Traction Control

[adhawkins]

Going out in poor conditions ie Snow or rain and finding somewhere quiet to *gently* provoke oversteer or understeer can be a good way of learning how a car behaves at the limits of adhesion.

That's exactly what I did. I passed my test in February, and got my first car (a MK II Escort) a few months later. The first time we had any real snow, I went onto an industrial estate one evening, found a wide open car park with nothing in it and had a play.

As you say, it has to be done responsibly, and I'd hope that if Plod did turn up (and you were all by yourself) they'd take an understanding standpoint if you explained what you were doing and why.

That said, don't expect to get away with doing donuts in your local Sainsbury's car park at 2am 'just to see what happens'

Andy

[studbuckle]

didn't you exit a roundabout prematurley shortly after that snow training though Andy

[adhawkins]

Not that I recall. If it's the story I'm thinking of, I was taking 3rd exit (turning right) from a roundabout that had some diesel or something down on it. Only time (except in snow) when that little 1.1 Essy managed a power slide!

I even went back for another go

Andy

[V 8]

with no ******g torque Terry

First time I've ever heard that                    

a touch of dyslexia there Mr H          

Classic

[david.c]

Like Andy I passed my test in February, and when a few weeks later it snowed my Dad told me to 'get myself over the old unused car park near us and find out what happens when the car starts to skid'

Excellent advice which I shall pass on to my kids when the time comes        

David

[Richard]

It won't help with lift off oversteer issues which are quite common and have caused a few accidents.

May sound a stupid question - but is lift off oversteer what happens when you back off the throttle part way round a corner due to excessive speed, consequently the back end starts to break away?

Think this is what hapened to me at Ty Croes on a couple of occassions.

What the best way of correcting this, or better still, it not happening in the first place? (Is it as obvious as scrubbing more speed before turning?)

Richard

PS - Sorry if this is a thread hijack

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

After my recent altercation with a fence and lamp post I wonder if fitting a traction control system is worth considering.

1  How/can it be  fitted? (I am fitting my Zetec on injection  this time + LSD)

2  How much?

3  Is it effective?

Thanks

Dave

Dave,

Been there got the T shirt, fitted to my Busa, which has the problem that you don't have a flywheel, so once it starts to spin up the back wheels it does so very quickly. So fitted TC 3 years ago, spent 3 years getting it to work. Not as easy as some people think    

In between, learn how to drive the car a bit, so now I normally turn it off      unless it's wet  

Driving lesson sounds like a better idea along with some airfield track days.

[adhawkins]

May sound a stupid question - but is lift off oversteer what happens when you back off the throttle part way round a corner due to excessive speed, consequently the back end starts to break away?

That's exactly what lift off oversteer is.

A good way of avoiding it is not to lift off when cornering

As has already been said, there are various things that can be done that might affect the cars tendency to do this.

Andy

[pistonbroke]

basic advice to correct a skid is to do the exact opposite of what you were doing prior to losing control .

in the case of lift off oversteer (or Loo! as it's sometimes known) (caused by weight transfer under braking ,from rear to front making the rear end light and setting up a pendulum effect ) you can corner on a trailing throttle , i.e. feep a tad of throttle on while still braking , coasting or whatever into and through the corner. thus maintaining a rearwards weight balance

left foot braking does the same thing      

[Molydood]

Dave, take a look at the below website

http://www.carlimits.com/

Can't comment on TC, but if you decide to opt for some training, I know this is a good one to do. I have it booked up, and I also know people that have been and say it is fantastic. Not to mention being great fun. The website shows some videos to give you an idea of what to expect too.

HTH

Martin

[nikpro]

Personally I wouldn't choose a road based driver training programe. I have done a Police Advanced Grade 1 course and whilst it probably makes you a better road driver it doesn't help anway with your skill base.

Road courses teach you mainly about foward observation, hazard awareness and advanced planning hopefully making you a better/safer road driver.

Learning to control high speed skids etc is better taught on the track. I consider myself a lower than average driver and have found doing trackdays with an instructor sat next to you as a very cheap enjoyable way of learning car control (PS I'm still crap and slow but thats down to me having the touch of a baby elephant!.

[daverobs]

Do you think that the WSSC might have some clout in getting discount for such days/courses?  Would this might be an event best organised on a local level?

It looks like there might be some interest in improving driving skills – I would certainly like to improve mine.  I would then have better skills to use on track days and therefore get better value for money.

 

[adhawkins]

There are at least two ARDS qualified instructors that appear on here (Jamie Robinson and Nick Kjaer). Might be worth a PM to either of them (I.S.M. and Aussie I think are the relevant boardroom IDs).

Andy

[hilux]

Quote (Richard @ Dec. 19 2005,21:19)

May sound a stupid question - but is lift off oversteer what happens when you back off the throttle part way round a corner due to excessive speed, consequently the back end starts to break away?

That's exactly what lift off oversteer is.

A good way of avoiding it is not to lift off when cornering

As has already been said, there are various things that can be done that might affect the cars tendency to do this.

If you have this issue on the highway then you are going too quick.

Try private instruction or I go for open pitlane track days with instructors on hand for in car instruction. You then go out and practice at speeds you wont see on the road ergo you dont do it on the road cos theres no point and nothing to prove.

[adhawkins]

If you have this issue on the highway then you are going too quick.

Don't want to be argumentative, but not necessarily...

My first Westfield used to suffer really badly from this, even at relatively low speeds. A change of tyres from the rock hard, 7 year old ones that had been on it since it was built (and still had loads of tread left) made a huge difference.

Andy