Drivers height position

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Chrisar82

Unless you are really short you should always be as low as possible.

Depends if you want to avoid back strain or not.

The closer the seat base is to the floor, the more strain is put on your lower back.

[chris82]

Originally Posted by GeeRam

Depends if you want to avoid back strain or not.

The closer the seat base is to the floor, the more strain is put on your lower back.

How?

[JimD]

The Porsche video is interesting but I like to be a little closer to the wheel than that. My arms above the wrists will touch the steering wheel. They are suggesting very little flex in the arms, I like a little more.

[bbbbmw]

To those who like to sit close to the wheel: be careful - in an accident, the airbag can crush your chest and/or give you heart damage. Most sources say sit as far away from the wheel as possible, with arms extended but slightly flexed.

[JimD]

Originally Posted by bbbbmw

To those who like to sit close to the wheel: be careful - in an accident, the airbag can crush your chest and/or give you heart damage. Most sources say sit as far away from the wheel as possible, with arms extended but slightly flexed.

My sleeve length is 36 inches. So I am not really all that close to the wheel, thank you.

[Kgolf31]

I sit fairly low. Especially with race seats. My head basically it just over the steering wheel.

For reference, I'm 6'1"



As far as sitting close, I sit close to the wheel so my forearms rest on the wheel. The close you sit towards the wheel in a performance situation, the easier it is make adjustments in a situation and correct.

[JimD]

When I did the M school in 2011 (a blast by the way) one of the things the instructors were brutal about was driving position. There was one younger man who was a really good driver but like to sit WAY back where he could barely reach the pedals and wheel and liked to spin the wheel with one hand. He got chewed out until he changed. They also won't tolerate reaching inside the wheel instead of gripping the outside. They want hand over hand turning and good body position. Pretty upright and close enough that there is significant flex in the arms and legs. They aren't trying to be PITA, they want you to have the right position to control the car. You're driving cars worth into the low six figures, it makes sense to position yourself where you can drive as well as possible. You are also likely to get into some challenging situations. They'll yell at you for driving too slow too. I got sideways on the track at one point and had to straighten it out before somebody got there. Being in a bad driving position while something like this happens doesn't make anything easier.

Your position while driving quickly doesn't have to be the same as you use on the interstate on cruise control. But I find the position they encourage comfortable too.

[Kgolf31]

Just for reference, this is where I sit. Better picture:

[pick333]

I noticed the guys on top gear position so their eyes are just above the top of the steering wheel. Because of this, I lowered my seat and felt more a part of the car.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Chrisar82

How?

Unless you are quite short in leg length, the lower the seat base goes, the more likely your knee joint will be higher than your hip joint, and the angle between your spine and thigh bone will be less than 90deg, which puts strain on the lower spine.

[chris82]

Originally Posted by GeeRam

Unless you are quite short in leg length, the lower the seat base goes, the more likely your knee joint will be higher than your hip joint, and the angle between your spine and thigh bone will be less than 90deg, which puts strain on the lower spine.

Thanks, good to know, learn something new everyday!

[Liquidsunshine]

Wow, I'm not all that tall, (5'-11.5), but I'm too tall for my 1'er... I wish I had the option of lowering the seat any more! I've got it bottomed and I can't see past the rear view mirror. Maybe it's because I like to sit up straight. I just discovered today however, that the seat is actually up on knobs under the carpet! I'm going to do some customization under there and lower the mounts. It can go up about to the sky, but it don't go down too well.

[red914]

This guy has some good advice too.

[3002 tii]

I prefer to have a fist width between my head & roof. I generally prefer to sit lower, upright and closer to the wheel (arms bent). Works great for both street/track.

[JimD]

Originally Posted by Liquidsunshine

Wow, I'm not all that tall, (5'-11.5), but I'm too tall for my 1'er... I wish I had the option of lowering the seat any more! I've got it bottomed and I can't see past the rear view mirror. Maybe it's because I like to sit up straight. I just discovered today however, that the seat is actually up on knobs under the carpet! I'm going to do some customization under there and lower the mounts. It can go up about to the sky, but it don't go down too well.

I'm 6'2" and have plenty of room. My inseam is 34 inches. Is yours less? The only way I see you having an issue is if your legs are really short and your body really long. My seat is up off the floor an inch or more and I still can put my hand over my head without touching the top (or maybe just grazing it). I am not normally straight up and down but close enough to it that I am not gaining significant height room from the tilt - i.e. I can put the seat straight up and still have room.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by JimD

I'm 6'2" and have plenty of room. My inseam is 34 inches. Is yours less? The only way I see you having an issue is if your legs are really short and your body really long. My seat is up off the floor an inch or more and I still can put my hand over my head without touching the top (or maybe just grazing it). I am not normally straight up and down but close enough to it that I am not gaining significant height room from the tilt - i.e. I can put the seat straight up and still have room.

Keep in mind taller folk (with longer inseam) can sit further away and gain headroom as the roof slopes upwards. Won't make a huge difference but if someone's inseam is shorter they'll sit closer to where the roof comes downwards.