We are going to a non-steering wheel design on our new car (using levers) and am wondering what throttle types are effective (and hopefully inexpensive).  I was thinking a lever potentiometer type with a dead pedal button that kills the car on release.  I've seen these at some races.  I have seen some of the lever potentiometer style throttles, but I don't know how the dead pedal hooks into the throttle. 
Any suggestions on how to hook it up and different throttle types?

For going cheap, a lot of cars use a 0-25K pot, then limit it's travel to 0-5k. This is abour 20 degrees of travel, about normal for a thumb throttle. Use a rubber band to return it to 0k, which will stop the car.

I think your dead pedal switch is just a normally open limit switch in series with the pot. CML I think uses two limits in an either or configuration one for the hand and the other for the foot. It allows some switching from hand to foot to help eliminate any cramps that might develop during competition.

Finger type throttles work for David Douglas.  You can still grip the steering wheel or lever and still be able to pull the trigger without fatigue.

Im not a big techy electrical wise but we use a twist nob on the left of side of the steering wheel and i think we have a dead pedal button that kills the car on release on the right and we have it rigged up to screw in to click the button and its baced on sheet metal so you can pull it back in emergency. Its not pretty but it does the job pretty good. I dont know if you guys have it but having our steering wheel removable makes it real easy to get in and out of the car and now even our 6' 2" teacher can get in and drive.

i want to know what exactly is legal and what isn't, with regards to the dead mans throttle design. can my team make a throttle and attach it to the side on the inside of the car so you can set it where you want it and then leave it there, or do i have to wire in another potentiometer or could i just wire in a micro switch to over ride the POT? and if so, how would i set that up? please help. thanks

There must be a primary disconnect switch that is accesable to the driver and the officials, this must disconect the main power (not a throttle or a micro-switch controlling a realy). The throttle must be spring loaded in some way so that if you let go or remove your foot it returns to the stop position.

we do have primary shut-of switches, one inside and one outside. what i am asking is can we get away with having a throttle that you can adjust with your hand that is not spring loaded IF we also have a micro switch that is connected to a foot pedal that DOES NOT actually control the speed variably but acts like a safety switch that cuts the power if the driver's foot is removed from the pedal. it would have the same functionality as a dead mans throttle because if the driver's foot is removed from the pedal, the motor stops. thanks

If I was inspecting, I would allow that configuration.  As long as the car stops when you let go, I see it as OK.  It would be no differant than having no controller and having a sylinoid triggered by a go button.  This style works well on big circles.

thanks. here are the track specs. Asphalt Surface TRACK LENGTH .......................1/2 mile in racing groove (103 feet short at inner edge) TRACK WIDTH............................55 feet (Turns), 48 feet (Straights) BANKING......................................15 degrees (Turns), 9 degrees (Straights) PIT FACILITIES............................Paved portion on inner 1/4 oval and front straight, water, scales, concessions, electric scoreboard, vendors for racing equipment, fuel, and tires

this is what I use. It is a finger throttle. http://www.scooterpartscatalog.com/throttle-lever-111-46.html

On my two cars pictured in my avatar I use a 5K ohm potentiometer mounted on the steering "wheel" so that I can control speed with my right thumb. I can dial up or down to the speed I want and leave it. For a "dead man" switch, I use a microswitch also on the steering wheel mounted so that my left forefinger rests against it and holds it "ON". If I let go or if my hand gets bumped off in an accident, it kills power to the controller.

I am in the process of moving the throttle from the hand leaver to the floor. There is just too much going on with the hands with steering, brakes and throttle. My feet need to get into the action too.

We use stick steering in majority of our cars. I personally do not like pedals, you have much more control over what you are doing with your hands (especially if anything breaks, it is safer). We use the 25 pot and rubber-band, old school but it works. And instead of thumb, it is positioned to use with index or middle finger near the brake. Best way to not get tired or sore during the hour.