Seriously...

[LoriJarrod]

Shouldn't laugh, but it's hard not to.

I can't imagine a side impact in that position would be good either.



Drove the Polo for the first time in a while this morning. Put the seat all the way back (the missus had been in it) and sat down only to find what I thought was some crazy lumbar support sticking squarely into my back. I was looking around for some kind of adjuster for a couple of minutes, until I realised the rear seat was folded down on that side, and it was the rear headrest sticking into the back of the driver's seat. The bloody things must be foam all the way through the back section. Luckily I've got a spare bride seat and a set of rails if I ever go to a track.

[gareth_oau]

You might as well lean back like a P plater in a VT commodore.

there have been a few cases of these 'p' plates drivers involved in accidents and their seats have been so laid back that theyve slid under the seatbelt towards the pedals and broken their neck on the lap part of the belt on the way through

sounds like a good result to me!!

[LoriJarrod]

Regardless of how you sit, Polo seats are not really any good to you on a trackday. You might as well lean back like a P plater in a VT commodore. I find myself gripping the wheel hard enough on the road let alone on a track.

How do the taller driver's get on with a Helmet? I'm 6'4" and my head is almost to the roof with the seat quite low.

The A pillars definately have some racing heritage in them. Perfect position for looking out your side window at the corner exit on both sides.

[neil]

Lol try putting fur around it!!!

I'm not touching this one.

Or should I say ,not going down that road.

[poloplayer]

I usually have it the "old skool" way, wrists touching the top of the wheel when my arms are straight.

However, I do know that for track days and thus racing drivers, its better to sit much closer to the wheel than usual, and almost bolt upright, this gives much much better control of the wheel, and you can twist it up a lot more.

Having said that, its better to not sit so upright day to day because by leaning back a bit, it relieves pressure off various points in your spine, so you wont get back problems as early

[BenjGTI]

Have that problem in the Jetta, but mainly due to the dealers big keyring dangling off keys.
My biggest annoyance is no light on ignition on steering, so at night can't find the hole.

Lol try putting fur around it!!!

[Y2008]

I mainly have three problems in most cars, and they all relate to lower body length. It's always hard for me to get into the car, esepcially small ones. My legs get stuck on the steering wheel while going in and out. The other thing is when put the seat in a position that is comfortable for my arms, my legs are too crammed for the pedals, and when i move the seat back my arms are quite stretched reaching the steering wheel. That problem was multiplied for me in a Peugeot 207 gti which i really had trouble driving and another problem i had was with a Skoda Octavia where there was no legroom on the sides, the centre console is too wide and it was a long drive and it was really painful. Back to another issue that was mentioned earlier the dangling keys are very annoying. First time I see some purpose in the renault megane keycard in the centre console. Eventhough i think its a distaster because if ur not used to it, you can leave the car running. I walked out of the car took the keycard, thinking the car had turned off and locked it. The car doesnt lock if the engines running. So i eneded up leaving the car UNLOCKED and RUNNING in the middle of a busy street for about 30 minutes.

[gareth_oau]

here, take this advanced senior driver for example.....she knows the V8 Supercar and Nascar ways (expect for her 9:00 hand positioning) ....we should all follow suit.

I think she is trying to achieve the rather obscure, but equally effective "quarter to twelve" position. This is a tricky position to master, but highly regarded in some schools of thought!!

LOL if her airbag went off, looks like she'd end up dislocating a shoulder

[RhysQ]

here, take this advanced senior driver for example.....she knows the V8 Supercar and Nascar ways (except for her 9:00 hand positioning) ....we should all follow suit.

[gareth_oau]

I think you meant "Quarter past nine" gareth, but your point is still clear.

LOL see, I cant tell the time

Driving at quarter past three would put a bit of a strain on the old spine after a while

[T Go]

On the topic of the Advanced Driving Course in Perth...
I've attended 1, and I didn't feel that I got much out of it, I'm by no means a great driver or anything like that, but I think its catered more for people who have NO understanding of physics and dynamics...

I was at a track day at Thruxton in England a couple of years ago, and they encouraged the wrist on the steering wheel approach, and also they emphasised that you must be comfortable... so I wouldnt place too many rules to think about when you drive...

I'm not saying any of the advice any1 here has given is wrong, I just think that you should just do what feels comfortable.

Also, in regards to McRae, Jensen Button was also like this... its interesting to see him in the car, sitting very upright and high so he can see the corners of the car, whereas most drivers sit lower to the ground to aid center of gravity...

T Go.

[LoriJarrod]

I think you meant "Quarter past nine" gareth, but your point is still clear.

In dirt rally, you steer with one hand. The other maintains it's original position at either the "9" or "3" spot with a light grip. You basically push the steering wheel through hand. I adapt this for tarmac stuff and it works well.

The biggest problem with inexperienced drivers is not seating position, rather vision and line. Colin Mcrae, for example, sat almost the opposite way to textbook drivers.

[Jarred]

... and no power steering - it is no longer relavant in today's environment.

not all of us are so lucky as to have power steering!

For me. well I probably sit completly wrong, but I sit where i find it comfortable. I tend to adjust if I'm going for a drive, generally bringing the back of the set up more.

But for daily driving, my seat is what man would regard as quite laid back. Infact you can see the headrest through the back drivers side passenger window very clearly! but of course I don't lean all the way back on it.

Anyways.

I generally have my seat where I'm comfortable to control the clutch properly, and my legs aren't too bent. ( I prefer my legs to be relatively straight) and the wheel in proper reach, where I can control it proper.My arms are hardly streching to reach the s/wheel but I'd hardly say they are bent either!

Thats just the way I do it. Comfort for daily driving is what I'm after.

[gareth_oau]

I recently attended an advanced driver training day at AHG in Perth.

They advised that 90% of drivers sit too far from the steering wheel. The idea of placing yr wrists on the steering wheel is 'old school' thinking and is too far away. Also yr seat-back should be almost vertical and not laid back.

Have a look at racing drivers, they sit quite close to the wheel and vertical

The logic behind this is when yr arms are bent you get a lot more leverage and can react quicker than if yr arms are straighter.

so stage 1 is to make sure yr seat is almost vertical.
stage 2 is to slide the seat forward until your arms are quite bent.

For me, the wheel is now about 30cms from my chest.

(now if you have very long legs and short arms, this is going to be a bit tricky!!)

It felt weird making the change initially, having being taught the "wrists" method so many thousands of years ago, but I stuck with it and now it feels much better.

The instructors also advised that you should place yr hands on the wheel in the "quarter past three" position and not the "ten to two" position, again improving yr leverage.

you shouldnt remove yr hands from the wheel but cross yr arms over, unless you are doing a very tight turning circle.

The old push-pull steering routine was created for drivers of old buses and trucks with 24 inch steeering wheels and no power steering - it is no longer relavant in today's environment.

[PeterHBne]

I find the most important thing is that your arms and shoulders be relaxed.

To this end I sit quite close to the wheel and have the seat up high - I'll often even have the wheel at the bottom of its up/down range and extened towards me. And I'm 6'3".

This way the wheel is sort of in your lap and arms very bent and relaxed. that way you are driving with your forearms and not your shoulders and torso.

Have a look at a V8 Supercar driver or Nascar driver next time.

This gives you the best control.