Another Oversteer thread...ish.

[PizzaPeas]

Evening all!

My first post on PH after being a long time fan - I hope some of the more experienced amongst you can help me out a little.

I'm just about to embark on a journey into sports car ownership and, amongst trying to absorb all the info I can before I make a purchase, I've been watching a few vids online of advanced RWD driving and, in particular, inducing, controlling and adjusting oversteer.

Here goes..

In a number of videos that feature extensive oversteer examples (I'm thinking Stefan Roser in the CTR Yellowbird) as the car is entering the corner and the driver setting the balance of the car before the rear wheels begin to slide, there's a metallic sound heard which I'm struggling to place. It sounds like the driver is stamping briefly on one of the pedals.

I can only assume either the driver is de clutching before the initial turn in to momentarily slip the wheels (by re-engaging the engine) before applying more power to power through the slide or its a momentary touch of the brake pedal to lighten the rear of the car before turn in, promoting a slide of the rear end.

Can anyone explain what, at the point of turn in, experienced drivers of rear wheel drive ( rear engined) sports cars are doing with their feet?

Any info gratefully received.

[Magic919]

Generally trail braking on the way into the bend is the technique.

[Monumental]

Depends on the car, the corner etc. which technique you use.

Search for 'drift bible' on youtube; it will answer all your questions!

[Magic919]

How many different rear-engined, rear wheel drive cars are there these days? Foolishly, I thought the OP might have meant a 911.

[Monumental]

Smart fortwo?

Ok, fair point. But same principles apply no matter the layout.

[PizzaPeas]

It's a question of technique, absolutely, not platform. And, to answer my own question, it's a 'shift lock drift' that Roser uses extensively. Good job folks.

[Bear Phils]

There are about 5 ways (that I can think of) of initiating a drift.

'Kicking' the clutch, were the clutch is depressed and released quickly to spin the wheels.

Taking a corner too hard so the rear steps out.

Taking a corner and lifting mid way through.

Giving a sharp press on the brakes, which brings the nose in and allows the rear to step out.

A quick yank of the handbrake which locks the rears, causing them to slide.

[Cyder]

Flick of the steering wheel to unsettle the back end works quite well in a 350Z anyway.

[jimmy the hat]

Almost anything at all in an MR2 Turbo in the wet.

Cheers, Jim

[Olivera]

Bear Phils said:

There are about 5 ways (that I can think of) of initiating a drift.

'Kicking' the clutch, were the clutch is depressed and released quickly to spin the wheels.

Taking a corner too hard so the rear steps out.

Taking a corner and lifting mid way through.

Giving a sharp press on the brakes, which brings the nose in and allows the rear to step out.

A quick yank of the handbrake which locks the rears, causing them to slide.

Clutch 'kicking' is usually done simultaneously with a boot load of throttle, and is useful in getting lower powered cars to oversteer, or to quickly induce oversteer in a higher powered vehicle.

Another technique is 'shift locking', where you change down into a very low gear without heal-and-toe causing the rear-end to break traction, ergo oversteer.

A scandanavian-flick can also be useful in upsetting the balance of the car before some power oversteer.


I should add - none of these should be tried on the public road