<VV> Traction control

[Rick Loving]

Thanks for the nod Bill, but I learned a little each from all you guys
over the years.  Many thanks go out to you Bill, JR, Dom, Rich Carol,
and others that let me ride with them on the ice and gleam their
experience.  Since I'm out here in NC this year I will be missing the
winter fun.

I've driven a different vair or borrowed car almost every year Ice
racing since I started. 

On the snow while on the street the Corvair is almost unstoppable as
many have chimed in with merely the spare and a few other items in the
trunk.  On black ice, glaze ice, or other extremely slick surface
additional weight many be a benefit, just don't over do it.

The only time I have ever been stuck in my vair was while ice racing my
64 coupe.  The lake had been covered by a good snowfall and the course
had to be plowed out.  I was charging a sharp corner with way too much
speed and pushed way off course.  I hit the deep snow so hard that I
pushed a mound up and eventually drove up over it.  The car's belly pan
was sitting on the mound and the rear tires were about an inch off the
ice spinning in the air.

I had to be pulled off of the drift by the AWD water pumper tow car. To
add insult to injury, he bent my bumper yanking me out.

Rick Loving


  

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org] On Behalf Of Bill Elliott
Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2004 6:45 PM
To: Virtualvairs
Subject: Re: <VV> Traction control

You're making me miss the midwest!!

Rick is an awesome ice driver!

Since we're talking traction control, etc...one thing I will tell you is
that a posi is a net negative on the ice. 
While you do get a slightly better  launch and the ability to accelerate
almost as effectively as the 
AWD's, there is no "steady state" in curves. With an open diff you can
lightly feather the brake with e left 
foot and keep constant pressure on the throttle... with a posi you
essentially go around the track 
sideways...even in a "steady state" the rear will walk out.

I never felt I needed more weight up front, but I DID run with my spare
tire and toolbox up there...

On the street, I value a posi for slogging through deep snow... but
that's about it.

Modern traction control is pretty cool, though... you can keep your foot
planted and let the car figure out 
how to get the best traction. With a good program, it can outperform a
skilled driver (unlike ABS where a 
skilled driver can usually outperform the system). With a less than
optimal program, it can take away 
your power steering in the middle of a curve....

Bill Elliott

On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 17:26:25 -0500, J R Read_HML wrote:

>Hank...  My ice race technique is ... essentially hang the A//  rear
out and 
>steer with the throttle.  It is a blast - and I can beat Rick even
without 
>extra weight up front.  Ask him about the time he got the most
spectacular 
>spin of the day award.  Came across the finish line in REVERSE.

>It DOES help to have at least a little snow on top of the ice at least
along 
>the edge of the "track".  The Corvairs can hang the rear in the snow to
pick 
>up some extra traction and speed.
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