What is the correct driving position for car racing? How many degrees elbows bent ?

Question

When holding the steering wheel at 9 to 3 (clock) position how many degrees should be at elbows?

Answer 1

It depends upon what kind or racing. In Indy cars and F-1 elbows are just about straight. The driver is essentially lying flat on his back, with his arms "resting" on his torso. In a stock car, the driver is sitting almost straight up and down with the steering wheel about 10" off his chest. Your elbows at slightly greater than 90 degrees.

Answer 2

The answer isn't in degrees -- it's in how you set up your car.

Adjust your seat and wheel (if possible) so that when you reach your arm all the way across the wheel, you don't have your elbow fully locked. Be sure to check it with both arms. That's the position that matters, not the 9-and-3 position.

Some instructors teach you to "pre-position" your hands as you enter a corner -- that is, in a left-hand turn you'd slide your hands around the wheel clockwise, far enough that when you're in the corner, your hands are back at (or close to) the natural 9 and 3 positions. There are several advantages to this, primarily that your arms are balanced at the position that gives them the most fine control, and neither one is overextended. So if you have to make fine adjustments to the front wheel position in the middle of a corner, your arms are in the most balanced position.

Other instructors like you to plant your hands at 9 and 3 when the car is straight, and then basically never move them from that spot on the rim no matter how far you turn it -- on the assumption that for most circuit racing, you never have to do a cross-hands turn, and if your hands are always at the same place on the wheel you'll always know where straight ahead is.

Answer 3

There are many answers, depending on the type of racing and vehicle, as well as the size and preference of the driver. Most NASCAR drivers prefer a very close driving position with the elbows nearly fully bent, more than 90 degrees from fully extended. The classic Italian position is the full opposite with less than 10 degrees of flexion. There are reasons for this in both cases. NASCAR races generate tremendous lateral Gs, and the effort to move the wheel is much greater, even with power steering. Road course racing tends to limit the lateral Gs, since the corners are rarely banked, thus there is not as much need to be ":up on the wheel" as in stock car racing. For my racing position, I prefer to be off the wheel, arms with about 15 degrees of bend at the elbow (from straight out that is) with my hands resting at 10 and 2 on the wheel. Keep your thumbs hooked under the wheel, not along the outer rim, for better response if the need for rapid adjustments comes into play. I used to club race a Dodge Neon on road courses and I hope this has been of some use to you.

Answer 4

This is an interesting question. I raced a Ford Sedan in England for a number of years. I used a six point seat belt which, when tight, limited torso movement. I raced with arms bent at about 140 degrees which allowed me to go full opposite lock and hold on.

The more modern method is to be much closer to the wheel and sit with strongly bent elbows to give better "turning effect". I did not like this as I wanted to be away from the wheel for safety.

If you think this is not real I can relate the following: My son was racing at Brands Hatch and crashed at Paddock Hill Bend. Despite the six point seat belt and being 2 ft away from the steering wheel, the wheel managed to put a six inch black scrape mark on his helmet! The belts must have streched hugely, hence his bruised shoulders but otherwise uninjured.

Keep away from the wheel !!!!!

Answer 5

In Indy cars and F-1 elbows are just about straight. The driver is essentially lying flat on his back, with his arms "resting" on his torso. In a stock car, the driver is sitting almost straight up and down with the steering wheel about 1' off his chest

Answer 6

it's not an exact science. it is more of a preferance thing. it depends on what is being driven, and who is driving it. obviously, a taller drier will not be holding his elbows the same as a shorter driver. they have different seat and sit at the steering wheel different..so what it comes down to is where they can be most comfortabe and hold the most control over the car..

Answer 7

If you have to ask that question you should not think about racing!

Answer 8

driver preference