UK Karting - Notice Board (General Karting) : Re: Hands on wheel position

Notice Board (General Karting)

Re: Hands on wheel position
Posted by 'itpro' on 10 May 2011 @ 12:31

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itproJoined: August 2001
Total Posts: 6
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All sorts of things are said about steering wheel position. Let's start with cars:-

Cars...

The reason why you SHOULD (not optional, please note) drive at 9:3 or 10:2 is to do with 'elbow room'. Most (if not all) cars have more than a single turn of the wheel to go to full lock. Not many of us can keep our hands on the wheel (where-ever we start) past about 180 degrees of lock.

If we start at any postion from 12:12, we can't move our arms as far without letting go. However, the leverage you can apply on a wheel is pretty poor if both hands are up at the top. If the hands are at 6:6, then that gives you the LEAST movement before your 'arms' cross over. Thus, we need to find postions less than 12:12 and more than 6:6

Secondly, if your hands are BELOW 9:3, then you are actually moving your hands in the 'WRONG' direction..... you are moving them LEFT to go RIGHT! That's counter-inutitive.

Finally, the further down the wheel, the earlier that arm movements will cause your elbows to 'hit' your chest (stomach in my fat condition) or 'door cards'. If that happens, you can't apply as much lock (in an emergency) as you can had they started higher up!

If you start at 8:4, then you can only move about 45 degrees in any direction without letting-go or getting 'crossed-up'. What heppens if you already have (let's guess) 30 degrees of lock applied when an emergency occurs? If you started at 8:4, then you've only got 15 degrees of movement LEFT..... but had you started at 10:2, you still have at least 30 degrees more lock avaialble to you..... and that might just save your LIFE!

So... the compromise of 'best-leverage'; 'maximum amount of controlable lock' and 'most lock available for an emergency'.... is around.... 10:2, 9:3.

For GOOD drivers of cars, there is *N*O* other safe option. Period! Anyone who drives with the elbow on the door and/or hand at the bottom of the wheel and/or 8:4, etc., etc. in a CAR.....shows us EXACTLY what sort of driver they are...... utter CR*P!

Karts
********

Karts steering never (rarely) goes more than 1/2 a turn in either direction to give us full lock. Thus, the problem of 'crossing arms' is massively reduced in karts. However, your elbows can still 'hit' the engine/chest/stomach.... so...

If you have your hands below 9:3, then you are, again, moving your hands in the OPPOSITE direction to the kart..... rather like steering a tiny boat with a tiller! That's weird.... but...!

Most people 'lean' slightly as they turn into a corner.... they shouldn't.... but..... However, if your hands are below 9:3, then you'll be leaning in the 'wrong' direction. However, those who remember Gary Till..... (QoT.... etc.) will remember that he DID lean the wrong way.... and was very QUICK doing it!

Basically, you can hold kart wheels where you like as there's little evidence to say it makes a negative difference UNLESS, your elbows start hitting things if you choose a 'low' position. Below 9:3 is WEIRD..... but.... that's your choice!

I think it's positively perverted but......

Ian

Message Thread:

Hands on wheel position by 'jackhjharding' (10 May 2011 @ 10:13)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'Aquila' (10 May 2011 @ 10:40)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'WiLdKaRtHaZzA' (10 May 2011 @ 10:42)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'jackhjharding' (10 May 2011 @ 10:51)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'QuickOldTimer' (10 May 2011 @ 11:10)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'BanzaiBoy' (10 May 2011 @ 11:46)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'Aquila' (10 May 2011 @ 11:53)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'jackhjharding' (10 May 2011 @ 11:54)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'itpro' << You are here!

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'Aquila' (10 May 2011 @ 13:10)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'chriskasch' (10 May 2011 @ 13:16)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'Aquila' (10 May 2011 @ 13:18)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'chriskasch' (10 May 2011 @ 13:21)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'Aquila' (10 May 2011 @ 13:28)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'chriskasch' (10 May 2011 @ 13:30)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'Aquila' (10 May 2011 @ 13:37)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'sdminus' (10 May 2011 @ 16:39)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'itpro' (10 May 2011 @ 17:29)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'davidmc' (10 May 2011 @ 22:48)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'itpro' (11 May 2011 @ 0:54)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'jackhjharding' (10 May 2011 @ 13:20)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'alanrr' (10 May 2011 @ 13:19)

Re: Hands on wheel position by 'lee65' (10 May 2011 @ 15:40)

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