Autocross video: advice please

[aschen]

Aarons final run Dec Scca on Vimeo

I am trying to learn how to drive my elise better and struggling a bit. I appreciate any help people may offer. I am not pushing it all that hard in the video because when I do I inverable spin. I know I have a lot to learn so my plan was to leave the car stock for now. However if there is some way to settle the rear a bit I may consider it. I can't seem to make the tires "sing" without them totally breaking free. I am on Street tires Bridstones reo1 205/40 and 245/40. In the 4 events I have been to I have yet to hear a peep out of the fronts.

car:
stock 05, lss
pressure 27f 29-30r
I had the rears left over from my suby and they had about 7k miles on them so the fronts are more "fresh"


The run from the video was 51.1 sec and top SS guys are running 47s on hoosiers, so I realize I have a long way to go. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,
AES

[pro10is4life]

From what I can see, it looks like you could tighten your line up and get closer to the apex cones. Good luck!

[CosmosMpower]

Looks like you're about 4 feet away from a lot of the cones so you're driving a lot of extra distance. Also turning a bit too late on a few corners. Just need to get a tighter line and be a little more aggressive in general. The tires are probably worth a second or so.

If you're spinning easily when you push harder you probably need an alignment. Make sure there isn't toe out in the rear or something crazy. Then add a Blackwatch front bar.

[fzust]

I echo the comments above, but would add that you probably need to brake earlier and go slower to keep your line tight, while accelerating out of the corner. The most important thing is to get the alignment right. Take all the shims except abs out of the front. Zero toe front on a street driven car or maybe toe-out, but it will be twitchier on the highway, use at your own risk. A little toe-in on the rear, 1/16 total rear toe in. Bar will help too, that's why we make it. Oh yeah and most important Look ahead!

Good luck.

[CountTracula]

Also echo the comments above +
1) Why are you looking to the side waiting for the flag to drop? You should be playing the course in your head and picking up the starter w/ your peripheral vision.
2) You can get back on power earlier. From the video it seems you go from brake to a lot of power. Learn to balance the car w/ throttle. When you master that, learn to balance it w/ the brake. In order to do that, you need to develop the necessary foot sensitivity.
3a) Also, if you catch yourself accelerating while the wheel it still turned (or while you winding even more steering), you know next run to have a higher entry/mid speed.
3b) Try to really remember what you did in each run -- be observant of your own driving so you can correct mistakes later.

[aschen]

Thanks guys all good avice which I will take to heart. I know I have a bit of an issue with using the gas too much a light switch on corner exit. I got used to driving my old sti which basically had unlimited traction on exit. I also struggle a bit with "staying tight" to cones in sweeping sections vs. "usinging the whole track" to setup for subsequent corners. My intuition tells me to stay wide in places where better drivers indicate tighter is better.

Lastly. I am struggling a bit trying to decide if I want to upgrade to a fsb. Searching around this sight seems to indicate it is desirable for curing understeer. As I said, I have never even heard the tiniest peep out of the fronts. What I really need to do is settle the rear a bit. I supose I need to do some research on alignment for these cars.

Thanks
Aaron

[Surferjer]

Nah, adding the bar will actually make the car understeer more. But it will stabilize your loose back and help you put power down. That's more important. There have been a gazillion discussions on understeer, and it's an unfortunate condition you have to deal with. Slow down more and get your car turned as quickly as possible so you can get back to the gas. It will push on corner exit. If you solve it, you probably have an unbelievably loose car.

Old advice, but still good advice: early to the brakes, early to the gas, and look ahead. Car position is more important than speed i.e. the speed will be a higher average if the car is always in the right spot.

[CosmosMpower]

Originally Posted by Surferjer

Nah, adding the bar will actually make the car understeer more. But it will stabilize your loose back and help you put power down. That's more important. There have been a gazillion discussions on understeer, and it's an unfortunate condition you have to deal with. Slow down more and get your car turned as quickly as possible so you can get back to the gas. It will push on corner exit. If you solve it, you probably have an unbelievably loose car.

Old advice, but still good advice: early to the brakes, early to the gas, and look ahead. Car position is more important than speed i.e. the speed will be a higher average if the car is always in the right spot.

+1 The bar on this car is to limit wheelspin mostly. You won't believe how flimsy the stock bar is, almost so weak that it might as well not be there. The car is extremely easy to drive with the throttle, eliminating understeer is just a quick lift or tap of the brakes away. The understeer is mostly a function of having no weight in the front and not much camber.

There are some pretty fast guys down in Houston, ask for some rides or pointers. I doubt they'll mind until you're within a second back

[MidasHands]

If any of the clubs near you hold AutoX schools I suggest you take a few classes. Our local club here in NJ has them about twice a month during the season and we get in about 24 runs. There is little time in between each run so the last one is fresh and you can learn quickly.

Also, riding with an instructor and having an instructor drive your car is very important to learn. Let an instructor show you what the car can do and you will have the confidence to make it happen after a while.

Also, find an instructor that you are comfortable with. Some instructors will stay quiet through the whole course and tell you what you did wrong at the end. I prefer one that will shout at me as we go along.

I'm so jealous that you are still racing!

[CountTracula]

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

The car is extremely easy to drive with the throttle, eliminating understeer is just a quick lift or tap of the brakes away. The understeer is mostly a function of having no weight in the front and not much camber.

This is probably the best advice you can get from this thread.