Steering: what to do with thumbs? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

pushrod · 01-20-2016, 08:58 PM

When I steer, I sometimes use a false grip so that there's no chance of getting my thumbs caught if I have to countersteer quickly. One time I was offroading in an old Toyota, and I stubbed my thumb a bit when I hit a big rock with the left tire. The truck didn't have a steering damper, and the wheels had a large, positive scrub radius, so it really moved the wheel.

Joe-G · 01-20-2016, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pushrod

When I steer, I sometimes use a false grip so that there's no chance of getting my thumbs caught if I have to countersteer quickly. One time I was offroading in an old Toyota, and I stubbed my thumb a bit when I hit a big rock with the left tire. The truck didn't have a steering damper, and the wheels had a large, positive scrub radius, so it really moved the wheel.

I think you answered your own question? ...

RustySocket · 01-20-2016, 09:34 PM

Well in the old days driving big trucks with no power steering you learned real quickly to keep your thumbs out of the way of the spokes of the steering wheel. Big old dumptrucks had high ratio steering gears and that wheel would spin once in a while if you hit a rut in the road.

Now it seems these days from the posts I read on the forum about using both feet to drive an auto and other ridiculous bullshit that the cool thing might be to learn how to double clutch with your thumbs...

Mr.ac · 01-20-2016, 09:35 PM

You need this.

humfrz · 01-20-2016, 09:52 PM

Well, it seems to me, while driving my FR-S down the highway, if the steering wheel rotates far enough to whack my thumb .......I would be heading off the road at about a 90 degree angle ....... and a sore thumb would be the least of my worries.

So, since I'm not off roading or driving a dump truck, I allow my thumbs to help hold onto the steering wheel......

Now, back in the day ...... crank starting a machine ..... was when you DIDN'T want your thumb wrapped around the crank.

Who can tell me why ..... and how did you find out .......??

humfrz

MrDinkleman · 01-20-2016, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, it seems to me, while driving my FR-S down the highway, if the steering wheel rotates far enough to whack my thumb .......I would be heading off the road at about a 90 degree angle ....... and a sore thumb would be the least of my worries.

So, since I'm not off roading or driving a dump truck, I allow my thumbs to help hold onto the steering wheel......

Now, back in the day ...... crank starting a machine ..... was when you DIDN'T want your thumb wrapped around the crank.

Who can tell me why ..... and how did you find out .......??

humfrz

Is that like kick starting a big bore thumper or twin using the ball of your foot instead of your heel?

Cole · 01-20-2016, 10:15 PM

Back when I was learning to drive military vehicles off-road (MLVW/LSVW/HLVW/LUVW/etc.) they taught to not have your thumbs wrapped around the wheel for that very reason. Didn't want someone getting a booboo on their thumb and filing a hurt feelings report. When I drive my car, I don't notice what my thumbs do. Sometimes they wrap, sometimes they don't.

Ultramaroon · 01-20-2016, 10:29 PM

I never used to pay attention to where my hands were until my HPDE class. Now I'm always practicing "doing it right."

Tcoat · 01-20-2016, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, it seems to me, while driving my FR-S down the highway, if the steering wheel rotates far enough to whack my thumb .......I would be heading off the road at about a 90 degree angle ....... and a sore thumb would be the least of my worries.

So, since I'm not off roading or driving a dump truck, I allow my thumbs to help hold onto the steering wheel......

Now, back in the day ...... crank starting a machine ..... was when you DIDN'T want your thumb wrapped around the crank.

Who can tell me why ..... and how did you find out .......??

humfrz

Because when those things kick back they hurt like a sonofabich and at best leave a bruise that lasts for weeks. 1952 Fordson tractor.

humfrz · 01-20-2016, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDinkleman

Is that like kick starting a big bore thumper or twin using the ball of your foot instead of your heel?

.........

........ sort of, with one you can hurt your leg/foot ..... the other, your arm/wrist ......

humfrz

humfrz · 01-21-2016, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Because when those things kick back they hurt like a sonofabich and at best leave a bruise that lasts for weeks. 1952 Fordson tractor.

Yep, ol Tcoat has been there.

My first experience was crank starting our old Oliver tractor.

Weighing in at about 65 pounds (soaking wet), standing on a 5 gallon kerosene can, set the crank (NO thumbs), jump up, then jump off the can ..... at the end of the throw(fall), pull the crank back out of the notch and dodge the steel wheel.

Repeat as necessary ..........

humfrz

Tcoat · 01-21-2016, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

Yep, ol Tcoat has been there.

My first experience was crank starting our old Oliver tractor.

Weighing in at about 65 pounds (soaking wet), standing on a 5 gallon kerosene can, set the crank (NO thumbs), jump up, then jump off the can ..... at the end of the throw(fall), pull the crank back out of the notch and dodge the steel wheel.

Repeat as necessary ..........

humfrz

Our Oliver was so hard to start that my dad made up a sort of clutch assembly attached to a 5 horse Briggs engine. Worked pretty well except every one in a while the facing material (I have no idea what it was but would have been free) would explode and fly off at a startling velocity. His safety measures consisted of "listen for a pop and move".

Oh and we about 5 tractors but did not live in a farm. They ranged from about 1940 to the "new one" at 1954.

humfrz · 01-21-2016, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

..................... His safety measures consisted of "listen for a pop and move".

Oh and we about 5 tractors but did not live in a farm. .

........ yep, that made us "quick" ......

OK, I give up ...... why did you have 5 tractors and not a farm ..... ??

humfrz

Tcoat · 01-21-2016, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

........ yep, that made us "quick" ......

OK, I give up ...... why did you have 5 tractors and not a farm ..... ??

humfrz

Supposedly for snow plowing but really just because he liked tractors. And old in repairable cars, and dump trucks that never hauled anything, and just about anything he could get for free and pile up in the fields. He was the king of the Canadian rednecks to his dieing day. Hell we even had a school bus with no wheels and a 1942 road grader at one point.

01-20-2016, 08:58 PM	#1
pushrod Benched 86lb Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: Ultramarine FR-S Location: Ottawa Posts: 805 Thanks: 899 Thanked 927 Times in 392 Posts Mentioned: 16 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Steering: what to do with thumbs? When I steer, I sometimes use a false grip so that there's no chance of getting my thumbs caught if I have to countersteer quickly. One time I was offroading in an old Toyota, and I stubbed my thumb a bit when I hit a big rock with the left tire. The truck didn't have a steering damper, and the wheels had a large, positive scrub radius, so it really moved the wheel.

01-20-2016, 09:35 PM	#4
Mr.ac [insert cool phrase here] Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: BRZ Premium Location: Central Coast CA Posts: 2,369 Thanks: 709 Thanked 1,558 Times in 930 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	You need this. __________________ New daily driver - Subaru BRZ Premium Weekend fun/track car - '91 MR2 Turbo Gen3 Old daily driver - '88 MR2 Supercharged

01-20-2016, 10:29 PM	#8
Ultramaroon extra what? Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: a 13 e8h frs Location: vantucky, wa Posts: 32,085 Thanks: 52,528 Thanked 36,809 Times in 19,084 Posts Mentioned: 1111 Post(s) Tagged: 9 Thread(s)	I never used to pay attention to where my hands were until my HPDE class. Now I'm always practicing "doing it right." __________________ service manuals

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01-20-2016, 09:34 PM	#3
RustySocket Slow Learner Join Date: Jul 2015 Drives: 15 Halo FRS Location: Puget Sound Posts: 206 Thanks: 147 Thanked 110 Times in 55 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Well in the old days driving big trucks with no power steering you learned real quickly to keep your thumbs out of the way of the spokes of the steering wheel. Big old dumptrucks had high ratio steering gears and that wheel would spin once in a while if you hit a rut in the road. Now it seems these days from the posts I read on the forum about using both feet to drive an auto and other ridiculous bullshit that the cool thing might be to learn how to double clutch with your thumbs...

01-20-2016, 09:52 PM	#5
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 30,061 Thanks: 29,120 Thanked 32,202 Times in 16,572 Posts Mentioned: 709 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Well, it seems to me, while driving my FR-S down the highway, if the steering wheel rotates far enough to whack my thumb .......I would be heading off the road at about a 90 degree angle ....... and a sore thumb would be the least of my worries. So, since I'm not off roading or driving a dump truck, I allow my thumbs to help hold onto the steering wheel...... Now, back in the day ...... crank starting a machine ..... was when you DIDN'T want your thumb wrapped around the crank. Who can tell me why ..... and how did you find out .......?? humfrz

01-20-2016, 10:15 PM	#7
Cole Not a troll Join Date: Apr 2015 Drives: FR-S Location: Canada Posts: 5,104 Thanks: 8,237 Thanked 5,399 Times in 2,694 Posts Mentioned: 266 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	Back when I was learning to drive military vehicles off-road (MLVW/LSVW/HLVW/LUVW/etc.) they taught to not have your thumbs wrapped around the wheel for that very reason. Didn't want someone getting a booboo on their thumb and filing a hurt feelings report. When I drive my car, I don't notice what my thumbs do. Sometimes they wrap, sometimes they don't.

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