Here's another line question, considering the different oversteer/understeer characteristics between fwd, rwd, and awd, is the line any different depending on drive configuration? I've heard that for awd you should enter a corner at a higher angle, but I have no idea what that means or how true it is. Any thoughts?

 

Your question would be a lot easier to answer if you had an accurate drawing or even a picture of the turns and the roadway before and after the turns. The answer to your question really depends on what type of turns are just before and just after the "S" turns. For example, let's say that there is a long straight just before the first "S" turn and a bunch of slow-speed, tight turns just after the last "S" turn. You would want to maximize your speed from the straight by braking very late at the end of the straight, which will probably necessitate a later apex on the first "S" turn. In this example, you're carrying as much speed as possible for as long as possible and giving up what might be the "proper" line for the first "S" turn.

Another example: let's say that preceding the first "S" turn are a bunch of slow-speed, tight turns, and there is a long straight after the last "S" turn. In this example, you want to carry as much speed out of the last "S" turn so that you can maximize the amount of momentum you have down the straight. To properly exit the last "S" turn before the straight, you may have to go slower than could otherwise be possible on the entry to the first "S".

So, in short, my point is: the correct line for each turn should be considered in the context of the immediately preceding and following turns.

And, don't forget that lines frequently change while you are in a real race ("defensive line" vs. "proper line").

I hope this helps.

P.

 

Yes, thanks P, that does help. I'll try to take a picture of a drawing of the turn and the turns before and after it (no scanner here). Part of what makes entering difficult is the preceding part, which is a straight downhill, then a slight right curve, then the S-turn begins to the left. You'll see tomorrow, I'll post it up.

 

Now that you have done track days, don't you no longer feel a need to drive in such a way on the street that risks your life, the lives of others and risks getting in trouble with the law?

It's just not worth it.

Please keep it on the track.

 

I'm not street racing Reid, nor am I pushing it to the limit or anywhere close. When I say I was practicing the line, I wasn't actually driving the "track line", as if I were on the track, I was staying on my side of the road and reasonably within the speed limit. As I was driving this way though, I thought about how to do it properly, knowing that on the track would be a bit different, but the general concept would still be the same. I'm as much against street racing as the mods here, I certainly wouldn't be hypocritical and go and do it myself. My apologies for the confusion, I've just got track driving on the brain all the time, and I'm constantly trying to improve my own driving technique, so these questions come up.