Knowing how to handle that hot car of yours (Page 1/2) cvxjet DEC 15, 11:44 PM Recently, Autoweek had a video of some people racing different cars >Together< around a track...at the end of which a guy totaled his brand new GT350 mustang.....I see a lot of people buying Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers and Chargers that easily out-perform the supercars of just a decade ago....and then doing really stupid crap with them....So I wrote a letter/ article to send to some magazine.....I haven't sent it yet; Just saw an article/Video on a guy racing a Mustang Shelby GT350 at some track and wrecking it....It seems a lot of people figure, "Hey, I got me a $60,000 car that can lay good laps around the 'Ring (Or whatever) so I can drive like crazy and all will be good....." I have been driving fast through turns since I got my license....But first, I read a lot about handling- including all those terms like "Understeer", "Oversteer", and "Drop-Throttle-Oversteer", etc....and then I went out on a WIDE backroad and carefully started feeling the car out. The first time I was coming through a turn and the back end started to come around (Oversteer), I knew about counter-steering- but it was still an eye-opener. I have spun out a couple of cars of mine (But not my Fiero) It amazes me how little people A) Know about Handling, and B) How willing they are to do stupid stuff with that "Lack-of-Knowledge" 3 times I have had people decide "I can keep up with- and blow off- that stupid Fiero!" 1) A few years after I had bought my Fiero (85 SE V6) I was getting on the freeway....Red light on the overpass, then an "S" curve on-ramp...1993-7 Camaro SS revving his engine behind me..Light changes and I start down the ramp.....Suddenly see headlights sweeping across the ramp....The guy had spun his Camaro. 2) I was at a light in an industrial part of town, turning left.....Guy in an 88 T-Bird turbo....Light changes, I take off and this guy starts to follow, loses it, over-corrects and crashes into a big tree on the right....Steam coming out from under the hood...(I suspect he got on it (Nothing) Got on it more (Nothing) and then the Turbo kicked in and broke the tires lose). 3) Coming home from Alameda NAS to San Leandro, get off every day at Marina Blvd, cloverleaf turn but with a notch in it....I practiced the DTO thing- Instead of turning the wheel tighter at the notch, I would just chop the throttle, the car would rotate, and then I would get back on it (I did this to keep proficient at handling that DTO situation)....One time a guy in a 3 series is tailgating me (I slowed to allow traffic to clear the cloverleaf)...So I cut the radio, downshift, and really crank it.......when I chop it, it really rotates, and then I blast on around...Over the overpass I don't see the Bmw....I come to a stop at the next light and he finally comes driving up...Look over...I have never seen someone look THAT white, nor eyes that big around! I want to say this now; No question that those cars could beat my Fiero- Even around turns- but....With a PROFICIENT driver! Car & Driver does a thing every year called "Lightning Lap" where they take a number of cars and lap them around Virginia Int'l Raceway...they have a whole list of all the cars over the years.....A couple of interesting details; 1) One year they had both a 911 Carrera S and a Cayman S......There was a substantial difference in Power-to-weight ratio favoring the 911...They both did the same lap time; 3 other drivers took the 911 out and could not better the time. 2) The driver for GM took a Corvette out and lapped at SEVERAL seconds quicker than the best the C&D drivers could do! This points out two important facts; A better vehicle setup that is more predictable is generally faster, and KNOWING your vehicle well can take a good driver up several notches.... I remember reading an article back in the late 70s....Comparing a Tran Am to a 911......Although with a really good driver the 911 would lay down a better lap, you could put your Grandmother in both of these cars and she would be able to easily drive the Trans Am faster.....Extremely predictable, with no sudden surprises. The new Camaros, Mustangs, Challengers, Chargers, etc are relatively affordable, so just about anyone can get one....That does not mean that anyone can drive them to their limits. They have what would be considered "Supercar Performance" from only a decade ago.....I am reminded of a tragic incident when I worked at Atari in San Jose right after getting out of the Navy; Some guy had taken his company public and become a multimillionaire...He bought a 308 Ferrari, and crashed and died the same day. Basic lesson is; Don't drive beyond your capabilities..... Patrick DEC 16, 12:45 AM quote Originally posted by cvxjet: Basic lesson is; Don't drive beyond your capabilities... Indyellowgt DEC 16, 08:49 AM Cool read. 👍 Patrick: that mustang clip always makes me cringe.. Good god, some people are idiots...😳 fierofrenzy DEC 16, 09:57 AM I couldn't agree more. some people just don't think when they drive. Idiots, as you say. Goes for motorcycles too ! you gotta know what your doing and respect your machine ! Also be aware of its potential. And if your gonna run, do it in the right places, not in residential areas. Ouch, that Mustang video hurts ! Man, what was he thinking ? And I got a Mustang ! …..( shakin my head )….. What I pitty most is these young kids who by those pocket rockets, open them up, come up on a turn they can't handle....and then....you know the unfortunate story from there. Enjoy your ride whatever it may be, but play it safe people. You don"t want to hurt yourself, anybody else, or scratch that nice paint job, to put it mildly. sourmash DEC 16, 10:34 AM I don't like car people to know where I live because inevitably some turd with a fart can or otherwise loud exhaust wants to rev it by the house as if I want my peace disturbed. The cop across the street rode a Harley for a while, so every Harley that lived nearby would goose the throttle when they passed his house no matter if he was there or not. Loud pipes just suck. Especially Harley guys who DEMAND attention. They even watch people to see if people are noticing them riding a motorcycle. Grow up already. Riding the bike is supposed to be a personal endeavor, not a parade activity. Pinecoon DEC 16, 10:51 AM Money and speed parts don't buy brains. I learned at 7 years old on a gocart just how important the grey stuff between your ears really is when you are driving. cvxjet DEC 16, 11:36 AM Some of these "A-Dolts" could not be trusted with a go-cart!! And don't get me started on the Fart-can cars....They now have exhausts that make the V8 cars sound like two ricers tied together....Come on people, the deep V8 rumble is the best engine sound in the world! As far as Harley riders; I took a Harley sign and changed out the white lettering in the middle to read "Viagra is cheaper".....My friends all told me to take it to a biker bar and show it there......Hmmmm....Maybe I need new friends! Jake_Dragon DEC 17, 10:38 AM I have wrecked just about every car I have owned. Rebuilt or fixed most of them. Did a lot of stupid **** when I was younger but always found a safe place to do it. Hell I didn't race on the street and still don't. I don't spin my tires (my current car and my V8 Fiero had no trouble) because the point is moving the car not making smoke and noise. People get lazy and feel they are too safe and nothing bad can happen. They don't know their car and let it out drive them. Mustang is a good example. You need to be familiar with it. Learn what its going to do. You can see in most of the videos that they start out and as soon as the car goes past 3000 RPM its a different beast. My Fiero was a very consistent car. I had lots of time behind the wheel and knew what to expect when I got on it. You cant get that kind of experience without pushing the car but you have to find a safe place to do it. If you beep your horn at me I will give you the thumbs up and just watch you take off. Its not the place. Thanks for sharing. steve308 DEC 17, 01:20 PM Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly. shemdogg DEC 17, 07:43 PM I gave myself lots of training in high school w my 83 z28 n my moms 76 granada. Brake stands in the high school parking lot w 8-9 laughing guys inside only one tire roastin n the speedo at 120 lol. I drove that camaro sideways all day i was so damn good at that car and took every opportunity when it rained. Id drive into school sideways in the maro, crazy long drifts. i was one w that car. The granada had a fat ass n it liked to swing out and not come back. The pizza cutters back there didnt help. Motor went so my older bro n I got a rebuilt motor from kragen. Its musta been a 302 out of a truck or something, the car had mad nuts and ate hella gas. Mom wouldnt drive it anymore so I eventually got it years later. I always practiced what my car could/couldnt do. In the camaro Id be on a date and drive to my old ghetto grade school go flying onto the weed patch field at 60, yank the wheel n stay on the gas. Car would do a buncha 360s, then id do a few drifts and get outta there before the priests called the cops. Used to jump that car, off road, etc. Good ol high school days. The el camino hospital parking lot back up to st francis back then, so most of us crazies parked there and hopped the fence to school. Huge parking lot, no one at our end ever. There was a big dip we used to jump our cars with. I was in my buddys mail jeep we jumped it backwards going crazy fast, landed on one back wheel, spun, went on my side, hit and island, took out 2 small trees, flipped 2 more times n landed upright w the motor still running. All the windows broken, all 4 wheels dented bad. That thing was done. We sat there in shock for a second, looked at each other n busted up laughing. I couldnt get out my side the tree was jammed into the door. We had some minor scrapes n bumps, our buddies checked us out. Then someone pointed out the huge crowd coming our way at top speed headed by dean houlihan(who loved me lol). My buddies threw me in the fairmont wagon n rushed me to the bk up the street to wash off n get all the glass outta my clothes. Ted got kicked out for that one. high school days man high school days shem