{"id":4775,"date":"2014-04-11T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2014-04-11T17:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=4775"},"modified":"2014-04-10T16:44:44","modified_gmt":"2014-04-10T23:44:44","slug":"modern-rendition-of-fat-man-steering-wheel-is-for-racers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/modern-rendition-of-fat-man-steering-wheel-is-for-racers\/","title":{"rendered":"Modern Rendition of Fat Man Steering Wheel is for Racers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RJ42<\/a><\/p>\n

If you want to find out how a new product for racers works, skip the salesman and go straight to the manufacturer.\u00a0\u00a0 Son Machine Co<\/a>.\u00a0 in Evansville, Wis. makes the Quick-In Surlock Steer device that allows racers to get in and out of their cars without completely removing the steering wheel. We spotted the product at the Race Expo event, and contacted Dan Gildner of Son Machine Co. to find out more.<\/p>\n

\u201cBasically, when racing you put the unit in the down position, with the Quick-In locked in,\u201d Gildner explained. \u201cThere\u2019s a center pull pin and when you\u2019re ready to get out of the car, you pull the pin and you rotate the steering wheel over it The wheel will go up and away about 130 degrees. This gives you half the space the steering wheel takes up\u2014enough room to slip out of the car.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the steering wheel up and away, you can exit or enter the car. After entering, you buckle up for the race and rotate the wheel back into position.\u00a0 Yank the center pull pin and the Quick-In device will latch into place and re-register the steering wheel. You don\u2019t have to worry about the steering wheel coming off, since it hasn\u2019t been disconnected.<\/p>\n

Gildner said his partner Gordie Frank developed the Quick-In Surlock Steer system after seeing a very old automobile accessory on an early 1900s car at a show. \u201cBack then, they called it a Fat Man steering wheel,\u201d Gildner noted. \u201cIt was hinged to swivel to allow heavyset people to get in and out of the car. The problem with a hinge is it brings the steering wheel towards the driver, so we did more of a rotating deal so the distance the wheel moves out of the way doubles.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Gildner, the billet aluminum contraption will fit just about any racing car that has an existing quick disconnect system. \u201cWe have a 3-bolt pattern and a 6-bolt pattern that can be rotated 22.5 degrees to flip the pin where you want it to be. The steering wheel bolts to the other side where there are three options: 3-bolt, 5-bolt and 6-bolt patterns And we\u2019re registering this at about 13o degrees so it will \u201csurlock\u201d in position. The Quick-In Surlock regularly sells for $199. For information call 1-414-550-9626 or 1-608-751-5258.<\/p>\n