Yahoo Autos How to Find the Proper Seat Position For Street, Track, and Rally Driving
You look at a vintage photo like this, and you wonder how anyone could drive such a cramped car. Driver TB Andre is positively wedged into his seat at the wheel of his Marlborough I, preparing for the JCC 200 Mile Race at Brooklands back in 1921. It makes you thankful for the roominess of a modern car, where you can roll the seat rearward, recline the seatback, and really stretch out those legs on a long highway journey.
But if you're about to hit the track, or participate in a rally stage, autocross, or even some high-performance back road driving, you'll want to adjust your seat to be more in line with Mr. Andre's angles.
The theory is well known to experienced track day drivers, but it's worth reiterating to everyone. The proper high-performance seating position boils down to one main theory: You want to be able to easily operate your foot and hand controls to their maximum, without having to reach, push, yank, or invoke your major muscle groups. You should be able to control your car with fingertip steering inputs and subtle foot pressure-even under massive acceleration, threshold braking, or major cornering forces.
Theoretically, that all makes sense. But how do you tailor this general advice to the specific car you're driving? Allow Wyatt Knox, an instructor at Team O'Neil Rally School, to explain the ins and outs of achieving the proper driving position for street, track, and rally driving for maximum comfort, endurance, and control.
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