THSCC Forums

I disagree ... I have had some brilliantly fast, top-pax runs where I briefly let go of the steering wheel to avoid a spin!

Right or wrong, it seems to work for me. I have no idea that I'm doing it when I do, I only find out from others or from video. It's usually when the car is quite loaded up in a fast transition high in 2nd gear and things start to go "wrong". My brain decides (right or wrong) that my hands won't move fast enough. But I'm not consciously paying attention at that point

I know I did it a lot in the E30 with a 16' steering wheel and 11.2 turns lock-to-lock, and it's possible that I did it less with the smaller wheel in the E30 and now in the E36. Maybe I'll try to start paying attention.

I can tell you with 100% certainty that I have never let go of the wheel on track. Well, maybe at CMP in T11-14 in the rain I need to re-read the technque that Chuck B describes, there may be something good in trying that.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Oh I know. I just can't get my head wrapped around the notion that the best way out of any situation where things have gone a little haywire is to...let go.

:shudder:

Mike,m do you remember letting go of the wheel the weekend you drove the S2000?

Actually, don't answer that. I may not let you drive it again...

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

I've ridden with Mike and watched him let go around every slalom cone. I bet this happens a lot more then you would expect it to.

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In need of car.

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

WWRPD?

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

He'd probably wait for Jeff Altenberg to come on course out of the middle of nowhere, crash into something while driving one-handed, and write about the whole thing in Sportscar...

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Touche'.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Let go of the wheel?!? Hell no. Those damn Hoosiers are so grippy I never even lost grip.

Understeering car + fast steering rack + small steering wheel + really good tires == no need to let go of wheel. It's really car and grip dependent.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Funny guy

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

I know in my situation, that when I let the steering wheel slip, it does two things for me. It puts the front tires back to center way faster then I can, which in turn allows me to get back on the gas sooner then I could if I were unwinding the steering wheel myself.

I'm not claiming that this is the fastest way around the course, but suggesting that this technique is going to ruin a run is a bit extreme. I've had the occasional top 5 raw/pax time, and I can guarantee that time was accomplished by letting the steering wheel slip.

Maybe this is something that only people with old worn-out cars need to use?

Mike, do you still have that video of the laurinburg run where you stole 1st from me? I think it was in 2005?

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In need of car.

I've never felt like there was a situation where I couldn't unwind the steering wheel fast enough no matter how out of shape I got or how slow the steering rack was. I'm sure my flailing at the steering wheel wasn't pretty but I never felt the need to let go.

I have noticed that it can be draining during a rally-x run after sliding around all over the place. That morning when I was having the motor/tranny mount issue where I had to hold the shifter in gear and drive with one hand was not much fun. I felt like I nearly dislocated my shoulder a couple of times trying to keep up with the steering wheel one-handed.

I think the biggest key is to find whatever works for you and don't get too caught up in the details. I'm sure there are things to avoid but as long as you are comfortable and fast, it can't be all bad.

Jim