| Author | Message | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Junior Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 76 Registered: 6-2002 |
No way you'll be able to get on it all the way in an Enzo in first or second gears in a turn, that's for sure  ("all the way" with 660hp on tap is a whole new world.) At higher speeds, it should be an absolute joy flat out in the sweepers though! Heck, I get a huge kick out of being able to take turn 1 at searspoint flat out in 4th! Best! Ben. | ||
| Robert Callahan (Rcallahan)
New member Username: Rcallahan Post Number: 11 Registered: 7-2002 |
Thanks everybody for your comments. The car is a manual and I was upshifting from 1-2 at high rpm and accelerating. On the race cars I have driven you can not stomp on the gas with the front wheels turned without going into an immediate spin. I think the new Enzo will not allow you to give it full power until the car senses that the front wheels are going in the right direction. But most likely the my main error was to shift while powering out of the curve at its apex. Anyway, I am now much wiser and will treat this car like the race car it wants to be. Bob | ||
| acw (Acw)
Junior Member Username: Acw Post Number: 116 Registered: 2-2002 |
Some cars have a tendency for some so called snap oversteer. These cars have so much torque that sudden full power with the car not perfectly balanced on its suspensions can start a spin. I have seen this with a Dodge Viper which has a lot of torque. I was warned that the 360 can do that as well but I have yet to experience this... I believe the key here is to be smooth. You can definitely floor a car in a turn but you have to get there progressively. The procedure I was taught on track is: - break - during breaking switch in the gear you want to exit the corner - release break right before the turning point. Let the front suspension unload a bit before turning - Turn the wheels. it is best to commit to a turning radius and avoid updating the radius all the time - get back on the throttle during the turn. It can be very early such as you are on the floor at the apex or it can be late, starting after the apex. With a mid / rear engine car, not matter what, don't lift the throttle, break or downshift in a turn. ACW | ||
| William Huber (Solipsist)
Member Username: Solipsist Post Number: 390 Registered: 9-2001 |
Robert, How slow were you driving after that incident? I bet some little old ladies may have past you as you were calming yourself down. Glad you & your friend are OK. P.S. Some F chat members cars are on www.wreckedexotics.com. If anyone has totaled or damaged their Ferraris, this site may have photos posted without the owners consent. | ||
| Marcus Adolfsson (Marcusadolfsson)
Junior Member Username: Marcusadolfsson Post Number: 97 Registered: 10-2001 |
How can you take a curve properly if you don't step on the gas except when the front wheels are straight? It has been my experience that you should BREAK on the straight before the curve, and then apply power throughout the curve to make sure all the weight is on the back wheels... | ||
| acw (Acw)
Junior Member Username: Acw Post Number: 115 Registered: 2-2002 |
Shifting down from 3rd to 2nd is exactly similar to a brief yet firm pressure on the breaks. When you downshifted, a lot of weight moved from the back to the front. The suddenly lighter rear wheels lost some traction and the car started to spin. In general it is best to select your exiting speed gear in the straight right before the turn and then provide full power before or near the apex. I recommend you take your car on a track. You'll know your car a lot better after a few sessions. ACW | ||
| Michael N. (Man90tr)
Member Username: Man90tr Post Number: 670 Registered: 4-2001 |
Glad you lived to tell the tale of the tail going. The 2nd month I had my TR I lost the tail big time -- took two healthy corrections to get it back while still going around the corner. Learned a hard lesson --happened once after that about a year late but saw it coming and kept on the gas and saved it. | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Junior Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 73 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yep, an F355 will send the tail out to lunch on a hard 1-2 in a corner. Is your car an F1 tranny? The F1 (as I'm sure you know) changes the "agressiveness" of it's shifts with shift-point revs... Ie, pull a handle at 5 grand and it'll go click-clunk-clak and you probally won't spill your soda. Pull back at 8500rpm, and you'll need a NECK BRACE. Best! Ben | ||
| Robert Callahan (Rcallahan)
New member Username: Rcallahan Post Number: 10 Registered: 7-2002 |
Dave, I know there are a number of things that I did wrong. I guess I have to treat this car with much more respect. Bob | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 432 Registered: 1-2002 |
Bob, the other lesson you SHOULD have gotten from the F3 course was: never shift gears, especially when you are at redline, in a curve. That, I believe, was your mistake. You are very lucky, friend! We don't want to see your car on www.wreckedexotics.com !!! | ||
| Robert Callahan (Rcallahan)
New member Username: Rcallahan Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2002 |
I have had my '99 F355 for about a month. I love it. In California there are many twisty roads to have fun on and I try to drive the car whenever I can. A couple of days ago I took a friend for a ride on a road that goes under 2 overpasses (for sound effects!) then continues up a sweeping 90 degree turn. I took the car to around 8,000 rpm in first then (right at the apex of the turn) shifted into second. What happened next surprised me. The back end came unglued and the car ended up sideways in the oncoming lane (thankfully there was no oncoming traffic), I was able to correct the cars path back into the right hand lane but it scared me. About 15 years ago while living in France I took a Formula 3 driving course. Crazy fast cars. One thing I learned was NEVER step on the gas when the front wheels are not straight. Since then I guess I have sort of forgotten those lessons and now I have a new found repect for F cars and their power to weight ratio. I was lucky I did not hit anyone or cause any damage to the car I will be more carefull. Has anybody out there had a simalar street experience? Bob |