Autocross Novice School in Ft. Myers

 

Did you do that lap with the DSC and Traction control off?

Interesting course set-up, there were a lot of elements I liked that I don't see here in the houston region. Our Rookie school was real different too. We did a lot of traditional testing methods to learn car dynamic and line then put it all together at the end of the day.

Looked good though. A little less steering in the beginning would have helped keep the tail in line in that one wiggle you had in the first part

 

Why do you open up your hood?

That's silly...

Your car gets hotter driving it on the streets than that short stint in a parking lot.

 

check mine out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtztZTdY8U8

 

Yeah I had the DSC completely off (Press button for 8-10 seconds) I have great tires on the front Dunlop z star and really bad tires on the back so the car is a bit loose. I am going to try the good tires on the back at the next event see if a little understeer is better.
The school is really good your start slow to learn the line then get faster and faster. An instructor is always in the car with giving tips and they will drive your car too to show you what it can do.

 

I open the bonnet (hood) because when you drive at high revs out everything gets hot. Then once you stop there is no air flowing throught the engine bay to keep it cool and remove the hot air. I also try to leave the engine running a few minutes to let it cool itself. I probably don't need to open it but its not going to hurt

 

Wait.... what? I thought it was either off or on!

 

pretty sweet vid.

 

Nope it has 2 stages:

Press button its "off" and the light comes on...

HOLD button for 10 secs and its "Fully off" and another light comes on as well.

With fully off, you can only turn it back on by turning off engine and restarting.

 

Not true atleast for me, my engine bay is usually hotter after I run. I open the hood and turn on the heater and ac the engines doing a bit more work but I'm evacuating the heat faster....Let it sit like that for about 5-7 minutes then shut it all off.

Got the advice from other Rotary drivers at my events as well.

 

I previously thought the DSC only had 2 settings but you find when it Says dsc off you still have the ABS kicking in on hard breaking.
I you hold it down for 8-10 seconds it goes completely off and the little light with the car skidding come on permanantly try it!

 

I've engaged the ABS once (during our rookie school as ordered) though braking all other times during autox is Threshold Braking.

So I'm not completely certain if when you press and hold and turn DSC and TCS off that the ABS goes off as well as I've never had it engage.

 

If you see the video at the 16 second point my ABS would kick in, if I do not turn it completely off. As for threshold breaking I am new to Racing my car so try to break in a straight line but one my problems is turning and breaking at the same time. I guess that's what being a noob is all about.

 

Trail braking is very difficult to do and conversely very easy to screw up.

Gotta get the straight line braking first before you can trail brake.

I wish i could offer a better tip but I still haven't gotten trail braking down.