Discussion
Tess, welcome to a wonderful world! Had mine for 4 months now, first track day at Brands Hatch last Friday..
Other than 'WATCH IT IN THE WET', the points I have learnt in the past few weeks:
1. Let it warm up, inc. tyres and suspension before giving it some.
2. The throttle is no longer a switch, and hitting the floor in a corner will ensure you get out of shape or even spin.
3. Hold on tight and scream if you want to go faster!!!
Craig
Griff 500
Other than 'WATCH IT IN THE WET', the points I have learnt in the past few weeks:
1. Let it warm up, inc. tyres and suspension before giving it some.
2. The throttle is no longer a switch, and hitting the floor in a corner will ensure you get out of shape or even spin.
3. Hold on tight and scream if you want to go faster!!!
Craig
Griff 500
quote:
Just bought a Griff 500. Any tips on the best way to approach driving it and remaining alive. Awesome power!!
Get some instruction. Plenty of potential courses on PH to choose from. Learn how to heel and toe. Don't engine brake. Learn to do things smoothly and don't get tempted to push it too far as when these things break away, it happens very very evry quickly.
Take it careful as TVRs have the highest single vehicle accident stats in the UK (allegedly).
Steve
Simply put it is a technique that allows you to press all three pedals at once despite a genetic restriction of only having two feet. Any Jake the Pegs do not have to learn this technique...
The idea is that while braking you simultaneously blip the throttle to raise the engine revs so that when the clutch is let out the engine revs match the required speed for the road speed. If there is a big mismatch the engine acts like a big brake so that when the clutch is let out, the rear wheels become a big brake, lock up, spin the car and bang goes your no claim.
Advanced techniques include rolling onto the throttle as you come off the brake so that there is a smooth transistion between the two. Couple this with braking while turning in (usually taught as a definite no-no) to deliberately make the back end unstable and turn in the car when the normal laws of physics say no and you have trail braking. Which means the whole procedure braking, turning in and accelerating become a smooth and faster process. Downside is that it is very easy to get this wrong and end up all embarrassed as it requires very fine control to prevent a slightly unstable rear end from quickly becoming an uncontrollable one. Frequently referred to as a Pampers moment. Why do think we race drivers wear romper suits?
Pedals need to be set up to make it easier and some people use the ball of their foot on the brake and the side to control the throttle but I sometimes use the heel and the ball to control the throttle depending on the car. Requires a lot of practice though but is essential if you don't want a Pampers moment.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
The idea is that while braking you simultaneously blip the throttle to raise the engine revs so that when the clutch is let out the engine revs match the required speed for the road speed. If there is a big mismatch the engine acts like a big brake so that when the clutch is let out, the rear wheels become a big brake, lock up, spin the car and bang goes your no claim.
Advanced techniques include rolling onto the throttle as you come off the brake so that there is a smooth transistion between the two. Couple this with braking while turning in (usually taught as a definite no-no) to deliberately make the back end unstable and turn in the car when the normal laws of physics say no and you have trail braking. Which means the whole procedure braking, turning in and accelerating become a smooth and faster process. Downside is that it is very easy to get this wrong and end up all embarrassed as it requires very fine control to prevent a slightly unstable rear end from quickly becoming an uncontrollable one. Frequently referred to as a Pampers moment. Why do think we race drivers wear romper suits?
Pedals need to be set up to make it easier and some people use the ball of their foot on the brake and the side to control the throttle but I sometimes use the heel and the ball to control the throttle depending on the car. Requires a lot of practice though but is essential if you don't want a Pampers moment.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
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