Car Control-How is it taught?

[opus]

michael lang wrote:

opus wrote:

I am not doing any more DE days until I get some car control lessons and practice.

Opus, definitely DON"T stop participating in DE. It's guys like you and me in the lower run groups ...

Thanks for the encouraging words. I'll be back. That is after I taken the Skippy course, which I booked yesterday.

Brian, thanks for the feedback on choice of tire. So, I'll be sticking with summer tires then.

[Tony356993]

I think the single biggest thing people who are concerned about their emergency response can do is to delay going to r-compound tires.

right on the money!

 

[bobt993]

Todd,

Drive in the rain?



PS  you RTR guys know that even now, after all these years, i NEVER miss an opportunity to go out on a wet track and practice myself!  heck, last year up at the Glen during that washout day was one of the most fun times i have had in a long time, as was the rainy-peanut-oiled jefferson track earlier in the year!   both times were really fun, and i had a blast playing with the other racers, but more importantly i got more valuable time in practicing my car control (both times i left my dry tires on, so as to make it extra slippy;  when i race, i use 'wets', but typically when i practice in the rain, i use old used up dry tires).  this kind of driving really gets me 'in touch' with my car, and makes me really feel like i am a part of the machine, flowing and moving with the car as it makes its way around the track.  afterwards, at the next race weekend, it makes it that much easier for me to extract maximum (actually, i guess minimum!!!) laptimes during a dry track qualify or race session.

Okay, it is fun and the best opportunity to learn absolute car control.  I never miss a chance to race in the rain.   Todd and I had a great time last year sliding around.

[ninjabones]

Speaking of driving in the rain (with open windows), what have you guys done to preven the DME from getting soaked/shorted-out?  It is mounted at the absolute worst place - low point under the driver seat right where moisture collects.  

I've seen quite a bit of water collect in both of my 993s in that area even after a short 20 minute run session with light rain.  I've wrapped a small towel around it at times, but I'm sure that you guys running enduros in the rain have to have figured out a better way to keep water from collecting there, or at least a way to protect the ECU under the driver seat (relocated? plastic bag? towel?)

[bobt993]

The best answer I can give is skidpad with an instructor that can teach throttle balance of the car.  Learning wheel correction is pretty easy, but learning balance with the cars acceleration is a little more challenging.  The problem with T10 at the Glen is once it's wrong before the apex, it becomes very difficult to correct during track out.  One way I help students at the Glen is to drive the outside and inside of the track during cool down (slow speed).  I point out the kitty liter areas, safe routes to look for (not many) and really focus on looking around.  I had an " Oh s(*&t last year when  a flagger was late on a slippy flag for power steering fluid at the apex of T8.  I hit it at over 70mph and immediately was headed for the outside wall.  I managed to ease the car to towards T9 while slowing down.  The wall was 2 ft from the car when I got straight again.  Looked at the flagger, limped it back to the pits.  I am not sure you can completely teach the crisis management, but you can provide the pieces to the puzzle which helps alot. 

[bobt993]

Glen, this is a huge issue with the 993.  Best solution:  remove the security bolts, leave only the two hex nuts that fasten the ECU to the chassis.  Incase it in a big plastic bag and zip tie it.  If it gets wet, you need to take it apart and either clean with circuit board cleaner and a tooth brush or leave on the dash of your tow vehicle with the defrost on full for 45 mins.  Ask me how I know........:X

[ninjabones]

bobt993 wrote:

The problem with T10 at the Glen is once it's wrong before the apex, it becomes very difficult to correct during track out.

Now you tell me

[Darren]

bobt993 wrote:

Okay, it is fun and the best opportunity to learn absolute car control. I never miss a chance to race in the rain. Todd and I had a great time last year sliding around.

Yeah, I don't know about the "peanut oil" story though....haha I missed that one! I'll bring a bottle the the next event though.

[bobt993]

Hah!  I did tell you b4 your visit to the Glen, but I think you got it all together last time we were there.   BTW, sign up for March VIR NASA race and you will have plenty of support there:  Darren, Tom D, Todd, and Me!

[ninjabones]

Thanks for the offer of support... call me a puss, but I just don't think I'm there yet.  I've got a few things planned for this season though... skippy school in February with el presidente (Graham) in the formula cars,  SCCA 2-day race school in March in a spec miata (couldn't work out the NASA supercomp VIR dates into my schedule), then first time trial with NASA (if I'm qualified) at SP in April in the 993 (and get a NASA logbook for the car), then June "12-hours at the Point" with Chris K.    If I'm feely sassy, still have the itch, and my driving somehow improves considerably (meaning within 2-3 seconds of you), I'll do the NASA supercomp at VIR in October.