Supercar wheel spin: a thing of the past?

[LotusOmega375D]

Having enjoyed the Supercar Day at Sharnbrook Hotel today (see supercars spotted thread for photos), I always like to see the cars heading off back home on the A6. Everyone gives it some beans and the acceleration is usually mighty, but the only cars that seem to break traction are the old school RWD machines like mine and the Corvette. Can we therefore deduce that people do actually drive their modern supercars with traction control etc engaged, rather than risk spearing off into a hedge?

[icetea]

I always keep all the traction control settings etc activated when I'm driving. I don't think it particularly adds anything to the experience to have them off, and it does increase the risk of an expensive or painful incident...

[sodslaw]

super cars are much better at putting down the power these days for those 'all important' 0-60 times

suspension, rubber, aero etc have improved dramatically over the years


and as we know traction systems whilst brilliant in some cases can be quite 'invasive' too.


wheel spinning in the future will be left to muscle cars

[balls-out]

Seems the trend:
massive grip
ultra low profiles giving less progressive slip before breakaway.
Nanny electronics
Drivers overly used to their electronic comfort blankets.

Personally it make it smile to light up and rears and obviously a dab of oppo brings a smile ....

I suspect if you want to actually enjoying driving enthusiastically on the road a modern super car is a poor choice, although I can't say this through personal choice.

[Engineer1]

People leaving an event so possibly had their fun on the way and while they were there or they suspect the police may be around keeping an eye out for enthusiastic driving.

[Captain Muppet]

Maybe the drivers who didn't spin their wheels had clutch control?

Or don't think it's worth the cost of tyres to make a random passer-by potentially happy (or potentially annoyed and filming it to e-mail to the police because some random passer-bys are like that).

Or have such a tiny winkle that they didn't want to do a slow launch while people were watching.

Or have such a massive winkle that they just drive how they want without caring what other people expect.

Or maybe they think that spining the wheels is a waste of a supercar. You can spin the wheels on pretty much anything.

Or maybe they think that spinning the wheels is something that is socially unacceptable if done in a Corsa at McDonalds and are clear enough thinkers to realise that having more money shouldn't change the what constitutes acceptable behaviour.

Or maybe they were worried about getting stopped for wheel spin while really drunk and getting a ban.

Or maybe the were distracted thinking about whether there would be a parking space within walking distance of their council flat.

Or maybe they wanted to hear the engine without a load of tyre squeal drowning it out.

Or maybe they think that this waitress they've just picked up is likely to be more fun if not choked on tyre smoke on the way back to the mansion.

Or all of the above.

I'm not sure we have enough data to form any kind of logical conclusion.

[Rawwr]

I refer to this as Eurofighter Syndome. The plane that can't fly without its electronics. It seem the Ferrari 599GTO is a particularly bad case of this, from what I've read.

[LotusOmega375D]

Maybe?

My post was not a criticism, just an observation. Many of those cars wouldn't have had an orthodox clutch to control.

Anyway, I do agree that most wheel spinning that goes on these days
occurs after dark in a car-park from the front wheels of a 15 year-old hatchback. Not cool.

[balls-out]

Captain Muppet said:

Maybe the drivers who didn't spin their wheels had clutch control?
....

I seriously hope that most supercars don't need to use the clutch to break traction in 1st gear..
Anyway a manual clutch is pretty much a thing of the past in supercars.

[Captain Muppet]

balls-out said:

Captain Muppet said:

Maybe the drivers who didn't spin their wheels had clutch control?
....

I seriously hope that most supercars don't need to use the clutch to break traction in 1st gear..
Anyway a manual clutch is pretty much a thing of the past in supercars.

Sorry, my experience is dated as I've not driven anything newer than an F360. I didn't spin the wheels in 1st gear, but then I was careful with it's foot operated clutch.