Wrapping metal (IRL help)

[Main]

I am trying to find a way to soft wrap the handle of a steering wheel.
Here is a before and after, and I am trying to wrap the handle (red part) so that it will be around the same thickness as the after picture.

The thing that gets me is that the material that I wrap the handle with must be:
Grippy with hands.
Water proof (I.E, doesn't come off after getting wet), I can work around this .
Not too transparent.
Soft, sort of like sponge but any will do as long as it meets the above criteria.

Before and after
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6186/beforeandafterj.png

[cause]

Wouldn't any type of clothy material around a thin layer of spongy stuff work? Maybe go grab a couch cushion from the thrift store. My suggestion would be to sew it up on the inside. Whats the project for?

[Main]

Its a steering wheel for my school's formula sae team.
Heres what it should similarly looks like, obviously with a lot less button and not made out of carbon fiber.

Am just trying to find a material for the handel. But we are not sure how to find custom made sponges or wrappings, so for now we are just trying random ass stuff like hockey tape ...etc
http://www.racesimcentral.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Thrustmaster-T500-RS-header.jpg
But yeah, if yall know some other good material that is in tape form and its soft and grippy, post it here:P

[Phran6]

Whoa Formula Sae, i'm doing Baja Sae !
Wich univercity you are ?

[Wanted]

Your best bet is to sew up something nice like cause suggested.

Post more pictures of this project if you can. I work at an import car repair replace and stuff like this is always interesting to see.

[Main]

for sure. I will try to get the handel water jetted soon and I can have a go at fitting them.

@FrancisHelie
Am in university of british columbia, isn't baja like 100x more fun?

[Phran6]

I dont know, it's my first year at the university and i havent done too much on the baja. I have some friend doing formula sae. I think they'r both fun :)

[Mr.Klean]

Hmm. Personally I would try getting some foam (i.e. bed foam, automotive seat foam or something of the like. I actually have a 2ft by 4ft box full of odds and ends. Just random thought) and cutting it to fit around the wheel. Spray adhesive the foam and the bar. Wrap the bar all the way around then wrap it with fine thread to hold it onto the bar.

Then fine some black suede or upholstery. (automotive upholstery) and wrap it with that, sewing wrap in the back very tightly.

If you need a better explanation. Skype me :P I was friends with someone in the upholstery business so I know a few tricks :)

EDIT: Cheap/easy/simple way. Wrap the shit out of it with black hockey tape :P

Edited again: Also, handlebars may be a good thing to look at for this. http://www.grip-tek.com/index.html that's for foam wrapping motorcycle hand grips. Since you have a CAD file with all the exact dimensions they may be able to custom something up for you.

[tls]

I have heard of this play-doh like stuff that hardens and you can use it to wrap key ends(ie where the plastic part has broken off of). It is similar to clay but lasts longer and is easier to set. I just can't remember what it's called :S

[Flight]

When I was working in aviation we used what we called 'heatwrap'. Usually came in the form of a tube and we'd put wiring, or whatever, through it and heat up the outside with a torch to make it shrink in and adjust to whatever's inside. It's quite durable and very heat resistant (it has to be) and, because of the texture, has a good grip to the hand.

It's probably not as thick as what you're looking for, but you could probably wrap the metal frame in something else as a 'filler' and then wrap & shrink that with heatshrink. Sorry, I wish I had the proper name for it.

[Main]

thanks yall:P will def check out all of the options suggested!

EDIT:
@Flight , i probably won't use it for the handel, but I could definitively use it for the internal and external wiring on the car! Could you give me more info on this "heat wrap" perhaps some branding name if you could remember :P

@mormonman, thanks for the site! Theres a grip tape avaliable from it lol, so thats pretty fucking awsome:P