[DeTomaso] Dumb question - why aren't steering wheels round anymore?

[Gray Gregory]

More specifically paddle shifts make it necessary for the driver to keep his hands at 3 and 9 o'clock. The steering wheels also double as the dash so being rectangle allows more room on each side of the center display for knobs and switches and don't dismiss the fitment issue either; modern LMP cars are much like F-1 cars with bodywork.

Gray

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On Behalf Of MikeLDrew at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2012 1:47 PM
To: charlesmccall at gmail.com; detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Dumb question - why aren't steering wheels round anymore?


In a message dated 6/16/12 11 42 1, charlesmccall at gmail.com writes:


> I suppose that in F1 cars a round steering wheel wouldn't fit due to 
> their legs, but I'm seeing Le Mans cars that don't appear to have the 
> same problem and their steering wheels are sort of rectangular - a bar 
> with two vertical grips for the hands.
> 
> 
> 
> Whatever happened to round?.
> 

Round wheels are great if you shuffle-steer.   Current race cars with power 
steering enable the driver to keep his hands at 3 and 9 o'clock all the time, so there is almost no need for anything other than a pair of grips.

Steering wheels are mostly supports for control switches and knobs now anyway--steering almost seems to be their secondary function!

Mike
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