The Ohio Random Thread... aka We Should Probably Be Working

[Brains]

It's probably gone by now... along with my 10mm deep-well socket and expensive slim-head socket wrench that allows me to adjust my belts. Now my belts have to adjust themselves.

Someone buy my protege tower bar so i can spend all the money on the tools i lost.

 

[XCLR8TN]

http://jalopnik.com/man-killed-by-street-racing-car-was-coming-home-after-j-805337977

Sort of kind of maybe but not really on that note I had a question for you and whoever else tracks their car. I was discussing this with phen yesterday.

On track: hands on wheel at all times
At auto cross: allow wheel to spin freely within your semi-grip

Why? I've noticed in your track videos that you keep your hands around the wheel on all turns, and cross your arms to a point. When I drive on the street I often let the wheel go, or shuffle my hands around, even in spirited driving. I've been trying the way you drive and it's honestly driving me nuts. I know I can't do it for a 90* city turn and I couldn't do it well in a slalom at auto cross, either.

When I snow drifted the smart car I was letting the wheel go and due to it being 4 turns lock to lock I never knew where "straight" was on the return, which was fun with such a short wheelbase. (Sarcasm)

I just came back from running meadows rd in the park at a medium pace purely because of all the wet spots but I feel so inhibited by keeping my hands on the wheel that I need a legitimate reason to keep doing it, assuming it is the way you are "supposed" to drive. I'd link a video of me in the miata at Nelson for reference but I'm too tired lol.

 

[Taters]

It's probably gone by now... along with my 10mm deep-well socket and expensive slim-head socket wrench that allows me to adjust my belts. Now my belts have to adjust themselves.

Someone buy my protege tower bar so i can spend all the money on the tools i lost.

Never know till you check. It doesn't hurt to call or stop by and check on them.

 

[princess peach]

Sort of kind of maybe but not really on that note I had a question for you and whoever else tracks their car. I was discussing this with phen yesterday.

On track: hands on wheel at all times
At auto cross: allow wheel to spin freely within your semi-grip

Why? I've noticed in your track videos that you keep your hands around the wheel on all turns, and cross your arms to a point. When I drive on the street I often let the wheel go, or shuffle my hands around, even in spirited driving. I've been trying the way you drive and it's honestly driving me nuts. I know I can't do it for a 90* city turn and I couldn't do it well in a slalom at auto cross, either.

When I snow drifted the smart car I was letting the wheel go and due to it being 4 turns lock to lock I never knew where "straight" was on the return, which was fun with such a short wheelbase. (Sarcasm)

I just came back from running meadows rd in the park at a medium pace purely because of all the wet spots but I feel so inhibited by keeping my hands on the wheel that I need a legitimate reason to keep doing it, assuming it is the way you are "supposed" to drive. I'd link a video of me in the miata at Nelson for reference but I'm too tired lol.

I don't think you have to keep the hands on at all times, but I'm the same way. Autox and spirited street driving I will let the steering wheel slide a bit, but on track I keep them on. I believe it's the higher speed and the chance of having to correct the car at any given moment, which is sometimes unexpected since I'm still learning. I can't fully control a drift I induce on purpose, so both my hands tend to be on the wheel and I don't let it slide. Maybe its a level of comfort you have to get used to?

 

[WillD]

Autocross courses typically have much tighter turns. That's why I will adjust the position of my hands on the wheel. On track my hands never leave 3 and 9 (except to shift obviously).

I honestly didn't even notice that I moved my hands on the wheel on an autocross course. I sit a little farther away from the wheel than you probably should, I would say if the wheel was moved a little closer to my body I wouldn't move my hands around on an autocross course either.

For example, take a look at in-car shots from F1 at Monaco when they go around the hairpin turn. 180 degrees of steering and they have no choice but to keep their hands at 3 and 9.

(Steering wheel is completely upside-down btw)

And as a side note for those unfamiliar with F1, they fit special steering racks that they only use at Monaco because of this turn. Their normal setup wouldn't be able to turn tight enough to make it around the corner. Haha.

 

[princess peach]

That is another factor, in autox speeds are lower and turns are tighter so its not as easy to keep both hands on.

 

[Lewis7789]

Heck, just one of the biggest habits of mine to break was keeping both hands on the wheel, I used to keep one on the shifter all the time. I forget who told me, probably Marlon, but "if you aren't shifting keep your damn hand off the shifter. It will be there when you come back to it.". Now my hands are always at 9-3, even while city driving.

 

[eprx799]

I try to keep my hands @ 3 & 9 on the wheel at all times on th track, but I also don't wrap thumbs around the wheel because the spokes of the steering wheel can catch your thumbs and break them if you spin or hit curb just right.

 

[princess peach]

How do nerds\dorks communicate at the office?

 

[XCLR8TN]

Hmm thanks for the input guys. I will keep trying 9/3 on the wheel.

Even sitting at my desk, if I try and hold onto an imaginary steering wheel and turn the wheel upside down to the left, my left hand cannot stay on the "wheel" I can't rotate my wrist that much. That's why it feels so uncomfortable to me, the hand underneath always comes off the wheel...

 

[CTt3P5]

Morning all, another beautiful scorcher!

Marlon, how is Lauri doing?

I've got a bad habit of driving with one hand as well. Been doing it for years and one that I try to be more aware of but find myself driving with my left hand either at the top or lower left of the wheel. One habit I did break was mocking my stepfather. He used to make turns with the palm of his hand. When I first got my license I thought it was cool and did it as well. Looks cool but if you need to make an evasive manuever quick in mid-turn your screwed.

 

[WillD]

Hmm thanks for the input guys. I will keep trying 9/3 on the wheel.

Even sitting at my desk, if I try and hold onto an imaginary steering wheel and turn the wheel upside down to the left, my left hand cannot stay on the "wheel" I can't rotate my wrist that much. That's why it feels so uncomfortable to me, the hand underneath always comes off the wheel...

If you're cranking the wheel a large amount I don't see how it's possible to keep the underneath hand attached to the steering wheel. Look at the F1 picture, Mark Webber is driving with 1 hand. The theory is, if you're turning the wheel that much you are going slow enough that it isn't that big of a deal.

 

[bigsho]

My last car didnt have power steering, so i always had to keep two hands on the wheel just to be able to turn at low speeds. Ms3 i try to keep both hands on the wheel at all times, but sometimes youll catch me driving like a gangsta lol

 

[WillD]

I never got into driving with my hand on top of the wheel. I don't understand how people do that.

 

[bigsho]

I cant do that, it blocks my vision cause im short and sit low in the seat haha. If im driving with just one hand in slow traffic, its at 9 o clock on the wheel which is gangsta enough for me

 

[o0n8]

My left hand is almost always at the 9 o'clock position, my right hand is usually holding my drink in the cup holder because it always falls out otherwise.

 

[Fiji Mazda3]

You're all doing it wrong. You should be doing it like this.

 

[Brains]

the legendary one-hand-at-12-o'clock is for bad ass's. I can't pull it off, but i've been cut off by what appeared to be a 60+ year old bad ass and an old fat lady bad ass once.
Total b.a. Oh, you also have to lean over the center console and raise up your shoulder as much as you can so when other people go by all the see is shoulder. It's better if you put your hand on your chin like you're deep in thought as well.

When me and my dad see someone driving like that we have fun trying to figure out what's wrong with them.

I don't autoX or track my car, but when i'm driving around i keep my right hand at 3 o'clock, and the left hand goes at like 11 o'clock. Sometimes i put them at 9 and 3, but that's only when i'm acting like i'm flying an airplane down the road

 

[Brains]

you're all doing it wrong. You should be doing it like this.

that's it!!!!!!!

 

[Lewis7789]

And I don't know how those cats lean their seats back so bloody far. Then it's funny to see them sitting up, their backs not even touching the back of the seat, so they actually drive. Their heads are behind the B pillar.