Desmodromic

Why is the starter switch located to the left of the Steering column?

Dutchie in NC

So you can engage engine with left hand while putting simultaneously in 1st gear with your right hand during a Le Mans start race.

Do I get a prize?

pat056

An old 24 hrs. of LeMans thing. In the old days, drivers ran to their car at the start of the race. So the theory was, if the starter is on the left side of the wheel, the driver could save a micro second by getting the car started that much guicker.

pat056

I've got a ??. What year did LeMans stop this type of start. No prize, I really don't know.
BTW Dutchie gets the prize as his answer is more specifically correct.

Marc Gelefsky

1969 was the last year for this type of start.
I cant believe you asked this on a Porsche forum!

gota911

I would imagine they stopped that practice because of safety issues.

Can you imagine that type of start today? I think it would be anti-climactic. The drivers run to their cars and then 2 to 3 minutes later they start to drive off because they have to get the seat harness connected, the Hans device connected, the water tube connected, etc, etc.

rountreed

I guess that is how race drivers became known as athletes.

Steven C.

We tried this at our vintage club a few years ago. To say it was a disaster waiting to happen would be an understatement. One car wouldn't start so the team was pushing it while cars zoomed by on both sides. One Americam V8 put down a lot of rubber while almost sliding into his neighbor. Sufice to say we won't be doing this again!

Ray S

Do you have any idea how "athletic" a race can be?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/6980337.stm

They are most definately "athletes".

zicoramone

Because the guy that invented that had infantile paralysis and couldn't use his right arm.

zicoramone

Problem solved.

A new Porsche quiz (a little harder, but also easy):

What was the gift that Ferry Porsche received from is father Ferdinand in the Christmas day back in 1920?

Riad

A 928?

zicoramone

hummm...cold, remember the date: 1920 (Ferry was a child)

Steven C.

In 1920? That was what Ferry got in a 4 door version much later.

Riad

It was joke.

<insert screetch and car crash sound here>