Cccya1@aol.com wrote:
> At an autocross today, I had a difficult time controlling oversteer (yes
> over, not under, I know what your thinking) in my 96 honda civic ex. I was
> all over the place, I spun 2 and slid into a line of cones another time.
> Here are my mods and what I did to control it.:
(snip)
> I was able to somewhat control the oversteer by left foot braking. I have
> another event this weekend and would like to know what I can do to help
> reduce it. Since the only thing I can adjust is tire pressure, what do I do?
> Lower the loose end? or Raise it?
My thoughts are that left-foot braking is a technique used to induce
oversteer, because by simulateously pressing on bothbrake+gas on a FWD,
the front wheels have forces cancelling each other out, while the rear
gets a drag from the brakes. The result, according to "secrets of solo
racing" by henry watts, is supposedly oversteer on a fwd car. You might
want to re-think your use of this technique if it's only adding to your
oversteer problem.
That said and done, I can say when I've had problems with excesive
oversteer in my VW Rabbit (FWD car like yours) usually making an
adjustment to the front/rear tire pressure distribution will hel,p a great
deal in making the car more neutral.
Kind of funny you mention excesssive oversteer as being a problem - I
thought I was the only one. Most other FWD racers I talk to say they
can't get enough! go figure... I've been racing for only a year but I
know when the car is too tail happy (and my times will show it!) Usually
it results in my taking the wrong line while struggling to barely miss
cones.
Jake
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