Quote:
Originally Posted by Clutch Dog
I have a question but this might be knowledge not privy between buyers.
who bought these spacers? Budding enthusiasts? people who want more leg room, even for daily cruises? Guys who track/compete with their vehicles?
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The short answer, and this is a guess on our part since we don't know the purchasers personally, is that this first run went to tall folks who are tired of reaching for the wheel and/or hitting their knees.
The reason we developed this product is because the owner of 949Racing is very tall (second photo in this thread). Three of us here at 949Racing are driving instructors, and one of the first things we correct before ever getting on track is to move closer to the wheel. Track day driving position is not the same as street driving position - you need to be closer.
Look at any purpose-built racecar. The steering wheel is usually between crotch and mid-thigh, sometimes even closer. On production cars, for tall people the steering wheel is between the knee and lower thigh, or even at the knee - much too far away to precisely control steering movements.
Particularly for Japanese cars, even some medium size drivers are too close to the pedals by the time they get within the proper distance of the steering wheel. I'm 5'7" and even with the spacer, I have the wheel telescoped almost all the way out to get to the correct driving position.
While it's mostly tall guys that make this mod at first, we expect to see many average-height drivers make this change to improve track- or autocross-driving ergonomics. Some real serious folks will swap in an aftermarket wheel with a quick release that accomplishes the same thing, but if you are retaining the stock wheel this is the way to go.