Took the S2000 to the strip.

[Mike]

My car's braking balance is in a way that I can brake while giving a little steering input along with brake modulation and have the car swing the back end just a teeny bit out while applying throttle so that I have just not pushed into the corner and have a straighter path out of the corner to get more exit speed.

all cars do that assuming your brakes are working properly... it's physics

[G.Irish]

Oh and btw, you should be using a different line between fwd, rwd, and awd cars....also braking may be different between cars. My car's braking balance is in a way that I can brake while giving a little steering input along with brake modulation and have the car swing the back end just a teeny bit out while applying throttle so that I have just not pushed into the corner and have a straighter path out of the corner to get more exit speed.

Again, what you're talking about applies to all cars, its just that how where and when you apply brakes, steering input, and throttle is different. When you learn the underlying principal well, you can adjust accordingly to what you're driving.

So with an Integra you can trail brake more aggressively than say, a MR2.

My point is that one must master the principle. When you've got the principle down you can apply it to whatever you drive. An oft overlooked skill of any really good driver is adaptability. The fast guys can jump in any type of car on any track and get up to speed quickly. That's because they understand and know how to apply the principle.

The reason we are saying something RWD (or even FWD) might be better is that AWD can cover up mistakes that prevent you from learning the principle properly.

[.RJ]

At the limit, rwd, fwd, and awd handle completely different.

Not completely different. The way you acheive the goal may require a slightly different approach, but they in no way handle completely different. All of the same 'traction circle' principles apply - how you drive the car and how the car is setup is going to change the approach more than which wheels are being driven.

As G said, mastering the principles of High Performance driving on a racetrack can be applied to any car. Once you've got a solid foundation with a low hp momentum car, then you will be very quick in anything. The converse is not true - if you are moving quickly in a high hp AWD car and then move to a spec miata you are going to get absolutely SMOKED the first few times you drive it.

[Evan]

The handling characteristsics are COMPLETELY different than his car.

nope. not at all.
All cars with 4 wheels behave very similarly on track. There are some small differences, mainly depending on the weight distribution of the car, but in the larger picture of driving a car fast on a track they all handle very similarly.
All that talk of "fwd line" and "rwd line" etc is bullshit.

[.RJ]

All that talk of "fwd line" and "rwd line" etc is bullshit.

Yep. Turn in early, floor it and hang on.

[ScottyB]

All that talk of "fwd line" and "rwd line" etc is bullshit.

Yep. Turn in early, floor it and hang on.

unless you own an understeering pig like me

[WRXtranceformed]

Looks like I missed a lot while I was gone at work!

The aesthetics don't do it for me

according to many, you drive one of the ugliest cars on the road. a moot point, as beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Exactly, and I 100% have no problem with other people thinking it. This doesn't make it a moot point as to why I wouldn't want to own one of those cars, that's what my personal preference is. Maybe I'm vain (which is more than most people are willing to admit) and enjoy my car so much that it's jaded me from others. I have no problem with not wanting to drive another car because I like mine more. Judge me if you want on that, but guaranteed many people who really really love their cars feel exactly the same way. Visit a mustang forum for fucks sake! ^_^

Having a 2.5RS would be pretty cool as a track car! Sucks they hold their value pretty well and are still generally fairly pricey, especially the GC8 models.

I'd love to roll out to the track with you and drive in your Miata Evan, that sounds dope ^_^ In fact, I may take you up on that soon.

i never said driving a fast car means you cannot be a fast or good driver, but when you spend that $300 on a new blow-off valve that net you a 5hp increase and then wanting to, but not being able to attend a track event cause you don't have the money... well... it's now an image thing.

I don't know if you directed this directly at me, so I'm not going to take it personally. FWIW, every penny I've put performance wise into my car has been in support of another mod I've done to it, including the ricer-riffic blow off valve. The stock bypass valve won't hold the amount of boost I'm running with this turbo, and I paid under dealer cost for it so I couldn't resist

To be perfectly honest, I'm making more money right now than I know what to do with, and my expenses are basically 0. Faced with the daunting task of saving up for a down payment on a home in this area, I'm trying my best, but it's still going to take me a while to get like 50 grand banked. I enjoy making improvements to my car, and I really, really enjoy my car. I have the cash for plenty of track days, but alas, with an increase in money comes a decrease in the amount of spare time I have. This is compounded by the fact that my girl is back down in school, and we're spending most of our weekends together. Every other weekend she'll be coming up to visit hopefully, so I'm sure I can convince her to come out with me for a track day. It's just going to take some good scheduling and a month or two of planning heh.

Now that I've just finished a novel, I'm looking back and realizing that I could probably get kind of pissed at some of the naive, rude, and erhrm (elitist) remarks that some of you guys made, but that's silly. I know you guys all love motorsports and are opinionated in the ways in which you enjoy it, and you want me to become involved with that passion in the same way you see it. Thanks to the guys who stuck up for me and somewhat understand where I'm coming from, even though you may not 100% share my sentiments. Some of us have very different mentalities on some things, which is fine with me, and anyone who's judging me as arrogant or egotistical... well, you're partially right =p But you really don't know me, or haven't sat down in real life and chilled out with me and talked about stuff like this. So you won't understand until you do. Does that make sense? Or do I just sound like an ass?

[WRXtranceformed]

Btw, I think we need bouncing SUBARU girl to lighten the mood =)







BOING! 8)

[BLINGMW]

this discussion is far to level headed. :wink:

:finger: :finger: come on! Fight FIGHT!

hey, you obviously don't have to justify yourself to us. Do your thing. If you make it to the track, great. :thumbup:



*edit for above post* That's more like it!

[.RJ]

Does that make sense? Or do I just sound like an ass?

It makes plenty of sense

The thing is, many of us have "been there done that" and we try to share our knowledge with others so that they can avoid the same mistakes. If i knew then what I knew now (or maybe I just didnt want to listen?) I would have done things much differently. But I didnt, and I have no regrets, had a lot of fun, crashed a car and I'm pretty happy with the direction my driving is going

[Mike]

ryan, but you need to realize everyone doesn't have the same goals as say you or i.

[.RJ]

ryan, but you need to realize everyone doesn't have the same goals as say you or i.

Wrong. Everyone should aspire to blow all of their money to be an amateur club racer!

:lol:

[Mike]

i'm just glad i haven't spent nearly as much as you and still GO TWICE AS FAST!

[.RJ]

My leeeegggggg!