I am learning how to control it, but everytime I try it on a wide highway entrance ramp, when I'm going into a 90 degree turn onto the ramp, I will be in 2nd gear giving it alot of gas, the rear comes out and then I countersteer, but almost everytime the rear comes back the other way. And then I countersteer again then it comes back in line. I read an article saying that no matter how bad the rear steps out, always keep the steering wheel at the direction that you want to go (aim at where the road is going)and modulate the gas. Never step on the brakes? Are these true?

 

I know to never step on the brakes when the tail's out, or you're in big trouble...for the steerting...well I have no clue because I need to learn for myself!

 

What you are saying is essentially correct. Stepping on the brakes will only make things worse...

In an oversteer condition, back off the throttle a little. That should keep the tail back where it should be.

Backing off the throttle and counter-steering are the two things you need to do first...this should become a natural reaction over time.

If you are just too hot in the turn and/or you brake too hard or your inputs are too abrupt, get ready to be facing traffic...and welcome to RWD.

Keep it sane...

 

Are there anyways to safe it when you go into the turn too hot, or brake too hard? What are the procedure for safing it?

 

I guess once you have totally lost it, hitting the brakes can shed some speed that you might not hit something (as hard).

A lot of the "art" of rear wheel drive control comes from experience and practice. Nothing is better than seat time. When I had my 99 Corvette at the track, it was my first time on the track and in a rear wheel drive vehicle in a high performance situation. I had 1600 miles on the Vette and that was quite the learning curve... I had a few years of autocross experience in my Nissan Sentra SE-R before that, but this was my first track day.

A year later, I had a LOT more confidence in the car and there were a spot on the track (a left/right transition) where I could actually hang the back end out of the Vette with the power on at about 85mph... It actually helped me set the car up for the next corner.

Anyways, another "trainer" is to get a wheel and pedals for your PC and get a driving simulator (not GAME) and practice on that... its far cheaper than trial and error on the S2000. Geoff Crammond's GP3 is pretty good, and GPL certainly rewards smoothness...

 

Or do an advanced driving course.

On the HART course we were to lose the rear on purpose, then correct or control it.

http://byte.topthis.com.au/MPEGs/SRSkid.MPG

Lots of fun!

 

I do know that ABS works in the rain,50mph, BACKWARDS!

Once you realize your too hot into a turn, its almost too late. Learn the car, AND the road your on.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by StudentDriver:
[B] I will be in 2nd gear giving it alot of gas, the rear comes out and then I countersteer, but almost everytime the rear comes back the other way.

 

First of all, public roads are definitely not the place to practice hanging the tail out.

Nevertheless, it sounds like you are over correcting. When the tail is coming about you don't really have a lot of feel for where the front wheels are pointing during your initial countersteer. The front wheels should be pointing in the direction you want the front end to go. Further, the front wheels ARE pointed in the direction it will go once it hooks up. So if you are turning to the right, for example, your tail swings left and you counter steer to the left 10 degrees past the line you want the car to take, the car, assuming you stabilize the rear and it doesn't beat the front of your car through the turn, will take a line 10 degrees too far left, requiring further correction.

If, in this hypothetical right turn with tail out, you countersteer correctly, that is, the front wheels pointing where you want the car to go, all you have to do is unwind when it hooks up (the axis of the car is in line with its direction of travel) and go.

If you do it all wrong, on a public road, pray you don't spin into an Odyssey full of kids.

2x6spds

 

I haveen't driven one yet, but I did spend a great deal of time on dirt in RWD vehicles and it comes down to the touch. It was a little different in every car, but once you got the feel it was no problem drifting the back end. I do know your going faster when your not sliding and your tires will last longer. Any time traction is lost, time is lost, tires suffer and power is sacrificed.