| Author | Message | ||
| Brian Kennedy (Kennedy)
Member Username: Kennedy Post Number: 303 Registered: 3-2002 |
Yes... insurance is often a key issue... One possibility... get involved with your local FCA chapter... volunteer to be the autox events coordinator... and start holding events under FCA sanction, so you can get their insurance. Then, as coordinator, you can design the events as you see fit... like, limit of 20 cars so each gets tons of runs... a skid pad setup so that you can really work the slip angles in your car safely... and a good autox course so that you can learn to look ahead and handle different maneuvers. When I have the time, I intend to do just that... unfortunately, with kids, I'm still a while away. Just a thought. | ||
| Scott A. B. Collins (Scott)
Junior Member Username: Scott Post Number: 133 Registered: 6-2001 |
Driving the Lotus would be way cool. Nevertheless, it doesn't get me to the point of knowing how my car drives. I don't think that there are many airfields in "disuse" up in these parts (except for the old bomber base at Bremerton, which is a bit far away). Lee, you hit the nail on the head. I've tracked my Modena, and am comfortable (if slow) there. It is during "spirited" driving on public roads that I worry about some X factor screwing up my line, my contact patch, etc. and I want to be ready. Plus, nuthin' puts a smile on your face like a little lurid power oversteer... and I can put on several new sets of Michelins for the cost of another car (which would include the needed new house for more garage space, and the divorce lawyer). | ||
| Don Norton (Litig8r)
Junior Member Username: Litig8r Post Number: 135 Registered: 6-2001 |
Ooooh, Ken, my 914 is going to have to kick your Europa's ass for that!  Seriously though your Lotus is the coolest. | ||
| Lee Pierce (Leepierce)
Junior Member Username: Leepierce Post Number: 83 Registered: 1-2003 |
Scott: I thought your original post was great. This is something I've been wanting to do as well, but in my 308. Sure, you can toss it hard into a corner up here in the Smoky Mountains, but what happens if you DO lose it? If you don't kill someone else you could at the very least lose your car to those unforgiving tree trunks. So, I don't do it. I drive it hard and fast at times but WELL below it's limits as I don't really know where they are. I'd like to. | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 176 Registered: 4-2003 |
Or yet another idea. My neighbors son has a 1978 Trans Am that he just rebuilt. Maybe he could take his car, and I will take make my F-Car and we can build a "Bleach Box". We can take turns until the cops show up! | ||
| Mark Collins (Markcollins)
Junior Member Username: Markcollins Post Number: 200 Registered: 7-2002 |
Scott in the UK we use disused airfields to run driver 'academy' days where you learn all manor of driving skills inc lift off oversteer, cadence braking, emergency stops etc etc ideal days to find the limit, go beyond it to see what happens and then learn ot deal with it | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 860 Registered: 10-2001 |
A Modena is not exactly an entry level sportscar. You'll never get close to its limits without working up to it and the power of a 360 may be daunting for someone with no experience. Getting a lower powered mid engine car to thrash around in isn't a bad idea. I'll swap my Europa for your Modena for a month. It's as tossable as a go cart, is VERY forgiving when you reach it's cornering limits and has those limits so high that you really have to work up to it. (I think a 914 or X19 etc. would not be a challenge for very long as they lack power and handling.) Then when you return to the Modena you'll be a lot more confident at speed. | ||
| Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
Member Username: Craigfl Post Number: 586 Registered: 1-2001 |
I doubt if anyone will let you rent/use their parking lot because of legal issues. SCCA SOLO events would likely have $1MM+ insurance and waivers would be required to hold the owner harmless, things which you couldn't provide easily. When I was young, I went to many events like that. It's too bad the lawyers won't let us have fun anymore... | ||
| Scott A. B. Collins (Scott)
Junior Member Username: Scott Post Number: 132 Registered: 6-2001 |
My company has 24 parking stalls--can't even do a decent donut in it. Just got rid of an M3 that I did do all of the fun stuff in (driving stuff, that is)--but it will be different in my Modena, and I'd like to experience it. Besides, a 914 would rust away in seconds here in the sunny pacific northwest. | ||
| Tony Fuisz (Fuiszt)
Junior Member Username: Fuiszt Post Number: 86 Registered: 10-2002 |
Lots of tracks don't have tons of run-off room either, making one mistake costly. Last time I went to a FATT day at the track in WV, one guy in a S2000 went off the track and wound up with a wheel-less car perched on tree trunks. Don't most Modena owners have access to a company parking lot? I bet to get your Modena loose on the street your going to have to be tripling the speed limit and doing something stupid. You could pick up a 914 on ebay and thrash that-hard to get power oversteer with one, but it will come out at low speed on a wet road | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Junior Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 192 Registered: 2-2003 |
Go back to where you bought the car, hand them your keys, you don't deserve it..... (totally kidding) read responses to the original thread! No hard feeling to anyone,,,,,,great advice from some, not from others! | ||
| Scott A. B. Collins (Scott)
Junior Member Username: Scott Post Number: 131 Registered: 6-2001 |
Does anyone have any thoughts on renting or borrowing big parking lots for driving practice? I know the SCCA and local car clubs do it for their autocrosses, but what about an individual? This is a continuation of the Getting Sideways thread below, and this is my issue. I have taken my cars to track day driving schools. I have taken my cars to autocrosses. At the track, the last thing on my mind is pushing my car so hard that I lose control. Both of the above events don't necessarily allow run after run. I've also done driving schools with skid cars, but in this case you are not having the experience in your own car. I would like to take my F-car and Maser out and explore what happens "IF" I should lose control, and what it feels like when I am at the edge. I'd like to do this somewhere safe (no public roads) and somewhere without the hassle of police conversations. I understand that, for example, power oversteer is a fun way to go around a corner, but not necessarily the safest or fastest. I understand that jumping on the brakes in the middle of a corner in a mid-engine car is not good for your heart. But things (balls, kids, animals, gravel, ice) happen in the real world, and I'd like more confidence with catching (or trying to catch) the rear end as it is coming around, for example, in my Modena. And I rather not do it on the track going 80--rather be in a much tighter corner on a parking lot doing 30. And instead of having 4 times to try it (i.e. an autocross) I would like to repeated back to back runs. The Northwest BMW club does a great two day driving school where you get just this kind of experience, but they haven't allowed other marques. I guess I could contact the local car club driving events coordinators-anyone have any other thoughts? |