Belzebutt

So I recently switched from 10-2 to 9-3, but it bugs me how 90 deg+ turns are a bit of a pain. I found this video that seems to give the answer, I'd like to know what other people here find effective:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLw4N5V7DrQ

I have sport steering wheel on my car, with bulges above and below the spokes, is there any useful technique that goes along with that?

dallison

the way he drives looks very interesting. I drive at 9 with one hand on the shifter at most times. I use the hand over hand technique when at slower in town speeds. the way he drives looks a little un-natural

TS_eXpeed

When driving normal, I usually do a 10-2.

When I'm driving more spirited through curving roads, alot of the time, I have something like a 1-8. I just feel like I have more control.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

10-2 when I had my automatic 3G TL.

Now with a shifter, it's been like 9 or 12 with right hand on the shifter.

However, when I drive aggressively through several corners, I do 10-2 regardless of transmission. I feel more in control with 10-2 always.

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

+1.

But for normal driving, I have my left hand at 7 o'clock, with my right hand on the shifter. It's all about comfort for me?

Ken1997TL

Most people do sit too far away from the steering wheel.

I drive like the guy in the video.

What I don't get are the people who 'shuffle steer'

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

I got a comment from someone a while back who asked me why I "lay down when I drive?"

But, it's all about comfort for me. I go back as far as I can while being able to lay back fully against the seatback and reach all of the pedals at the same time. This way, I'm not "crunched" up to the steering wheel/dashboard.

My driving position changes, of course, when I'm at the track.

Moog-Type-S

9-3 for me...paddle shifters leave me no choice.

It's different coming from stick & clutch...but I'm used to it now.

...funny how I grab the wheel (rather than push) just like the guy in the vid...who knew

v6cord2k5

iTrader: (1)

I thought it was no good to lay your hand on the shifter if you've got a manual transmission?

While driving stick I switch between 10-2/9-3, depending on the driving. Cruising = 10-2 or 7-lap, hard = 9-3, traffic = 8-lap. Ofcourse, if the girlfriend is in the car I use her lap instead of mine

mrmako

My Subaru has a nice Momo wheel, and there are small bolsters at 10-2. So I'm mostly there, both hands on the wheel.

Now, something for those that own a Subaru or Volvo (I can't comment on other cars so help me out): The headrest. Mine is large, and it is in the right position and it extends almost all the way up to the top of my head. The back of my head is touching it while I drive, so I'm sitting very upright. And the seats on both cars fit well, with nice side bolstering.

Bearcat94

Around town, hands where ever. Hand-over-hand turning.

In the curvey bits, 9-3, Thumbs hooked over the steering wheel center spoke. Seat forward so that wrists hang over the top the steering wheel. I use a "pre-load" technique similar (close to the same) to the video. Basically 1 hand moves to the position that will be ~9-3 mid-corner and the other remains stationary (either 9 or 3 depending which way you're turning).

leftride

iTrader: (1)

that is basically word for word how I drive and how I was taught at a recent instructional track day.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

I do alot of highway driving, and I use mainly one hand at the 10, 7 or 5 (right hand obviously) o'clock position. I sometimes do hand-over-hand steering, but at slow speeds I pivot the wheel on the ball of my hand.

In the twisities its 10-2.

Mrmako - I wish my headrest was in the optimal position, but with the way I sit I find myself looking at the sun visor if I lay my head on it. I dont have that issue in my brothers Accord as the headrests tilt foward somewhat.

Belzebutt

Do give some details, I'd like to know the track day type steering. I also have paddles that's why I was forced to change to 9-3. It felt weird at first and felt like I was straining my wrists but it just took a little time to figure out the right wrist angle. Now it actually feels better than 10-2, which I used for many years until now.

Bearcat94

Same place I picked up the term., but I had been using this method (or something close to it) before the instruction.

Something like the Recommended Method here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=109&i=8194

Or here: http://www.ridedrive.co.uk/tipoffs10.htm

fsttyms1

Thats pretty much how i drive as well.

Belzebutt

I just tried the technique in the video, and I got to say, it's pretty good. Every other way I used there is a good amount of time during the turn when you're not really holding the wheel, holding it loosely, or pushing on it with your hand, but using this technique you're pretty much gripping it 95% of the time.

It works very well with a sport wheel too, in most ~90 deg turns you can use one hand to grab the bump on the opposite size and bring it over while the other hand is stationary at 9 or 3 ready to grab on mid-turn.

Then you just have to remember to do the opposite thing when you're exiting the corner. Now I just have to work the paddle shifters in there somewhere.

mcflyguy24

That's how my father taught me to drive and that's how I should drive, but I find myself getting lazy these days. It's also best to have your arms at a 45 degree angle for maximum leverage. This is why most people need to stop leaning back and trying to look cool, in an emergency situation this could even save your life I know I'm way more reactive in this position and have better cornering feel as well. Being 5'8" I wish my TL had a telescoping steering so I could be a bit more comfortable when I drive though.

mcflyguy24

Good website with lots on info that will actually help you drive better in real life too and not just on the track.
http://www.drivingfast.net/index.htm

knavinusa

I usually shift my hands closer to the top of the steering wheel in preparation for a sharper turn, i.e. I normally drive 9-3 but I move to a 10-4/11-5 or 2-8/1-7 position for 90° turns. For spirited driving I switch to 10-2 and I use the same technique as before for sharp turns.

Costco

I have done it pretty much exactly as he did in the video ever since I started driving, always at 9-3. Occasionally I do get lazy and use the inside of the rim, or on a long drive with wide open, straight roads I'll leave only one hand around 4 or 5. If I'm driving aggressively on the twisties or autocrossing or doing a u-turn its different, I'll usually put my right hand on the left side for a tight right turn and vice versa. For u-turns I used to pull the steering wheel back the other way, but over time I've gotten lazy. Now I just initiate the u-turn, then let go and let it return to center while dragging it slightly against my open palm(s) and once approaching center again I'll grab and it gently guide it so it so it doesn't jerk or stray out of the lane.

Its all a matter of comfort though. I just feel that in an emergency situation, its easy for anyone to overreact and at 10-2 there's a greater tendency in put in more steering input than is desired and it just doesn't feel as precise

leftride

iTrader: (1)

so in a nutshell this is what we were told:

• move the seat close enough so that your outstreached hands extend past the steering wheel and it hits your wrists
• hands at 9 & 3
• as you are entering a turn reposition your hands so that as you are turning they are returning to the 9 & 3 position. so if you are turning right rotate your hands counter clockwise to say 6 & 12 so that as you are going through the turn you are turning them back to 9 & 3

that's basically it (or what I remember) for turning; as well as the obvious, shifting before entering the turn and hitting the apexes and such.