Re: alfa-digest V8 #21

[Iopsycheng@domain.elided]

Al,
I don't want to make you mad but I would have to say the reason you spun your 
164 is a LACK of experience. The handling characteristics and dynamic car 
control techniques of a high performance, heavy front wheel drive car are 
quite different from a similar rear driver. Basically, to keep the front 
driver going in the direction you want requires an opposite response to 
controlling a sliding rear driver. FWD needs the front wheels pointing in the 
intended direction of travel, NOT counter steering. In a RWD car as the tail 
slides out the driver steers in the direction of the slide and usually has 
reduces power to catch the car. In a FWD car these actions will exaggerate 
the spin because reducing power slows the FRONT tires (the rears have already 
lost traction), 60+% of the weight is already on the front tires and the 
weight shift from reducing power throws more forward and the car pivots 
around the engine. To keep the FWD car going in the right direction, keep the 
front tires pointed in the desired direction and the power on! As a racer I 
had a very hard time learning/believing this but after trying a powerful FWD 
rally car in some very slippery conditions I can say first hand it works. As 
a rear drive racer I can't always remember to do it which is probably why you 
looped the 164. 
Thomas Gonnella

--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided