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RE: Autox Sprite Handling Questions (actually driving technique)

To: "spridgets@Autox.Team.Net" <spridgets@Autox.Team.Net>, "'Mike Gigante'" <mikeg@vicnet.net.au>
Subject: RE: Autox Sprite Handling Questions (actually driving technique)
From: "Elliott, Patrick" <PElliott@attws-wr.swest.attws.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 09:03:16 -0800
Reply-to: "Elliott, Patrick" <PElliott@attws-wr.swest.attws.com>
Sender: owner-spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
I'm real close to buying a plane ticket!!

> ----------
> From:         Mike Gigante[SMTP:mikeg@vicnet.net.au]
> Reply To:     Mike Gigante
> Sent:         Thursday, October 29, 1998 12:08 PM
> To:   spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
> 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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