M5 Driving Experience - writeup (LONG) - Page 4

greg · 1st May 2002, 17:43

I am a big shuffle steerer, or more accurately, pre-positioner- you can see it in the my videos. In my opinion, any time you need to turn the wheel more than about 110 degrees, you PREDICT the turn and pre-position your hands so they will be at the best position when you're in the turn. In some cases this will require shuffle steering as you enter. Now when you are IN the turn you don't have to move them and still have your arms in the right position for control - if the tail starts to come out you need to unwind in a hurry, and if your arms are crossed up 180 degrees it isn't going to be as easy. It is also a fact that our cars have much lower steering ratios than race cars - which is why paddle shifters alone aren't enough - Schumi never has to turn his wheel ("yoke?") more than about 100 degrees.

I have had many instructors ride with me - some are "9-and-3" guys, some aren't - but all of them have said "your car control is fine - don't change."

I also have a bad habit which is, knowing that another shift is coming, and I'm on a straight, I leave my right hand on the shifter instead of returning it to the wheel. Bad habit.

Diamond Dave · 1st May 2002, 17:49

Quote:

Originally posted by greg
I also have a bad habit which is, knowing that another shift is coming, and I'm on a straight, I leave my right hand on the shifter instead of returning it to the wheel. Bad habit.

Greg,

That's one of Donnie's pet peeves! He emphasized placing both hands on the wheel. Also, when you're not shifting get the left foot OFF the clutch and on the dead pedal.

Having said that, I still find my hand resting on the shifter at certain times as you described!

DWP

kgk · 2nd May 2002, 11:23

Quote:

Originally posted by atomic80

Yes, they did emphasize that the correct position is on the 9 and 3 position but they went on to demonstrate shuffle steering! This essentially is a way for you to steer without having your hand over the other.

This is one of the things that I hate about BMW. They'll put the SMG shifters in a place that only works with a 9-and-3 grip, and then they'll teach you not to use the 9-and-3 grip.

I totally agree with you that shuffle steering is only way to drive a street car, but I drive with a restricted variation that I learned in stunt driving school, where you add the constraint that both hands have to be at exactly the same height, and you tend to rest them both at the bottom of the wheel. If you steer like this your hands rarely will ever cross 9-and-3, unless you're in a parking lot.

atomic80 · 2nd May 2002, 15:52

Well....if you'll look at every other manufacturer out there. A majority of them all place the shifter paddles/buttons in the same location. In the 9 and 3 position! The only difference with one manufacturer that I know of is the setup offered by Ferrari. Ferrari cars with the F1 shifting system has the paddles behind the wheels BUT the difference is that they stay in place even when you turn the steering wheel. I think that this is also the case for the new Maserti Spyder too.