Drifting / handbrake use with F1 gearbox

I'm going to a track day at Cadwell Park (UK) in May, in my 360 F1, and whilst I'm not there to go drifting, I am there principally to learn more about the car's handling in a controlled setting - including what happens beyond the grip limit. I have done many trackdays before, as well as competitive drifting to a British Championship level - so I do know what I'm doing, but only in a car with a clutch pedal.

Normal handbrake technique would be to put the clutch in simultaneously with the handbrake - obviously I cant do this with a F1 gearbox, so what happens? Does anyone actually know what the gearbox will do if you jam the rear wheels at, say 40/50mph?

Dont say 'explode' lol

Jeff

 

Unless its in neutral, the brake is going to fight the gearbox. Be sure to take a big bucket to collect the bits off the track

 

Just remind me not to buy a car off you!!

 

Check the front boot for the bucket of bits before u buy.

 

I have never spun an F1 car. Let us know what happens. I know a spin is not in the plan but stuff happens.
Spinning without declutching has been the death of many cam drive systems. Many do not like suddenly being reversed. Let us know if the timing belts survive.

 

They took us on the skid pan at the Ferrari track in 458s, no handbrake etc , when it was on the lower settings it was ok, then it went 360 degree with no warning when you went to race or higher settings.

 

I really have no idea what you're getting at. 458 isn't an F1 nor does it have timing belts. Other than that, good example.

 

Also, you're putting a lot of faith in those little calipers and pads....they are doing all they can to keep the car in one place on level ground much less in a drift with power applied. Make sure both of your calipers are actually functioning as well. One of mine had been "stuck" for years before it was finally discovered.

 

Many years ago I saw a video on youtube, of a 360 spyder(I"m guessing gated, as no video of the inside of the car was taken), driven by an Englishman in Los Angles drift in a parking garage for 3-5 min. The video starts with a bunch of car enthusiasts(911,GTR, ???) hanging out at a parking garage. This English guy shows up and starts his drifting. The dudes made comments like "He's going to get us tickets". The other comment made by the English dude was "In Britain, drifting is very popular".By the time he was done he comments the wires on his tires were visible.

 

FWIW I can not imagine a 360 0r 430 handbrake being of any use what so ever when trying to drift. Both my 360 and 430 with handbrake adjusted correctly needed to be fully engaged to just hold the car on an incline. Quote woeful. Drift cars have seriously modified handbrakes to do what they do. I have an early '80's muscle car with a handbrake 10 times better than my Ferrari.

 

FWIW follow the Ferrari manual and make a mess of adjusting the handbrake to be more or less useless.

 

OK, thanks for the comments, most of which were indeed along the lines of gearbox/engine explosion lol

I remember my Nissan S13 standard handbrake was good up to about 50mph, but from 60mph upwards it literally did nothing at all so I upgraded to a hydraulic handbrake. That was way back in the day. The Ferrari handbrake feels ok as far as standard car handbrakes go, but yeah I agree it probably isnt going to lock the wheels is it - especially with the engine pushing the wheels along too.

I think I'll just not bother with it, although I am still curious as to what technically would happen if you did manage to lock the rears up at speed.

 

Assuming you have the traction control turned off (I assume you can do this in a 360), isn’t the best way to induce a slide in the rear to use the “go” pedal?

(This is not a professional recommendation, BTW.)