Grip of Steering Wheel

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 130, 23 August 1927, Page 7

Grip of Steering Wheel

Hints on Safe and Easy Driving

For the Learner

rpHERB are many experienced driv--1 ers who, during their daily work, And it necessary to manipulate all sorts at controls from every conceivable position. Frequently they may be i ee n careering through traffic on the weearious seat offered by a benzine case and even sometimes without that comfort, merely standing across the ebrfsis members. While this position would never do the owner-driver during his week-end jaunt, yet it shows what can really be done under adverse circumstances. Now the owner-driver, in the case where he selects the driving position, must insist on having comfort. Not

“I have travelled 10,000 miles in her, in all parts of the United States, through Honolulu and Hawaii, and all over Australia,” said Mr. Carter of his car, yesterday. “Coming down from Brisbane to Sydney- we had an adventurous run. The roads were terrible in places; we would run into holes half as high as the car, then out into more holes, through scoria and over rocks. We had to make mileage because we were playing a town a night, and 1 drove her through at from 30 to 40 the soft resilient cushion type of comfort, but a position where all controls are within reach without undue strain. This point cannot be stressed too strongly, as apart from being an important factor where long drives are contemplated, control is lost to a degree without it. As an illustration, while teaching a friend to drive recently, I could not understand how the gears in the forward position (reverse, first, and third) were nearly always “mulled” When changing, while those in the rear slots (second and top) were always neatly done. As no improvement was shown with further practice, the position became acute both from a physical and financial standpoint. I had no great desire to be run backwards into the ditch after missed gear changes, nor did I wish to buy a new gear-box. As an experiment, a thick horsehair cushion was placed between the learner's back and the seat, and from that moment gear-changing and the general manipulation of the controls became as near to perfection as possible. CORRECT STEERING GRIP . The reason why differences of opinion exist in this connection is that each writer has had in mind one or two particular cars of similar build. Obviously the correct grip for a steering wheel of the sports type—almost vertical in front of the driver, cannot be right for the touring wheel at 45 degrees or less! First and foremost the hands must in every case occupy a natural position without any tenseness or strain. They should rest on, or round the wheel rim, as the case may be, and all niuscles, as well as those of the body, should be relaxed, otherwise quickness of action will be sacrificed and the driver will become tired very rapidly. Where touring wheels are used —i.e., these whose angles in relation to the body are about 45 degrees, the correct Kri J ) would be: Right hand palm down Wja right thumb curled over the rim above one of the spokes. Left hand Palm facing inward toward the steercolumn and thumb similarly lu TP e d over near the opposite spoke. ith vertical wheels as used in SEEING NEW ZEALAND WHAT motoring has done The motor-car lias converted New vfJr? n ,d People from thoughts of proncialism to those of nationalism, economic transportation, good h ads ’ and especially the family car, s taken us out into the country, into nio? es w h* c h we had scarcely even ; Clured in our minds, and revealed to a country of which our locality is w a part * , e have extended our limits of obva tion and of experience by the automobile. We have enlarged our I ope °f knowledge, and on this we ve substituted a wider horizon as the foundation for our thoughts. 1 1 curing, therefore, seeing New Zean<3, is the greatest educator, for it opens our minds to realise what a onderful country we possess, beyond our borders lie the beauties a great country and the revelation OI a growing nation.

are falling. Every economical usekeeper should commence to preWVe With SHARLAND'S EGG PREJiable which is absolutely re-

MUCH ink has been spilled recently in motor journals abroad, in a controversy on the correct grin of the steering wheel for safe driving. A good deal of misunderstanding seems to exist here, and in order to make tne problem quite clear, the subject will be dealt with in detail.

sports cars, both palms will be facing inwards toward the steering column. These holds allow the greatest degree of control * coupled with restful position. Except vvlien manoeuvring at slow speeds, such as turning in a street or when backing, the two hands should never be moved at the same time through the same distance. WHEN TURNING In the course of ordinary driving on the road, if a deviation to the right is to be made, the right hand should pull the necessary distance, and the left hand be kept in its original place by releasing the grip and allowing the

miles an hour. She stood it wonderfully. I thought that surely the springs would give, but nothing happened.” Mr. Carter's car is fitted with a moveable spot, or searchlight in front, which moves up and down, and from side to side. The back of the front seat lets dow*n to make one large couch (“very useful when the hotels are poor,” says Mr. Carter). In the floor of the car is a heater supplied with hot air when the engine is running. All the back of the car is a special ’ wheel to slip through the fingers. By this means, a safe position is kept for instant reverse action should it ever be necessary. By using the left and right hand alternately in this fashion control is always kept when turning through a big arc as frequently must be done with the lower geared steering. With cars having such a good topgear performance as we have to-day, once on the open road and clear of traffic, there is little else to do but steer. This being so, the average driver should, and generally does, take a pride in making a clean and neat job of it. Nothing looks so crude as a careless driver continually oversteering—that is, pulling the wheel too far one way and then another in an effort to shape a course. This is a very common fault with beginners, and is in evidence with a great number of more experienced men. On the other hand it is a pleasing sight to onlookers and a great satisfaction to the driver when, say, a fairly acute left-hand corner is negotiated neatly. Approached at the correct angle, note the well-judged pull of the wheel right through the turn—one pull, not a succession of jerks—precision in letting back the wheel so as to flatten out neatly on leaving the corner and a clean and rapid get-away. Before more than average proficiency can be attained in this high-class driving there must exist between man und machine a bond of intelligent sympathy much in the same manner as is found between the good jockey and his mount. The driver is then said to possess a good pair of hands. W-> sensitive are they that their actions may be likened to a subconscious sixth sense. Minute movements, hardly perceptible to the eye, are being made the whole time of driving. The mind having determined the direction, Life hands do the rest by feeling and anticipating any undesirable change. No need to wait until change of direction is seen, for a good pair cf hands will “sense” it and correct it an instant earlier.