Driving advice

[Wanda]

Merry Christmas everyone.

I was looking at some track videos and wondered. If you ever ought to be driving and the back end gives way, what is the best way to recover it?

Could it be:

(1) Floor it and fight with the steering wheel?

(2) Hit the brakes?

(3) Or let go of the gas and brakes and purely concentrate on steering?

 

[beefychubbchubb]

I'm no expert mate but as far as I'm aware when the back ends light then floor it and gain grip. Never brake as that makes it worse.

On a track it's common that if the back ends loose then sometimes it's to much grip at the front (sounds weird but grew up around motor racing and that was always an issue raised) like I said I'm no expert in the slightest so I'm sure the others will help out

 

[Wanda]

naturally instinct would make me hit the brakes but I thought (3) would be best as the wheels would be spinning if that makes sense.

 

[nutnutwelshman]

General law is to accelerate on a front wheel drive car

 

[Deaks]

i'd power out, wouldn't brake (would induce further spin) i'd imagine?

 

[Willis]

It depends on the speed and just how sideways you've gone. But in most cases in an FWD car you'd be best to nail the throttle and keep the wheels pointing to where you want the car to go. No p!ssing about, no trying to half recover it or hold a slide, just focus on where the front wheels are pointing and as the car begins to pivot back on itself make sure you unwind the lock again otherwise once it grips you'll snap back the other way or even worse just harpoon off in whatever direction you're pointing once the she hooks up again...

Save;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPCGnkApnDU

Over Correction;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFWq0Rpssck

Not the most dramatic one in the second video in terms of lock etc., but that was saved and then lost again and off she goes soon as the tyres grip.

 

[Willis]

This one isn't bad either...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZPxrAGcil0

And this one isn't FWD but it's probably the best save I've ever seen... :thumbsup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jSYiU-JdRw

 

[nutnutwelshman]

Stunning Willis

 

[Willis]

There's a few more that I can't for the life of me find now hahaha!!! I think it was Pastrana who had one in NASCAR qualifying a few months ago at around 170MPH and it was just perfect. Ok, RWD so different rules but what a save. I'll keep looking. There's also an old Top Gear one of Tiff in a Ford Puma where he's drifting about and it's just an absolulte schooling in FWD driving.

*EDIT*

Found it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rtErCQTtrc

And good old Tiffany Dell...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o

 

[Yiannis197]

Good old Tiff! Changin gear in the middle of the slide lol

OP I guess we are talking FWD right?

Definitely you shouldn't apply brakes, braking will only make things worse. Then it kind of depends on the circumstances really, how fast you go, how quickly the rear snaps etc. On few occasions you can easily get away by just letting off the throttle and performing an opposite lock. Some people also do it for fun, deliberately braking rear traction that is.

Then is by pressing the throttle as mentioned above. You shouldn't try to massively correct with the steering though because you'll possibly end up over-correcting it (the rear tends to suddenly find grip). If you think about it the rear snaps because there is no traction there, either because there is much more traction at the front or because you are going too fast in a corner and it's getting unsettled. By accelerating (FWD) you transfer weight at the back therefore you are helping in improving (or better gaining) traction.

Hope that helps.

 

[nick197]

Would powering out still work with the traction control on?, I hardly ever drive with it off.

 

[adam1942]

back shouldn't go with traction control on.. if it does just keep driving it shouldn't go that much.

Also do not brake. I have first hand experience of this when I first passed my test. Accelerate. I ended up going backwards when I hit the brakes. tried to get the car in to reverse but unfortunately I hit a tree before I could make any use of it...

 

[Womble]

All good advice, this is what happens when the back end snaps at 100 mph

http://youtu.be/bqkZ10Av8ss

 

[Wanda]

It depends on the speed and just how sideways you've gone. But in most cases in an FWD car you'd be best to nail the throttle and keep the wheels pointing to where you want the car to go. No p!ssing about, no trying to half recover it or hold a slide, just focus on where the front wheels are pointing and as the car begins to pivot back on itself make sure you unwind the lock again otherwise once it grips you'll snap back the other way or even worse just harpoon off in whatever direction you're pointing once the she hooks up again...

Save;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPCGnkApnDU
ok that was witch craft, what a save, I still dont quite get it

 

[Willis]

Hahahahaha!!!

 

[Mentalpen]

For my 2p

IF you are still on the asphalt and its starting to go, imo you floor it and drive the corner as you would but come off as soon as the rear reacts to enable you to make the bend and so as not too snap it. When under control drive wide to apply the brake in a straight line and get it under control.

HOWEVER if its too late get on the brake as hard as you can and hope for the best.

IF HOWEVER your on the grass regardless of what you try, you are a passenger 99% of the time, best thing you can do is just try and steer your way out of it with light brake control.