC) but all I need is a sip of water a few times in a 2-3 hour stint to get rid of the cotton mouth. I will give your suggestion a try as it seems to be the easiest way to try and solve the issue.

Thank you,

Aaron

[Buc01]

Thank you everyone for the feedback. All great ideas and I appreciate it.

Aaron

[BTennessen]

Lifesavers work great for dry mouth. Most of our WRL team heads out with 3-5 lifesavers stashed for stints.

[stonebridge20]

Lifesavers or tictac's for about 30 years now. I take a mouthful as I get in the car and then chew them up on the warmup lap.

[problemchild]

If I notice comfort issues before the cool-off lap in a 1/2 or less race, I realize I have lost my focus, and need to get my head make in the game. I cannot imagine taking drinks under green flag conditions. Sucking on candy on the pace lap seems a reasonable option, but I think I still would find that distracting..

[Lynn]

There's always the Richard Petty method. Chew on a wet towel.

[Rick Kirchner]

I started the lifesaver thing after the Gs in T2 @ Willow had me panting hard. next lap I tried to swallow and it hurt so bad it made me blink hard. not nearly as much a problem in the wet east.

[Robins Ken]

30 minute FF/FC races ?