FFaust

This 'different roles' for both hands was stated by people a lot smarter than I, and I have confirmed it in my own 'feeling' while driving.

I agree that it is not something that you can, nor should, consciously try to do, but I suspect that we all do it, just because of the way we are built, because of the relationship between our bodies (arms) and the steering wheel; top arm extended and lower arm bent, closer to the body.

Yes, driving is definitely a 2-hand activity, but I have confirmed, in my own driving, that both hands work slightly differently depending on whether they are pulling or pushing.

Thundermoose

I find that my shoulders and arms are less tired at end of day if I try to pull down with right arm when turning right and vice versa. I probably have all kinds of other bad habits and I certainly have to work hard to soften my grip which may contribute to fatigue.

Veloce Raptor

Softening grip is huge. Partial palm and fingertips only in cars with seats/harnesses IMO

hf1

+1
Switching to Sparco gloves (with high grip HTX surface) few years ago was eye-opening for me.

KJM9

++1!

winders

Look at what happened when the FIA mandated a single hand control for the clutch versus the dual hand controls allowed last year. Universally, the drivers are having much more difficulty getting consistent launches.

Why? Two hands working together have much more feel and precise control than one.

Veloce Raptor

That's what she said

HiWind

Interesting responses thanks

... I ask as the Instructor at the PSDS at Silverstone Experience Centre said what Thundermoose did above i.e. pulling down w right hand to turn right (with left hand stabilizing and helping) and visa versa for left turn.

Claimed it was easier movement for the muscles (this was also linked to seating position with arms bent not straight) and hence better/more efficient - pecs stronger than forearms etc

TXE36

We have a very well respected LSRPCA classroom instructor who advocates pulling down, but frankly I've never been able to do it consciously. I just steer the car. It's not like it takes a lot of effort with power steering. A manual rack may change things.

As others have indicated, I do better if I loosen my death grip on the wheel which ironically I find easy to do without gloves. It looks funny when I really practice it as I drive around pinkies up. I know I've really blown this if my hands are sore at the end of the weekend. Hmm, I wonder if I could add a steering wheel grip sensor to my data?

I've got some video of this, but frankly, the "standard" is what I observed when VR drove my car years ago:


Traffic didn't cooperate very well, but it shows the point.

-Mike

Matt Romanowski

I've never seen a surgeon grab a scalpel with 2 hands.....

winders

Give us a break. Different scenario. Some tasks can be accomplished properly with one hand only. Throwing a ball is another example.

Power aside, people have more control and precision swinging a bat or a golf club with both hands/arms.

winders

Also, what is the surgeon usually doing with his off hand? Is it behind his back? Nope......it is right in there working with his other hand which allows him to be more in control, more precise. I have a surgeon in the family, by the way, but ask one yourself.

HiWind

Thanks Matt & Winders ... One thing about the light touch approach that worries me if that if front wheels hit a divot or dip under braking and wheel jumps out of your hand .... Especially dips in middle of fats sweepers etc .... I try relax my hands on straight but prefer a solid grip in high speed sweeps or coming into the big braking zones

winders

I am not sure what others are saying about grip pressure, but light grip pressure, to me, means no death grip. You want enough grip pressure to control the steering wheel but no more than is necessary. The phrase "appropriately firm" is better than "light". The goals are threefold: improve feel, improve control, and reduce fatigue.

Assuming you know what you are doing on the track, you know when the steering wheel may move with some force and you adjust the grip pressure accordingly. Oh, make sure your bumpsteer is not too far out of whack too.

Sir5n

Whoops, posted the wrong one. Thanks for the invaluable input from both.

Apologies to the last post.

For what it's worth, I wondered about this as well and lean toward a balanced application dictated by circumstances. Didn't think others were looking at this as well.


https://vimeo.com/144095076