THSCC Forums

http://z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98994

found this on another forum. very unfortunate incident but the driver of this car has some sound advice for us all.

sorry it is so huge a file but i don't know how to edit it.

Definately glad he was ok... I think the biggest moral of this story is familiararity.

I had a similar incident (though thankfully sans wall) at VIR South with the Alfa club back in April. After spending all day Saturday leaving the car in 4th gear at the top of the straight heading into the braking zone of turn one, my instructor told me the next time around to go ahead and shift into 5th on the straight... so I did... well, it was the first time I'd really pushed this E30 hard (the previous two events it wasn't my car)... I deicded to row the gears so as not to risk a 5th to 1st incident, and sure enough I catch 2nd instead of 4th... immediately the rears lock up and it sends me sideways across track right into the grass and heading straight for the physical apex or The Bitch. Not sure if anyone's ever noticed, but there's a fairly imposing wall on the outside of that corner

Anyway, all turned out fine... but the point is, I was comfortable doing one thing, and should have stuck with it

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Stacy King
Midlife Crisis Participant

Repeat after me: Short shift kit. New motor mounts. New (upgraded) trans mounts. ALL new shifter bushings. Every one of them.

Should help Not easy to do with the trans in the car though.

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

It's got the short shifter (so I'm told, doesn't feel particularly short to me, but I don't really know any better)... but DEFINATELY needs new bushings. Bill Hutchens has offered the entire shifter assembly out of his E30 M3 if it fits (same ss kit?). Might go ahead and do motor mounts too.

While I got you... any rec's on brake pads and where to buy?

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Stacy King
Midlife Crisis Participant

I did a 5-2 shift at Rockingham coming off the banking my first session out in the new to me Miata. It spun the car out and luckily all was well. Stacy hit it on the head familiararity.

Luckilly I got the clutch back in before an overrev and didnt do it again.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Sure...

Track, front: Hawk HT-10s, $94 at Bimmerworld:

https://secure11.nexternal.com/shared/S ... D=693&All=

Street/Autocross front & All-purpose rear: Axxis Ultimates from BFI (cheap, good) or Hawk HPS from Bimmerworld (more $$, better)

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

do you really think a SSK helps w/ misshifting? it seems like a compressed shift pattern would only make it easier. no?

SSK cuts out the slop. more precise feel.