Sweet handling

[targarama]

They talk about how the Tamora/T350 is a good handler. However one thing I didn't really think about is how easy it is to drive fast on the track.

In my Chimaera changing down for a corner on the track mean't careful throttle balancing to stop the rear wheels locking up (I can't heel and toe). I've had a few scarey moments in the past (always on the track, never on the road). In the T350 I didn't have any problems whatsoever getting a few revs on, letting the gears in and carrying on my merry way around the corners. The car actually makes you look a better driver than you really are.

I'd not noticed this on the road, but on the track where you can explore the limits more safely (armco permitting) it is quite an amazing car.

[nubbin]

Get some heel and toe practice done, it makes a big difference on spirited drives! I spent about a year before Eurohoon 2004, practising to get it right, and it made a BIG difference on the mountain passes and tight hairpin-after-hairpin roads.

It's quite easy once you get the hang of it, and the Tamora/T350 pedals are prefectly placed - plus it doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you learn to match engine revs to gearbox rotation.

[the pits]

I agree, Tamora's and t350 are some of the few cars you can heel and toe with ease. The S6 engine is so responsive you only need to touch the throttle to get the revs to rise as well.

Many cars make heel and toe difficult and some make it impossible. Just brake with the ball of the foot and pivot around it to let your heel come on to the throttle. My tip is, if you miss the throttle, you miss the throttle! Don't compromise your grip on the brake pedal for the sake of a blip on the throttle. It's ideal but not essential!

The other way is to brake with your foot slightly off the centre of the brake pedal. Let the overhanging edge of your foot (right edge of right foot aka pinky toe!) blip the throttle at the top of the pedal. This you could argue is not heel and toe, more toe and toe but achieves exactly the same result. You have to work out which suits you, your car and your shoes best. It does differ from car to car but once achieved you can practice it on every roundabout approach and get used to it before pressure testing it on the track. I really enjoy it, it's certainly smoother on the road and definitely faster and safer on the track.

[_DeeJay_]

Pits - spot on, that's just how I do it.

You need to rotate your foot pretty much 90 degrees though, which feels uncomfortable at first.

I was used to doing it the other way around from previous cars and this is much easier.

D

[jrb43]

Agree with all the above. If you can't heel and toe in a TVR, you won't manage it in anything - most manufacturers space the pedals far apart to stop numpties hitting both pedals in an emergency. This is not the case in TVRS The almost absence of a flywheel certainly helps as well.

Note the throttle pedal is adjustable for height. It's technically illegal to have the throttle pedal lower than the brake (it lengthens your time to get from throttle to brake) but you may find it easier that way. Also the lightest pair of shoes you own will help.

[nubbin]

I use the "toe and toe" technique with half my forefoot on each pedal - but that's because I've got 'F' width feet, so I can virtually cover both pedals with one foot!

As above the instant throttle response of the S6 means it's difficult NOT to get a blip in the revs, and you can eventually vary the rise in revs to siut your gear change - if you're down-shifting rapidly you can add an extra 1000-1500 revs instantly to match the engine speed when you declutch.

But don't worry - I'm still missing it or getting it wrong, depending how hard I'm concentrating!

[the pits]

I find it easiest on the track when you have to use the brake pedal harder. Again the firm brake pedals (to help prevent lock up, just like a race car) in tvrs makes this easier as the brake pedal doesn't go too far past the accelerator, which would make it harder to get back onto the accelerator.