GerFix
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2007
- Messages
- 1,461
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
- Car(s)
- Jaguar XKR, BMW E92 M3, MG TF, Riv 4000
rant:
-Steve's 9-3 driving is the so called professional shuffle position which to me is the most stupid way to drive. Ergonomics dictate that you will tire much quicker, your muscles aren't in a position to have even half as much "torque" available in your arms/elbows, your response to a fast corner is never going to be as quick as a 10-2 solid grip which also ensures you are more alert as the 9-3 induces lazyness (some idiot politicians want us to do the 4-8 grip which shows politicians for what they are) it'll cause more accidents then anything else.
A race car has a steering quickener gearbox which give a 30% or so faster response (i.e. you turn less for a sharper corner) which is why that does allow you to drive more 9-3, but with normal driving you will either need to shuffle (stupid stupid as you have a lot less grip on the wheel at ANY time) or you end up with one lame arm doing next to nothing, a LOT less grip and a LOT more work for a LOT less precision)
Your wrist position at 9-3 cancel each other out at any corner, it's a total push/pull method where both have less that adequate grip whereas at 10-2 at least ONE has a full grip on the steeringwheel while the other is redundant and can take over that grip if the corner requires a sharper turn.
Interesting rant but I think in this day and age you are wrong.
The 9-and-3 position is all about control and safety. Modern steering wheels all have spokes at about 9 and 3 o'clock. With your hand/fingers in contact with a spoke, you will always have a better idea as to where your wheels are pointing without having to take your eyes off the road to glance at the wheel. Also, with your hands at 9-and-3, you can operate the indicator stalk without moving your hands to a new position on the wheel ... in fancy cars, it also means you can operate the wheel mounted audio controls etc. with your thumbs (again without letting go of the wheel). Lastly, if you drive with your hands at 10-to-2 and your airbag deploys, you will suffer greater injury. They have looked at this in America .... the hand closest to the A-pillar is thrown up and out into the pillar (this causes additional injury to the driver). They also found that the airbag applies greater force to the forearms as it deploys if the hands are at 10-to-2 compared to 9-and-3.
I doubt that Steve advocates a true shuffle technique ... it is much more likely to be a hand over hand (as you describe in your last paragraph) .. always grasping the wheel at its junction with a spoke.