Racing Postion just curious??

[Zimmer]

One thing I always wonder as I toy with different positions...What is the proper seating position arm length / leg length? Height? I'm just curious.

I like to have my seat back tilted back as far as possible so all you see are my knuckles of my hand on the top of the steering wheel... no just kidding ... seriously....(bling)

Obviously different people are taller or shorter ...wider... but is there overall guidlines? Whatever is comfortable for the driver?? Just wondering.

I like my left foot to be fully extended just as the clutch pedal is in I find myself faster with the pedal generally but then but then I feel a little too far from the steering wheel.

[clos561]

i saw this video about downshifting and powershifting on yahoo vids i think. the guy said a good distance for driving a manual car is when your back is completely against the seat and you wrist can touch the top part of the steering wheel. i use that and it seems to work pretty good. sometimes i go back a bit when im in chill mode

[Retrobmx63]

Yes I remember reading something very similar.

With your arm fully extended, your wrist should reach the top of the steering wheel.

And with your clutch fully depressed your leg should not be straight, (it should have a bend to it).

[mckraut]

I am six feet tall, so I usually have my seat forward one notch from all the way back. My seat is reclined, but only slightly so, it is not at 90 degrees. The top of the steering wheel on the inside is aligned with the bottom of my gauge cluster so I can see them all very well. I used to have it a little lower because it's almost a stretch if I'm driving with one hand on top of the wheel, but recently I've trying to retrain myself to use my left hand on the left side of the steering wheel, around nine o'clock, so I can see my gauges better. This is my standard driving position and if I have my hand on top, my knuckles just wrap over the steering wheel and face forward as if I'm punching.

When I decide to play around, maybe on some back roads, I'll scoot my seat forward 2-3 notches and move the steering wheel to the lowest position available. I do not adjust the seat recline position.

[Kain]

Left hand at 12 o' clock, hat tilted sideways, fuzzy dice swaying gently in the breeze.

[evilmonkeyMSP]

you forgot to include laying the seat back as far as possible to still be able to see over the wheel...
Left hand at 12 o' clock, hat tilted sideways, fuzzy dice swaying gently in the breeze.

[turbo23]

Really sitting upright, hands slightly bent. Its really what your comfortable with, and what will enable you to reach the controls and pedals to preform optimum movements.

[Kain]

you forgot to include laying the seat back as far as possible to still be able to see over the wheel...

Woah, buddy, slow down there. That would be too fast and too furious for me.



p.s. I forgot, right hand holding da celly to my ear so I can holla at da shorties.

[imac]

I am six feet tall, so I usually have my seat forward one notch from all the way back.

im about 6'4", and in my older cars id usually ride with my seat pretty far back. they all had high release points and low travel on the clutches, so it wasnt that bad. the MS3 (mine at least, i know a lot of people seem to have different feel to their clutches) has a mid-high release but with a lot of travel. when i first started driving it, i had trouble getting used to the low gear shifts for a few days, as most did, but then i found that i got much better feel for the clutch with the seat further forward. its really not uncomfortable at all (for me at least), i have better shifts and clutch feel, im closer to all the controls, and if someone has to sit behind me i dont have to move the seat anymore.

[dcomiskey]

Where are you racing?

[mckraut]

Where are you racing?

Mostly in school zones and at 11:00AM on Sundays in front of churches.

[Hyun]

having your back completely against the seat is important because you get maximum support from the seat as well as you can feel the car more.

[blkMs3th]

Mostly in school zones and at 11:00AM on Sundays in front of churches.

(lol)

[MikeHTally]

Don't forget -- slightly sideways in the seat and leaning over the center console. This is the most entertaining thread in a while. Thanks for the chuckles.

[AutoXRacer]

Actually, the wrists should reach the steering wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock positions without your shoulders coming off the back of the seat. Your leg should be slightly bent on the clutch pedal fully depressed. And of course your back should be fully supported by the seat.

If you wear a 4 point harness, it will force you to be straight... The wrist position will force the backrest position, while the legs will control the distance of the seat.

[tiagotiago]

I also use the "wrist at 12 w the back fully pressed on the seat" mesaure, but I also see how far my arm is streched when I'm properly driving and applying a bit of steering lock, you should make sure that your arm is a bit bent, even in this position. If your arm is fully streched out, you're using more strength to make steering inputs,wearing yourself out quicker, and you have a bit less sensitivity as to what the wheel is doing. Also, with the arms still bent, you have a bit more strength left in case you need it. Legs should also remain slightly bent with the pedals fully depressed.

Sit up straight but comfortably in your seat. Remember that we have all of our back and butt in the seat, and all that sufrace will give us information as to what the car is doing, provided we are comfortably, but snugly in our seat.

[Moxhair]

Actually, the wrists should reach the steering wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock positions without your shoulders coming off the back of the seat. Your leg should be slightly bent on the clutch pedal fully depressed. And of course your back should be fully supported by the seat.

If you wear a 4 point harness, it will force you to be straight... The wrist position will force the backrest position, while the legs will control the distance of the seat.

This guy knows what he's talking about. When I went to Skip Barber and Bondurant they explain the seating position exactly the same. I actually drive everyday in this position.

I'm 6', 185lbs and people are always surprised at my seat position when they get into the car with me.

[hectik1]

Actually, the wrists should reach the steering wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock positions without your shoulders coming off the back of the seat. Your leg should be slightly bent on the clutch pedal fully depressed. And of course your back should be fully supported by the seat.

If you wear a 4 point harness, it will force you to be straight... The wrist position will force the backrest position, while the legs will control the distance of the seat.This is exactly how I drive. I also have the seat at it's lowest position (6' tall).

[dokx]

Personally, I've always driven my cars with the driver's seat nearly as far back as possible and "liberally reclined". Not so far back that I can't reach the steering wheel comfortably, but far enough back that everyone who drives the car lets out an "Oh Shit!" as the fall back into the driver's seat when getting in. I'm 6'5", so it was fairly far back.

In the ms3, it was really uncomfortable to put the seat into a similar position. When I did, it felt like the bolsters were poking me in the side as I took turns. I don't know how to describe it...it just felt funny. I now have the seat a couple of clicks from all the way back and slightly reclined (it is nearly straight up--though I'm sure its a couple of clicks back). The first couple of days I had it like this, it felt like I was sitting STRAIGHT up. That feeling faded over time. It is now really comfortable and does "hug you" when you get hard into turns.

I think it all comes down to choosing a position that is comfortable for you, and is not impairing your ability to drive the car correctly. I'm not sure whether I'm conforming to the 3 o'clock-9 o'clock-wrist-bent knee technique, but I'll be sure to check.

[pointysticks]

if you are really racing, you should be sitting closer than you think. it is easier, or takes less effort to move the steering wheel when you sit closer. this works at AX's too! helps you see the cones.

[kneedragger241]

I have my Miata set up for autocross, but I'm a bit more relaxed in my MS3.

[Zimmer]

I checked I'm about 1/2'' shy of the wrist measurement. I just feel uncomfortable going from accel to brake like its too close... but I'm a short effer with a napolean complex so who knows maybe its me. LOL anyways thanks for the input.

[dkswim]

dont forget about the telescoping function of our sterring wheel

[chaos4]

dont forget about the telescoping function of our sterring wheel

Are you sure? My MS3 steering wheel has tilting, but no telescoping.

(drive2)

[dkswim]

the sports dont telescope as well, my friends regular 3 dose that as well

[MikeHTally]

More and more glad I bought a GT. (rockon)

[Retrobmx63]

I have a Sport. The steering wheel indeed telescopes. You just need to give it a good tug. Or maybe it's already maxed out for you, so push in?

[tiagotiago]

I checked I'm about 1/2'' shy of the wrist measurement. I just feel uncomfortable going from accel to brake like its too close... but I'm a short effer with a napolean complex so who knows maybe its me. LOL anyways thanks for the input.


It does feel a bit odd at first, but if its the right one, it will be very obvious when your on the track and notice that you feel the steering wheel better in tight turns with less effort, and maybe get that heel-toe a bit easier.

That said, I do remember I was a bit too close in the first days in the MS3, I slid the seat one"click" back and not only did I feel less torque steer when I feed the throttle in, but I felt my arms more relaxed. Obviously you dont want to be so close that you don't have proper freedom of movement.

Good luck!

[freeflyfreak]

I have a problem finding a good position with this car.
If I adjust the seat for good pedal position I am too far from the wheel at full extension.
If i adjust for the wheel I am too close to the pedals.

And I have short legs, I cant even imagine how bad it must be for some one with long legs.

[.HYPE.]

I checked I'm about 1/2'' shy of the wrist measurement. I just feel uncomfortable going from accel to brake like its too close... but I'm a short effer with a napolean complex so who knows maybe its me. LOL anyways thanks for the input.

im 5'3" hahaha (cheers2)

[Zimmer]

dont forget about the telescoping function of our sterring wheel

the sports telescope ... I had it set but good pt I'll check that again.

[Capt Crunch]

+1 on the 12 o'clock wrist stuff, that's my my track instructor told me.

One thing that's bugged me about the MS3 is that even with the wheel fully telescoped towards me, I cant reach the above position unless I'm bolt upright, more than I would want even at the track. Sigh.

[RelliMS3]

sitting indian position on the seat and just modulate your speed with the cruise control buttons

[dandydaniel]

Driving position (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8560062568273244117)

There you go. This video depicts what most of you have said as well as myself personally.