Handling
Author
Discussion

B1 ECC

Original Poster:

389 posts

284 months

Saturday 9th October 2004
quotequote all
Since we've talked so much about the straight line performance,the acceleration figures, the 200+ mph instant facelift!---How do we get them to go round corners effectively?
My experience on trackdays is that there is very little that can "live with you" overall, but I always feel that your outperformed in the twisty bits.
Anyone else's experiences?

Stig

11,823 posts

313 months

Monday 11th October 2004
quotequote all
Initially, I felt the car pushed on a bit (understeer), but managed to dial a lot of this out. Remember, most cars are designed to understeer a bit as generally speaking, the cars are a lot more capable than the drivers!

I think there are a couple other factors you could consider:

1) The car has so much grip at the rear (and power usually) it can overcome the fronts. I notice that the tyre sizes for the fronts have got larger recently. I bet if you reduced the tyre sizes at the back any understeer would translate into a nice 4-wheel drift. Car would look daft though. If you put monster rubber on the back of an Elise it would understeer like a b4stard IMHO.

2) To get the aerodynamics working, requires a fair old bit of speed. Therefore, just drive faster into the corners

gdr

589 posts

289 months

Monday 11th October 2004
quotequote all
I just blame my cr@p driving and/or fact that others often on slicks when I get nobbled on twisty bits by Caterfield's, Exiges and the like.

Mine handles much better since fitting the Nylatron bushes in rear suspension and re-aligning geometry (to factory spec). Suspect that the soft urethane bushes allowed a bit of unwanted rear wheel steering (esp after they were worn).

B1 ECC

Original Poster:

389 posts

284 months

Monday 11th October 2004
quotequote all
I have anti-roll bars on mine which work very well,especially on the rear. As stig said the shear width of rubber at the back on a dry track, is a recipe for understeer, but since i've fitted Pirelli track rubber on the front the car behave's very well.
It might be me,perhaps a frontal lobotomy might help.

gtrclive

4,193 posts

312 months

Monday 11th October 2004
quotequote all
Hi Ian' Hows the Engine these days ? Did you find what was the touble ?

B1 ECC

Original Poster:

389 posts

284 months

Monday 11th October 2004
quotequote all
Hi Clive, Thanks for the interest, the engine is now an absolute "star", pulls like a train, and sings like a banshee. 1200track miles this season and ready for next!

Camshaft was the problem, to much compression pressure(read detonation) Crower cam solved the problem with 40 more horse's, only took 3years !!!!

arthurr

60 posts

271 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
I am just exploring the limits of my Can Am on the track and have not yet noticed understeer. What tire pressures are you running. I am at 19 front and 24 back. This could influence the balance.

B1 ECC

Original Poster:

389 posts

284 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
I used to run mine quite low, similar to the factory settings. This seemed to be O.K for road use but I then realised if you start to use the performance the tyre would creep around the rim.
Spoke to various tyre manufactuers, for track days I now run 26 front 28 rear, this works well and can be adjusted to suit. the goal is to get the pressure into the into the mid 30's when hot.