Get more out of your auto-x run!

OK, so you had your fun auto-xing, but how should you end a run? Well, most clubs will have a sharp turn right pass the finish, and any cones you may hit there will still hurt your times. You had your 30+second of your fun, but it wasn't enough? Well, just because your time is up, doesn't mean you can't fishtail one more time, let me explain

Approach, as if to late apex...


Start turning in, just as braking is finished... (Notice the timing is taken by the double cones, so this technique shouldn't've really hurt my times)


Apply throttle...


Don't let off the steering just yet...


Start to counter steer...


Keep on the gas, and ride it out...


Keep on the gas if possible, wouldn't wanna unsettle car now...


Back off the steering, VERY fast as soon as the rear starts to catch, and rotate. Notice the wheel is turned in MUCH less a fraction of a second later. (I think this is what happens to many 911 or 944 owners, they over correct, and it spins the other way)

Car totally straight, under hard braking, the race is over...

This has become how I end just about every auto-x I do lately... People must think I'm nuts, but it's FUN. Have it on mpeg, but got to troubleshoot a few things.
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

Nice driving.

We don't have Auto-X here in the UK, pity.

Have you driven a 911?
If so, I'd be interested in your driving impressions with respect to your 944.

JG

I used that technique as well in my previous car (M3), can get a little wild if you really push it...hmm went through the gates sideways one time, and knocked the cones on the OTHER side of the gates - does that still count as a penalty?

Brad

I've driven a few early 911s, rode in a yellowbird, and briefly drove a 996.

I'll concentrate on the early 911... People say 911s have a tendency to snap oversteer, but I don't think so. Infact, the 911 has to be the easiest car to throttle oversteer with, but does require one to be fast with the wheel. Can be pretty tricky to drive fast on a course one is not familiar with, but besides that loads of fun. I personally prefer 944s over 911s, but these cars (944) aren't as forgiving as everybody would have you believe. Let me give you an example, in 1992 autocar had 7 testers to each drive (if I remember correctly) 5 different sports cars, one of which was the 968 (which was chosen the best handling car, and again in 1993). 4 of them thought it was the most forgiving car they'd driven, while the other 3 spun it! On top of that, it was the ONLY car that was spun at all! Interesting huh? The high polar moment of inertia (mass is distributed to the ends of the car, engine in the front, transaxle in the back) enables the driver to go past the car's limits, while the car remains pointed in the right direction for a brief period of time. This can be advantageous. The cars are similar in that they both want to slide the opposite way they had initially started to slide, after correction.

The theoretical best set up would be with a mid engine, and 57/43 weight distribution. As you know either car is far from that, but Porsche has made both platforms perform quite well (interestingly so IMO).

I'd consider a 911 as a track/auto-x car, if I had unlimited funds. Right now I'm considering a 550 spyder replica, a car that'd weigh around 1300lbs, have around 250hp, with double a-arm suspension, and inboard coil-overs. That car would be a track monster, and cost around $20k to build…

bfranklin, pointer cones outside the gate do not count against you at regional events, they may during nationals...
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...