I should have mentioned that all of this pertains to driving with
an open diff.
If you use a locker or an LSD, these techniques may or may not be
useful. I don't know.
One day I'll actually buy an LSD and I'll find out for myself..... Somewhere
in the shed I have a welded 4.5 diff, I might try that at a motorkhana this
weekend if I can find it.
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Gigante <mikeg@vicnet.net.au>
To: spridgets@autox.team.net <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Date: Thursday, October 29, 1998 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: Autox Sprite Handling Questions (actually driving technique)
>
>OK, here goes. I think I have rationalised what I do. I just do it on the
>track,
>I don't really think about it!!!!
>
>In normal hard driving (and in many "how to race" books), you approach
>a corner at speed; hit the brakes; turn into corner still braking; apply
>power
>at the apex; accelerate out of corner.
>
>If you do this effectively, the weight transfer ensures that the inside
rear
>is
>well and truly unladen at the apex, and applying power will result in
>wheelspin (948's aside :-). Once you have the wheelspin you have to back
>off a little or straighten up. Either way, you've lost valuable corner exit
>speed
>and your time will be *slow*!
>
>This is what I have done to avoid this. YMMV of course.
>
>I approach the corner, brake harder than anyone else ( :-), off the brakes
>while still in a straight line and get back on the power at turn-in.
>Actually
>the process could be: off brakes, turn-in, allow the rear end to get a
>little
>loose, apply power *OR* off brakes, apply power and turn-in at the same
>time *OR* off brakes, apply power, turn-in.
>
>I know it sounds stupid, but I
>am not really sure how it ended up. I consciously tried all of these once
>upon
>a time and now I just do it. I'd actually have to think about it next time
>I'm
>on the track (Nov 7/8, Eastern Creek 6 hour relay race) to tell you which I
>actually use!!!
>
>Why do this? Well the weight transfer under acceleration is to the rear
>wheels
>and this means you won't lift the inside rear. Furthermore, applying full
>power
>like this (and a little opposite lock) gets the car into a proper 4 wheel
>drift,
>even in relatively low speed tighter turns.
>
>On really tight stuff, you'll definitely need to flick the back out by
>turning in off
>the throttle and get back on the throttle again in time to keep it from
>spinning.
>
>As a result of all this, your corner exit speed will be high, you'll be on
>the throttle
>all the way through the bend and you'll have more fun than everyone else
>too!
>
>I hope this is a good enough explanation. If not, you'll just have to be
>passenger in my car and observe it for yourself!!!!
>
>Mike
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: CONAN@RALVM8.VNET.IBM.COM <CONAN@RALVM8.VNET.IBM.COM>
>To: mikeg@vicnet.net.au <mikeg@vicnet.net.au>
>Date: Tuesday, October 27, 1998 2:52 PM
>Subject: Autox Sprite Handling Questions
>
>
>>Ref: Your note of Wed, 28 Oct 1998 09:29:09 -0800
>>
>>>>Since I'll never be competing with you, I'm prepared to share this info!
>:-)
>>
>> Since I'M half a world away too; you wanna copy me on what you send him?
>> :-) Ed in NC ;-) (Just for my own info. I havn't run autocross
>regularly
>> in years.)
>>
>
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