I went off the track today at Jefferson Circuit. A full 360 with the last half of the spin in the grass. I have never seen so much dust and grass inside my stook. Everything seems OK in the car (other than spending the last couple of hours washing the car and cleaning the interior).

I learned a lot from that spin. So I figure I better share the lesson.

Experienced Drivers: Please add to this thread. I am still a novice and if you see something that does not jive, please point out.

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Coming into the turn, I turned my steering wheel too much. The back end started coming around and I tried to correct it by dialing opposite. And while waiting for the correction to happen ... I let off the gas! The tail end came out so quickly, I was covered in dust by the time it was all over.

Turning Wheel Too Much
Do not do jerky movements. I got distracted and turned in too late. To correct my mistake I turned my steering wheel to much. Instead I should have just taken a wider line, or should have split the turn into two apexes (the second one to make up the radius I lost on the first turn in).

Correcting the spin
I am embarrassed about this one. I have had the tail come out before and just a bit of opposite dial and some gas is all that is needed. If the correction was not happening probably a bit more opposite dial and some more gas should have done it. But my instincts took over and I let off the gas. Do not break or let off the gas when your steering wheel is turning (when going at speed).

Turning at speed
Break HARD before the turn, while your wheels are straight. Once you start turning use your throttle (do not floor it, but modulate based on how much back traction you feel you need). If you are still going too fast inside the turn, STRAIGHTEN your wheels, BREAK, then start turning again. The point is that once your wheels are not straight, do not use the break.
At first this did not make sense to me since in my daily driving I can do anything on the turns (break, not break, accelerate). But the difference is speed. One thing is turning at 30MPH, another one is doing the same turn at 70+ MPH.

Stay alert
Whether on the track or the road, when going hard, you need to concentrate. Every turn, every ondulation, every driver in front and back count.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by restonS2000
[B]
Coming into the turn, I turned my steering wheel too much. The back end started coming around and I tried to correct it by dialing opposite. And while waiting for the correction to happen ...

 

I'm still a novice too, and I think you summed up the analysis of your excursion pretty well. Late braking and drop-throttle oversteer was responsible for my spin at Sebring too. It is hard to break bad habits, but that's what more seat time is for .

 

If you're in a oversteer condition, you should *NOT* lift. Lifting or breaking causes a weight transfer forward which will only exacerbate the oversteer condition.

Having said that, it takes experience to put into practice. If the car is getting loose, you instincts tell you to slow the car. Unfortunately this only makes things worse.

Keep a steady throttle or a little throttle input and correct with the steering.

Remember
Acceleration = Weight Transfer Back
Deceleration = Weight Transfer Forward

 

Reston, it sounds like you learned a lot from it. I'm still learning too and I've been doin' it for 10 years! I believe your comment about taking a wider line is right on. Once you've blown your turn in don't try to make it a nice geometrically perfect corner. Just get through it; forget the apex, drop two wheels off at the exit if you have to! A not-so-pretty corner beats an ugly dent any day.

If you turn in too early or too late, AND you have way too much entry speed, your probably headed off no matter what you do. Like you said, just straight line brake as hard as you can to lose as much speed as possibile before leaving the track.

 

how did you get on the Jefferson course????? I have only ever been able to get on the big course.???

I misshifted and slid sideways into the grass/hay/weeds coming out of the "carosell" (spelling) and had that stuff in my car, down my shirt, etc.... it was pretty funny how much stuff can get into your car sooo quickly.

i am interested in finding out how to get on the jefferson course though!!!

o ya... glad you and your car made it without damage!

thanks - Scot

 

Scot-
Last week we were at the Jefferson Circuit for a Speedtrial USA event and this week for a NASA event. I think both Alberto and I forgot to post a new thread w/ the information and it got buried here.

Looks like Speedtrial has an event on the full VIR course in December but it now appears as though we'll need rollbars to participate.