the performance driving tips thread.

[Metal Angel]

Obviously there is no better way to learn performance driving than to go to a performance driving school and have some track time one on one with an instructor. Unfortunately there is a lot of money involved in attending one of these schools and a lot of us don't have that kind of scratch.

I am starting this thread so that the old and wise and the young and ballsy can come together and offer tips on performance driving. Whether its drifting, drag racing, auto-x or just spirited driving down a canyon road– What do YOU do to push the limits a little harder. It doesn't have to be text book and it doesn't have to be the best kept secret. Most of us are self-taught drivers and there is no telling what simple trick we never heard about on the way.

Those of you who have attended a performance driving school, feel free to chime in and tell us what you learned!

[nismobenzo]

this should become an amazing thread! heck they need a whole website for this exact reason..if there isnt one already..ive been to a few autox events and done some "off-course practice drifting" lol but getting some pointers and such is always helpful for newbsi know practice makes perfect-there just arent alot of legit places around here to practice when events arent going on without getting a ticket

[mrgreeneyes]

BUILDAFASTERCAR.COM

read.

done.

but 99% of NICO are daily's. soooooo no need for "track" driving info on the streets.

[Metal Angel]

this should become an amazing thread! heck they need a whole website for this exact reason..if there isnt one already..ive been to a few autox events and done some "off-course practice drifting" lol but getting some pointers and such is always helpful for newbsi know practice makes perfect-there just arent alot of legit places around here to practice when events arent going on without getting a ticket

They do have websites devoted to this kind of thing... mrgreeneyes posted one of the many websites there are devoted to this...

BUILDAFASTERCAR.COM

read.

done.

but 99% of NICO are daily's. soooooo no need for "track" driving info on the streets.

...unfortunately, these websites are impersonal and generic and are unable to give you feedback – Hense the purpose of this thread.

Ill start with one. I don't drag, I don't autocross, and I am rockin a single cam with an open diff so I only drift when it rains... so my tip is from canyon road twisties (although it probably translates to other driving)

One bad habit I have seen a lot of MT drivers do is cruise down a road with one hand on the wheel and the other on the stick. For most people, their commute to work through traffic is the majority of their driving and resting your hand on the stick is just convenient when you have to shift every 10 seconds. Unfortunately it forms a habit and when you take your sunday drive down a canyon road you naturally do the same thing. I have noticed that I have far greater control with both hands on the wheel... and if I need to shift it just takes a split second longer than when I have my hand resting on the stick already. Two hands on the wheel usually = ten miles an hour faster through the ess turns for me... not to mention a lot more confidence.

The tips you give can be as basic or advanced as you want. Everyone is at a different skill level so chances are you will be helping someone. That is the point of this thread

[Shabbernigdo]

personally ill drive a road a few times lookin for gravel / pot holes etc etc before i decide to haul a** down it.

if it s a road i dont know ill just do the posted speed limit.

[Anime_TuneR]

My Drifting advice:

I drive a '98 Dual Cam KA24DE 240SX with open differential, and I can still drift, in rain or dryland. Real easy really. Upgrading to an LSD would be better of course once I can afford it.

I recommend all those who are interested in drifting for their first time, that has open differential to try this.

1) Find a consealed and huge environment that won't endanger other lives, like a deserted place that with no light poles or curbs. Hit redline in 1st gear, and shift quick and hard into 2nd and steer quickly, then slowly counter steer the other way.

*TIP: Requires right timing to get it right.

*Expect to spin-out your first few attempts, unless you're a natural talent.

2) After you get that down, try to find a cone (or whatever object) and try to drift circles around it and practice your steering.

PRECAUTIONS

-Make sure you have at least a pair of wheels/tires with you, because after your first real drift, you'll find yourself wanting more downtime with it. -Law Enforcement will consider this wreckless driving, DRIFT AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I'm simply stating how you can get started.

Thats how I first started out drifting. Out in Mineral Wells here in Texas.Drifting in the rain is a bit more challenging, but more fun and dangerous.Thought I pass on my experience to others just starting out and curious.


Modified by Anime_TuneR at 12:09 AM 10/23/2009

[Metal Angel]

^Ill have to try this^ I can get some definite oversteer going with my open diff but no deep angle opposite locks– unless its raining.

One trick I have been working on lately is heel-toe rev matching. (Im sure most of you have heard of it) Use this when you are downshifting for a tight corner where you will need to slow down considerably. Put in the clutch and put the ball of your right foot on your brake, twist your ankle so that your heel reaches the gas pedal, lightly press the brake while kicking the gas pedal with your heel, shift the stick to a lower gear, and finally simultaniously and instantaniously release the clutch pedal and the gas pedal. If you do this properly–matching the revs to the wheels perfectly–your car will not jolt. It should feel as smooth as braking in an automatic. The benefit is that as you exit the corner your rpms are way up in your power-band, allowing for maximum acceleration. There is no need to do this during your morning commute, but I do anyway because practice makes perfect. I 100% believe in driving your best at all times... anything less will only create bad habits. (driving your best does not mean speeding)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv020dZXOrY^and whats a driving tip without some anime to go with it? lol^

btwif you think this thread is useless, chances are we think you are useless in this thread gtfo and dont waste our time and yours
Modified by Metal Angel at 12:43 AM 10/23/2009

[Dire91]

A big thing for me is seat position, I hate it when my seat gets moved around. You need to be seated in a position that allows you enough movement to heel toe (I'm 6'4") yet be close enough to have full control over the steering wheel with two hands.Also a mistake I made when I first started parking lot drifting was failing to depress and control the throttle after I initiated the drift.

[Koshin]

My Drifting advice:

I drive a '98 Dual Cam KA24DE 240SX with open differential, and I can still drift, in rain or dryland. Real easy really. Upgrading to an LSD would be better of course once I can afford it.

I recommend all those who are interested in drifting for their first time, that has open differential to try this.

1) Find a consealed and huge environment that won't endanger other lives, like a deserted place that with no light poles or curbs. Hit redline in 1st gear, and shift quick and hard into 2nd and steer quickly, then slowly counter steer the other way.

*TIP: Requires right timing to get it right.

*Expect to spin-out your first few attempts, unless you're a natural talent.

2) After you get that down, try to find a cone (or whatever object) and try to drift circles around it and practice your steering.

PRECAUTIONS

-Make sure you have at least a pair of wheels/tires with you, because after your first real drift, you'll find yourself wanting more downtime with it. -Law Enforcement will consider this wreckless driving, DRIFT AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I'm simply stating how you can get started.

Thats how I first started out drifting. Out in Mineral Wells here in Texas.Drifting in the rain is a bit more challenging, but more fun and dangerous.Thought I pass on my experience to others just starting out and curious.



Modified by Anime_TuneR at 12:09 AM 10/23/2009

lol...drifting with an open diff ftl

[numbnuts240]

this thread is the reason we have motorsports sub-forums. broaden your horizons, folks, nico offers a sub-forum to pretty much cover everything in life.

[Chris28]

this thread is the reason we have motorsports sub-forums. broaden your horizons, folks, nico offers a sub-forum to pretty much cover everything in life.

Amen.

Why are we discussing drifting and not being able to afford track time in the same thread, not to mention same posts? If you can't afford to drift on a track, you sure as hell can't afford to on the street.

That being said, while drifting, let go of the wheel. The car will countersteer for you, all you have to do is grab it at the right time and control it from there.

[HoosierSX]

learned this at a mazda rev it up competition....

when braking prior to apex, imagine there is a rope attached between your braking foot and the side of the steering wheel(left hand turn rightside of steering wheel). when you decide to come off the brakes, match the braking input to steering input while turning into the apex just like as if the rope is attached. this allows for much quicker turn-in.

[S13_love]

Why are we discussing drifting and not being able to afford track time in the same thread, not to mention same posts? If you can't afford to drift on a track, you sure as hell can't afford to on the street.

Well, there are some people here who...oh i don't know, don't have a track near where they live...for example, where i live, the nearest decent track is hundreds of miles away.

[HoosierSX]

Well, there are some people here who...oh i don't know, don't have a track near where they live...for example, where i live, the nearest decent track is hundreds of miles away.

that would suck....

btw, i just google mapped Missoula MT. i bet its gorgeous out there

[S13_love]

that would suck....

btw, i just google mapped Missoula MT. i bet its gorgeous out there

It does suck...

But, yeah it is gorgeous out here without a doubt especially this time of the year.

Anyways, op thanks for making this thread too. Im sure me and quite of few other people will find this to be helpful in some way

[nismobenzo]

glad to hear im not the only one messing around in their daily with open diff hai really only drift at slower speeds to be safer and still practice gettin sideways..no real knowledge of what im doing but just going for it when nothings around..i know it sounds like a fail but ya gota learn somehow! once i get it down ill have to take it to mineral wells and for all these tips about breaking while drifting...well the break and drifting for me usually dont go together ha..just rev it up in first or second and turn a little to whip it out and let it straighten back up..where are the drifting classes camon there could be so much money to be made! lol

[Metal Angel]

learned this at a mazda rev it up competition....

when braking prior to apex, imagine there is a rope attached between your braking foot and the side of the steering wheel(left hand turn rightside of steering wheel). when you decide to come off the brakes, match the braking input to steering input while turning into the apex just like as if the rope is attached. this allows for much quicker turn-in.

I have never heard that before... that's some good stuff. Ill have to try that.

A big thing for me is seat position, I hate it when my seat gets moved around. You need to be seated in a position that allows you enough movement to heel toe (I'm 6'4") yet be close enough to have full control over the steering wheel with two hands.Also a mistake I made when I first started parking lot drifting was failing to depress and control the throttle after I initiated the drift.

I hear ya on this one. When my legs are at the best possible distance from the pedals, the steering wheel is a mile away. When I get a steering wheel and hub combo I am gonna make sure it brings it out a few more inches. (and I am only 6') It seems like cars are made for short people.

glad to hear im not the only one messing around in their daily with open diff hai really only drift at slower speeds to be safer and still practice gettin sideways..no real knowledge of what im doing but just going for it when nothings around..i know it sounds like a fail but ya gota learn somehow!once i get it down ill have to take it to mineral wellsand for all these tips about breaking while drifting...well the break and drifting for me usually dont go together ha..just rev it up in first or second and turn a little to whip it out and let it straighten back up..where are the drifting classes camon there could be so much money to be made! lol

They do actually have drifting classes... but then we run into that whole money thing again. Something you should try is cruising along at about 3k rpms, when you start to turn in, quickly depress the clutch and mash the gas. Wrap it up to about 6k and then dump the clutch. (basically peeling out but while you are already moving instead of from a stop) Your car will get sideways real fast! This is called a clutch kick. Let the wheel slide through your hands just like Chris28 said. Grab the wheel when it gets to the desired spot (nothing but practice will teach you when to grab it) Then control the angle with the throttle. The benefit to clutch kicking as apposed to simply accelerating until your rear wheels lose grip is that with the clutch kick, you control the exact instant that your tires lose traction. Simply accelerating into an over-steer can be extremely unpredictable. The clutch kick is pretty much the staple of any amateur dorifto. The only time you will see many of the other methods being used is in D1 or Formula D. Those guys are at such a high competitive level that they have to utilize all the tricks to get the edge.

[Bumnah]

Easy to learn on the street:

Rev matching for downshiftsHell toe shiftingLeft foot braking

Easy to learn, but not safest on the street:

Late brakingTrail braking

Most people turn in too early for a turn. You'll be amazed at how much later you can turn in, on most turns.

Buy "How to make your car handle".

[Metal Angel]

Easy to learn on the street:

Rev matching for downshiftsHell toe shiftingLeft foot braking

Easy to learn, but not safest on the street:

Late brakingTrail braking

Care to elaborate? I was always under the impression that left foot braking was just to keep fwd cars from understeering. Does it serve a purpose in a rwd car too?

I am assuming that late braking is as self explanatory as it sounds... but what is trail braking?

[240sxDrifter17]

Care to elaborate? I was always under the impression that left foot braking was just to keep fwd cars from understeering. Does it serve a purpose in a rwd car too?

I am assuming that late braking is as self explanatory as it sounds... but what is trail braking?

Well I know some of the pros use left-foot braking as a means to control the distance between their car when following in a tandem. It helps keep your rpms up while slowing the car.

And trail braking is exactly what it sounds like too...As you brake and enter the corner, you continually (but slowly) brake until you reach the apex, then (slowly) accelerate out.

I have a question for all you heel-toe shifters...I just learned how to drive stick about 4 months ago, and I'm pretty confident with it. I want to learn how to heel-toe, and I know all the techniques and such, but how would I practice that? Just do it when stopping at a light?

[Metal Angel]

I have a question for all you heel-toe shifters...I just learned how to drive stick about 4 months ago, and I'm pretty confident with it. I want to learn how to heel-toe, and I know all the techniques and such, but how would I practice that? Just do it when stopping at a light?

I would try it a few times in a parking lot first to get the feel of it. If you do it wrong you can end up getting out of control a little... not like spin out or something but it can be pretty jerky and kinda unsettling.

I do it during stops and through intersection turns. My advice is to exaggerate the heel motion and be subtle with the braking motion. As a beginner you should be doing it long before the intersection so you don't screw up and wreck.

Good luck and have some fun!

[duffman1278]

See the problem is rookie drivers tend not to push the throttle all the way down, as a pose to pro drivers.