First rwd car need tips
Discussion
Something made this century will have enough electronics to stop you killing yourself unless you're being an absolute dick - I moved from FWD to RWD with zero driving aids, which has been a somewhat fearful experience at times!
Skidpan session helped a lot, and at some point (when we're finally allowed to do so...) I'll be doing some airfield track time to get a handle on what happens at higher speeds.
Skidpan session helped a lot, and at some point (when we're finally allowed to do so...) I'll be doing some airfield track time to get a handle on what happens at higher speeds.
The only vehicle I have ever spun on the road is a Fiesta. I spent my first fifteen years after passing my test in rear wheel drives: Triumph Herald, Ford Transits (various), Land-Rover Series III, VW LT35D. I only switched to front wheel drive when I bought an Alfasud. You’ll be fine, just take it steady until you get used to feeling what the car is doing.
Salted_Peanut said:
Isn't there a Reg_Local video that could help the OP?
Nothing specific to rear wheel drive, no, but I’ll put RWD/FWD/AWD on the list!In the meantime, these should help:
Cornering:
https://youtu.be/nJgll4p9QJc
Steering:
https://youtu.be/5M13T2rhYf8
Cornering revisited:
https://youtu.be/L13E7ou-BhY
And Cornering Balance:
https://youtu.be/NGJLNKQxZ98
Sheepy616 said:
Thanks gonna book a skid pan day when possible coronavirus and stuff?? and have a little practice in a car park
Practice in a car park doesn't help, and probably makes it worse. There's a huge difference between deliberately poking the back end out at fast car park speeds and it stepping out half way round a bend at NSL speeds due to a change of tarmac.I agree with spikeyhead. You're much better off investing in a day with Reg (or a High Performance Course coach).
For me, there are two aspects, as already mentioned - on-road risk minimisation (Reg / HPC) and on-/over-limit handling (track time / skidpan work).
The first will remove the risk of needing the second, but the second is important for knowing what to do when things do go pear-shaped, through your own error or through the actions of another party.
The first will remove the risk of needing the second, but the second is important for knowing what to do when things do go pear-shaped, through your own error or through the actions of another party.
I used to agree with both aspects (on-road and limit handling) but the fascinating thing is that limit handling skills increase your chance of crashing. Bizarre - and counter intuitive - but true.
There are ample studies, and conclusive research, showing that improved vehicle handling skills significantly increase your odds of having a crash. It turns out that when you increase a driver's handling skills, their confidence increases beyond their skill level. There's been all manner of attempts (often in Scandinavia) to find a way to increase skid control skills without causing overconfidence. Nothing's worked.
People who haven't learned limit handling generally drive well below the limit. Hence they have far fewer accidents than "more skilled" drivers.
There are ample studies, and conclusive research, showing that improved vehicle handling skills significantly increase your odds of having a crash. It turns out that when you increase a driver's handling skills, their confidence increases beyond their skill level. There's been all manner of attempts (often in Scandinavia) to find a way to increase skid control skills without causing overconfidence. Nothing's worked.
People who haven't learned limit handling generally drive well below the limit. Hence they have far fewer accidents than "more skilled" drivers.
Don't turn the ESP off. If you see the light flashing, think about what made that happen.
When I first got a seriously fast car, I did the IAM course then the High Performance Course. There are plenty of limit handling courses available if you'd rather just explore the use of opposite lock such as Car Limits or a day with Don Palmer.
The real art is having power yet not needing it nor actually having to use it.
When I first got a seriously fast car, I did the IAM course then the High Performance Course. There are plenty of limit handling courses available if you'd rather just explore the use of opposite lock such as Car Limits or a day with Don Palmer.
The real art is having power yet not needing it nor actually having to use it.
Salted_Peanut said:
I used to agree with both aspects (on-road and limit handling) but the fascinating thing is that limit handling skills increase your chance of crashing. Bizarre - and counter intuitive - but true.
There are ample studies, and conclusive research, showing that improved vehicle handling skills significantly increase your odds of having a crash. It turns out that when you increase a driver's handling skills, their confidence increases beyond their skill level. There's been all manner of attempts (often in Scandinavia) to find a way to increase skid control skills without causing overconfidence. Nothing's worked.
People who haven't learned limit handling generally drive well below the limit. Hence they have far fewer accidents than "more skilled" drivers.
Is it not likely that part of that is because people that want to learn limit handling like driving fast and taking risks? There are ample studies, and conclusive research, showing that improved vehicle handling skills significantly increase your odds of having a crash. It turns out that when you increase a driver's handling skills, their confidence increases beyond their skill level. There's been all manner of attempts (often in Scandinavia) to find a way to increase skid control skills without causing overconfidence. Nothing's worked.
People who haven't learned limit handling generally drive well below the limit. Hence they have far fewer accidents than "more skilled" drivers.
Zarco said:
Is it not likely that part of that is because people that want to learn limit handling like driving fast and taking risks?
As a skydiver, we practice reserve drills constantly. They are incredibly simple but if the crap hit's the fan then they need to be so intuitive that they can be followed instantly regardless of pressure/stress/panic. I doubt half a day on a skid pan or limit handling course would ensure the necessary skills are ingrained if something were to go wrong six months later. Given that virtually every driver has an over inflated opinion of their own ability anyway then a belief in their new found skills can far outweigh their ability to put them into practice intuitively.
Having said all that, I'd never discourage anyone from doing skid pan/ limit handling stuff it's great fun, just go into it with that knowledge in the back of the mind.
Since you asked, here's some of the light reading 
on the subject: Training drivers to have the insight to avoid emergency situations, not the skills to overcome emergency situations
on the subject: Training drivers to have the insight to avoid emergency situations, not the skills to overcome emergency situations7mike said:
As a skydiver, we practice reserve drills constantly. They are incredibly simple but if the crap hit's the fan then they need to be so intuitive that they can be followed instantly regardless of pressure/stress/panic.
I doubt half a day on a skid pan or limit handling course would ensure the necessary skills are ingrained if something were to go wrong six months later. Given that virtually every driver has an over inflated opinion of their own ability anyway then a belief in their new found skills can far outweigh their ability to put them into practice intuitively.
Having said all that, I'd never discourage anyone from doing skid pan/ limit handling stuff it's great fun, just go into it with that knowledge in the back of the mind.
That is why going on Car Limits, or similar, activity days is really useful in between full driver training days.I doubt half a day on a skid pan or limit handling course would ensure the necessary skills are ingrained if something were to go wrong six months later. Given that virtually every driver has an over inflated opinion of their own ability anyway then a belief in their new found skills can far outweigh their ability to put them into practice intuitively.
Having said all that, I'd never discourage anyone from doing skid pan/ limit handling stuff it's great fun, just go into it with that knowledge in the back of the mind.
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff