Regarding the steering wheel - are you a 'puller or a pusher

Tim Wehrly

I heard this remark during a NASCAR interview. The best I can tell is that if you are turning to the right you could pull down on the right hand side of the wheel or you could push up on the left hand side of the wheel. Confused

Does this type of steering style translate into Kart racing? If so how? Question

Dave Malloy · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 645

By pushing you can help the frame flex providing more IR lift.

Ken Olson · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:29 pm Post subject: pushing/pulling

pushing..and get more weight transfer to the outside tires.. every little bit helps when you are looking for grip, until it bicycles over...

Charles Ray · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 16

Eh??? - What are you guy's on about? Explain yourselves please.

Charles

Ken Olson · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:45 am Post subject: pulling/pushing

Charles,
Close your eyes.. put your hands on the wheel.
What are you doing when you are turning right and using more of your force pulling down on the stering to turn? Your arm bends a little, making you get closer to the wheel, shifting your body weight slightly ahead and inside.. if your setup was right on the edge of loose(as in fast) you could be causing the kart to "come around" and shift weight pecentages to the inside a bit.. IF you were pushing with your left arm to turn right.. you are sending weight slightly to the rear and outside... your arm is straightening out.. could possibly help out with a little extra weight shifting towards the rear/outside.. ever sit on a set of scales and notice how the weight changes side to side with the slightest movement of your head or hands? JMO and not meant to tell anyone how to run their setup.. just check it out sometime and see which way you steer..it may do nothing for you..
Ken

Jim Russell, Jr. · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:19 am Post subject:

Pushing.
Pulling will yank you out of the seat.
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Chris Livengood · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:15 am Post subject:

Im with Jim, none of that other weight transfer hokus pokus. Pushing is better because it holds you in the seat, and the seat is the best item you have for making your body weight transfer. It is that simple.
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Mike Goebel · Joined: 28 Jul 2001 Posts: 4276

In order to raise the CG significantly I do a handstand on the steering wheel if necessary.

Mike G.

Jim Russell, Jr. · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject:

Chris Wehrheim · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:58 pm Post subject:

Jim and Chris are right, but I think Tim is talking about how a driver turns the wheel. When going into the left hand corner do they use their left arm mainly to pull down on the wheel or do they use their right arm to push.

Chris Parks · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:28 pm Post subject:

Colin Jackson · Joined: 09 Nov 2004 Posts: 89 Location: Australia,

So lightly, that the steering wheel doesn't even KNOW if it's being pushed or pulled!

Charles Pou · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:51 pm Post subject:

Interesting thread. I think I probably pull. Comments about pulling yourself out of the seat don't ring true for me. Maybe I am pulling myself out of the seat, but can't tell it, never thought about it.

When I am making steering inputs to setup for a turn or in a turn, I really don't know if I am pushing or pulling. Its more of a reflex reaction I think.

However, I do like to pull down on the wheel and lock my arm to hold the wheel steady while in a turn. Also, it seems more controllable when I am leaning my body to the outside in a turn, if I am pulling myself towards the kart ratherthan pushing away from the kart. For me, it feels like I have more control/ leverage if I am pulling.

Maybe how close the driver is to the steering wheel makes a diff? Some drivers have the steering wheel far enough away their arms are practically straight if they hold it at the top. So pushing probably does help keep them in their seat.

There are other variables, but enough for now. Maybe it's a personal preference thing? Smile

Geremy Kornreich · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:56 am Post subject:

As a newbie, this is a really interesting thread!
Coming from sports cars, I was always taught pulling since you have finer motor control. Think of it like petting an animal - you're pulling from top-center to bottom-outside.

But for Karting, the pushing/weight transfer comments make very good sense!

One thing I've noticed - my hands and forearms hurt/cramp less when pulling then pushing.

Joshua (BlueBayou) Lyon · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:52 pm Post subject:

Jim is right. You all remember Newton's laws right Razz

? When you push on the steering wheel, it pushes back on you - pushing you into the seat. The more pushed up against the seat you are, the more weight jacking you get.

Whether they know it or not, all (good) drivers change how much they are pushing with their outside arm depending on what they want the chassis to do.
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