Finding The Edge
Discussion
No this is not a thread about U2, Tony Robbins or Memphis Meltdowns ([i]I need [b]BIGGER NUTS[/b][/i] :hehe:)
In every car I've ever driven I got a really good idea when I was approaching the cornering limit and quickly established my own sense of 9/10[small]ths.[/small]
Even in my GT-Four's and STi the car gave me a clear idea of where the edge was . . . although to a real driver I was probably at 6/10[small]ths[/small] rather than 9.
In the Westfield however it goes grip, grip, grip, grip, grip, grip, grip, [b]GONE[/b] - with no apparent sense that this was about to happen.
No squirming . . . just [b]GONE[/b].
The freaky thing is that the practical limit is so far above anything I experience on an everyday basis it's a little hard to re-calibrate my sense of cornering speed.
So, how do you find the safe side of the limit when the car is so much better than the driver ?
In every car I've ever driven I got a really good idea when I was approaching the cornering limit and quickly established my own sense of 9/10[small]ths.[/small]
Even in my GT-Four's and STi the car gave me a clear idea of where the edge was . . . although to a real driver I was probably at 6/10[small]ths[/small] rather than 9.
In the Westfield however it goes grip, grip, grip, grip, grip, grip, grip, [b]GONE[/b] - with no apparent sense that this was about to happen.
No squirming . . . just [b]GONE[/b].
The freaky thing is that the practical limit is so far above anything I experience on an everyday basis it's a little hard to re-calibrate my sense of cornering speed.
So, how do you find the safe side of the limit when the car is so much better than the driver ?
In a word downforce. None of the other cars you mention will produce proper downforce, but the Westie will have loads.
Losing mechanical grip is usually a progressive thing (if you have the right tyres) but once you lose downforce or your lateral forces exceed it, it lets go. Not much you can do about it apart from learn when and where it happens on particular circuits. Even the most skilled drivers (with the biggest nuts in existence) struggle with a car losing downforce abruptly.
Of course, if the car is letting go at lower speeds then it could just be a set-up / tyres issue.
You can never have too much driver-training or track experience of course.
Losing mechanical grip is usually a progressive thing (if you have the right tyres) but once you lose downforce or your lateral forces exceed it, it lets go. Not much you can do about it apart from learn when and where it happens on particular circuits. Even the most skilled drivers (with the biggest nuts in existence) struggle with a car losing downforce abruptly.
Of course, if the car is letting go at lower speeds then it could just be a set-up / tyres issue.
You can never have too much driver-training or track experience of course.
The Whenuapai Air base would be most awesome for you, so you can really throw it through a tight chicane and not worry about ending up in the fence. There used to be Lotus sprints and classic car racing out there yrs ago, but I think something happened about the safety of the venue etc, so it was all moved. I am not 100% on that. But would be a much safer place to lose control than at the track.
And yes I would love to see your Westy in action, must be out of this world to drive!
I will find out if its still possible to go for a blat around there.
And yes I would love to see your Westy in action, must be out of this world to drive!
I will find out if its still possible to go for a blat around there.
Hi
That can be tires. I have driven a few different Elises with some quite different tires. IMO P-Zeroes act like that on the Elise, very point and go - grip, grip, grip, no warning gone. SO2's I found better in the wet, little less point and go compared to the PZeroes, but more warning when it goes. Those are the only two that stood out for me, but that was two years ago now.
You could try some of the UK forums. There are a ton of tire choices - I remember on the stelvio tour and one of the dutch guys had a series of phohos that were nothing but close ups of rear tires
30-40 odd photos I think it was lol.
That can be tires. I have driven a few different Elises with some quite different tires. IMO P-Zeroes act like that on the Elise, very point and go - grip, grip, grip, no warning gone. SO2's I found better in the wet, little less point and go compared to the PZeroes, but more warning when it goes. Those are the only two that stood out for me, but that was two years ago now.
You could try some of the UK forums. There are a ton of tire choices - I remember on the stelvio tour and one of the dutch guys had a series of phohos that were nothing but close ups of rear tires
30-40 odd photos I think it was lol.Gassing Station | New Zealand | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff