Driving position
#1
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Driving position
How close do you sit to the steering wheel?
The method I use is something taught by Skip Barber, move the seat back until your wrist hits the top of the steering wheel when your hands are extended striaght out.
Thing is, whenever I see in-car footage from NASCAR or on the Speed Channel, they are sitting very close to the steering wheel: their arms are nearly bent 90 degrees when at the 9 and 3.
Why do they sit so close?
The method I use is something taught by Skip Barber, move the seat back until your wrist hits the top of the steering wheel when your hands are extended striaght out.
Thing is, whenever I see in-car footage from NASCAR or on the Speed Channel, they are sitting very close to the steering wheel: their arms are nearly bent 90 degrees when at the 9 and 3.
Why do they sit so close?
#2
暗闇立ち込めた。。
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Steering could be pretty heavy on those cars. Don't know for sure though. Personally, I sit at the point where my left leg can fully extend to push the clutch all the way in.
#4
It's hard to define a rule for the proper seating position. Peoples bodies, and the cars they drive require different positions. You have to remember the positioning of the seat in a race car is a lot different than the seat in your street car. Personally, I sit as close as I can while being able to slide my hands around the entire wheel without hitting my knees. Because I'm tall, that usually means the seat is close to, or all the way back and the wheel tilted up to it's highest position.
I've never tried the wrist thing, but it seems like it would be about right.
EDIT: I just tried the wrist thing, I sit about 3 inches closer than that method would suggest.
I've never tried the wrist thing, but it seems like it would be about right.
EDIT: I just tried the wrist thing, I sit about 3 inches closer than that method would suggest.
Last edited by BlueEyes; 04-10-2006 at 03:27 PM.
#5
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Having done mostly autocrossing, that sounds too far back for autocrossing. I attempt to sit as close as I can without banging my knees. The limiting factor on the RX8 has been with head clearance, and so my arms are actually a bit less bent than I would like. Autocrossing would seem to require more significant steering input, which is easier to do without taking your hands off of the wheel if you are sitting closer. I'd be interested in what others have to say.
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I definitely concur on the 3 and 9 hand positions. It seems to give you the most control over the vehicle, allowing you to make better precise adjustments to keep from over-compensating and control any heavy steering feedback. I would suggest a comfortable bend in the elbows somewhere around 30, 45, or 60 degrees. For the left leg, I would suggest that the clutch should be fully depressed when you have your leg extended about 80-90 percent. So that you limit the risk of your foot slipping off the clutch pedal when you're shifting "spiritedly," which often happens when you least expect it.
#8
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as close as you can, your knees etc. be damned, you get used to it eventually and then it's a non-issue, you need to use your upper body in high g transistions, not going to happen easily the further outstretched your arms are, real race cars with a 1/2 turn lock-lock steering are a different story ...
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In my case (as I found out at my first event in the RX-8 yesterday) my best sitting position was one in which I can fit my head without having to either lean right or slouch too low in the seat while still maintaining full control of the wheel at a slightly relaxed bend of the arms at 3 and 9 o'clock-ish. I'm a relatively tall guy (6'1") and sitting straight up wasn't an option until the seat was reclined in a suburban-like position. I eventually was able to slouch enough in the seat and increase the lumbar support to provide back support.
I'm now wishing I didn't buy this car as a daily driver and opted not to get the GT package w/ the sunroof.
I'm now wishing I didn't buy this car as a daily driver and opted not to get the GT package w/ the sunroof.
#10
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Originally Posted by WaterLogged
In my case (as I found out at my first event in the RX-8 yesterday) my best sitting position was one in which I can fit my head without having to either lean right or slouch too low in the seat while still maintaining full control of the wheel at a slightly relaxed bend of the arms at 3 and 9 o'clock-ish. I'm a relatively tall guy (6'1") and sitting straight up wasn't an option until the seat was reclined in a suburban-like position. I eventually was able to slouch enough in the seat and increase the lumbar support to provide back support.
I'm now wishing I didn't buy this car as a daily driver and opted not to get the GT package w/ the sunroof.
I'm now wishing I didn't buy this car as a daily driver and opted not to get the GT package w/ the sunroof.
#14
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Originally Posted by BigOLundh
i can actually fit in the car, fully upright, with a helmet... and i'm 6'3"
-hS
-hS
#15
the giant tastetickles
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This is what I do. In addition to having the wrist lying on the top of steering, the more important part I focused on is having my hands in 5 & 8 position but making sure that my elbow does not touch the side of the seat. Then try moving a hand from 5 to 10 going anticlockwise without having to lean forward and the hand grip doesn't loosen up.
These are tips from the first drift bible (the one with 200sx not the s15) by the drift king
These are tips from the first drift bible (the one with 200sx not the s15) by the drift king
#16
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Originally Posted by gusmahler
How close do you sit to the steering wheel?
The method I use is something taught by Skip Barber, move the seat back until your wrist hits the top of the steering wheel when your hands are extended striaght out.
Thing is, whenever I see in-car footage from NASCAR or on the Speed Channel, they are sitting very close to the steering wheel: their arms are nearly bent 90 degrees when at the 9 and 3.
Why do they sit so close?
The method I use is something taught by Skip Barber, move the seat back until your wrist hits the top of the steering wheel when your hands are extended striaght out.
Thing is, whenever I see in-car footage from NASCAR or on the Speed Channel, they are sitting very close to the steering wheel: their arms are nearly bent 90 degrees when at the 9 and 3.
Why do they sit so close?
But this was thought my the real racing driver...
I am 6'1" and I need to lower my seat so the helmet does not rub the roof
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