Quote:
Originally Posted by roastbeef
thats really cool. were some of the principles the same? did being very smooth help, or was it a total understeer above a certain speed?
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The concept of a countersteer is fairly universal. However, being in a super low grip environment has it's own unique challenges.
-For initial turn-in, you MUST go slow. Going above a certain speed---like 12mph---led to complete and total understeer. No way around it. I experimented going into a turn with more speed. I was punished every single time----just slid and slid and slid before I could get it back. My truck has M+S rated tires. They were ok. The Blizzaks felt better. (We switched vehicles for awhile.)
-The brakes feel like they do nothing when you first get on them. The ABS goes crazy. The vehicle keeps going......barely slows at all. You have to be REALLY disciplined to straighten the front wheels, otherwise the brakes REALLLLLY do nothing.
-On the ice, once you're into some sliding situation, it feels like time slows down. The slide just goes on FOREVERRRRRRRrrrrrr-rr-rr-r---r----------r............r.........r
You have to be patient. Sometimes you slide to the point that the car is simply sliding backwards while you're full on the gas. One of the instructors took his car out and slid too far. The car was going backwards. He didn't give up. He stayed solidly on the gas. All the wheels were spinning like crazy.....the car was still going backwards.....he stayed full on the gas.......ever so slowly, the car stopped going backwards and finally it started creeping forward. This took like 30 seconds to get back going. I'm sure the speedometer showed him doing 50mph. Anyway, if you're not used to that, you usually give up and hit the brakes.....not that they do much..... In the "real world" on a track, a countersteer is usually a quick and subtle movement to keep you going.
-You have to start your turning earlier on the ice. If you wait until the last second, forget it.
-Your initial movements need to be less than on the pavement. On the ice, once a tire is too far from straight, it's effectiveness in braking and turning is severely reduced. I know that sounds obvious, but when you're out there, you are eager to turn the steering wheel.
Of course, being out there in a 19' long truck with a high center of gravity didn't do me any favors in the handling department. I had the largest vehicle out there by far. It was fun sliding it around though!!!
I don't think anyone at the event had studded tires. Those things are magic. They change all the rules.