What you say makes sense -- if you are not at the extremes of handling,
then the differences would be minimized.
Perhaps that's what I'm really asking -- how are they different at the
extremes of handling? I've never driven a high performance FWD car (my
'90 base model Civic doesn't count) yet I know lots of people on this
list have. So I'm wondering what advice or tips they might have.
Yes it is desirable to stay within the traction limits. But you can
start to get oversteer or understeer as you approach the limits, before
you start sliding all over the place.
It would seem that there must be differences in driving technique. That
is, if you give too much gas too early through a turn in a RWD car you
will spin out. But if you do this in a FWD car you will plough. Two
opposite effects from the same driver mistake.
But perhaps all the techniques are the same, even though the results are
not the same? That is, even though the effect of messing up is opposite,
the actions you take as a driver to prevent or correct the situation are
the same.
Is that what you are saying?
> -----Original Message-----
> From: james creasy [mailto:Black94PGT@pacbell.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 10:13
> To: Michael R. Clements; Autocross
> Subject: Re: FWD vs. RWD -- differences?
>
>
> my feeling is that if you are getting to the extremes of
> handling like power oversteer or understeer you are outside
> the optimum slip angles for the tires and would go faster
> staying within the limits of the traction circle.
>
> drive the line, go fast where you can go fast and slow where
> you have to go slow.
>
> -james c
> OSP - Others Seek Participation
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael R. Clements" <mrclem@telocity.com>
> To: "Autocross" <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 9:53 AM
> Subject: FWD vs. RWD -- differences?
>
>
> > Most driving advice applies equally well no matter what you
> drive --
> > look ahead, stay mentally and visually ahead of the car, minimize
> > steering input, etc.
> >
> > But some things must be different between FWD and RWD cars, because
> > FWD cars respond differently to throttle while turning. In FWD, you
> > don't get power oversteer, you get power understeer. I'm
> wondering if
> > anyone out there can offer some tips on what is _different_ between
> > FWD and RWD. What do you differently in a FWD car, vs. a
> RWD car, to
> > get competitive times?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Michael R. Clements
> > mrclem@telocity.com
> > 2*3*3*37 - The prime factorization of the Beast.
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