Fun Track Day, Little Mishap

Jeffblue

out of curiosity, what should you have done? gassed it hard and turned the wheel right?

spearfish25

I definitely had full right lock. The problem is that I lost traction in the rear. Mashing the accelerator would have worsened the situation. What I ended up doing was full right lock and clutch in...no brake or gas. As I slowed while sideways, I gently applied some brake and the car came back facing forward as I steered off and parallel to the track. I think being even faster with the right lock could have kept it on the track completely.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

AutoX Z

That's not completely true. Getting back on the throttle in a controlled manner would have shifted more weight onto the rear helping it find traction. Combine that with more opposite lock as soon as you start to feel the rear come around and you could have probably saved it completely. Still well done not putting it into the wall.

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2013 SCCA Solo National Champion
VVV For Sale VVV

BlueR32

in off-camber turns, i think it is really important to not be early, because if you lose traction on entry, you're not going to find it during the turn. it does look like you're a little early in that turn, no doubt because of being pressured.

others will have better advice than me, but i wouldn't do clutch and/or brake in unless you have completely given up on the turn and are off course. in this case, your best bet is ultra-quick right lock, and easing off the gas: not a mash (power oversteer- car rotates like a top), not a lift (weight totally off the rear, and you go around 911-style). if you catch it, return wheel to neutral (quickly) and ease into the throttle.

by putting the clutch in, you 1: have eliminated the possibility of the throttle helping you steer the car, 2: could re-upset the car when re-engaging.

that being said, i think you did better than i would have in this circumstance, and better than 95% of drivers out there! i do one thing better: if i have someone riding my *** obnoxiously, i give them a wave so they know i've seen them, and then forget about them until the next passing zone: they can't pass you in the meantime, so they can just **** off until the straightaway!