[spiffyjiff]

...i notice in a lot of vids here and other forums that many drivers hook their thumbs in the crook of the steering wheel rim/spokes. for some reason i have always had a red flag in the back of my mind about this - a sudden flat at speed might jerk the wheel, and your thumb, severely or a crash might also turn the wheel suddenly. or even something as your thumb or glove catching when you're trying to make a quick evasive action.

thoughts on this? i know we all have our own driving styles - i try to subconsciously keep thumbs straight up/against the thumb rests my wheel sort of has - but is there an "accepted/correct" method?

[VaSteve]

I was told at my second DE not to do that. I'm sure I wrap my hands in some manner, but my thumbs aren't jammed in the crooks as you describe. Id hate to lose my thumbs....its what sets us apart from the other animals.

[Der ABT]

you must have power steering.......real men dont have to worry about this haha...

if its on top of the "crook" then a sudden jerk should eject your thumb safely, if its under then yeh your thumb dont bend that way.

ive been in a few shunts in the last few years and have not had any issues....my steering wheel has 3 posts at 4, 6, and 8 id say...if you have a 4 poster thats your thumb goes in the middle of two of them(thinking 944 wheel) yeh that would scare me.

also a werks driver anticipates everything...or so the stig told me while i was giving him his last lesson

[ausgeflippt951]

You should never hold the steering wheel tightly enough that a sudden jerk like this wouldn't loosen your thumb from the crook. In motorcycling, this is also a big deal; instructors are always preaching to have the loosest grasp on the wheel (or grips) possible such that you can still retain control of the vehicle without loss of feeling.


The sprint car guys talk about this a lot -- those wheels seem to have sharpened metal spokes, and considering they're regularly knocking wheels with one another, sudden whacks are common.

[C3PC]

all you need.....

[BMAN]

Originally Posted by spiffyjiff

i try to subconsciously keep thumbs straight up

Your technique has jumped the shark.

[BobNovas]

you need one of these. http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=95640

[ausgeflippt951]

I once had a Suzuki Samurai with a suicide knob. Thing was a hoot.

[spiffyjiff]

Originally Posted by BMAN

Your technique has jumped the shark.

Attachment 37013

well played.

[Mark Hubley]

I've had an instructor tell me emphatically to never hook my thumbs around the wheel at all.

I've had another instructor tell me to hook my thumbs through the wheel to steer through the carousel at Summit Main.

I've been told I move my hands too much on the wheel as I drive.

I've been told by an instructor that for all he cares I can "shuffle my balls off."

Fortunately, despite continued shuffle steering, both balls are still in their proper place.