5. Cornering (1)

[Pauly75ts]

Hi! there, everyone,

 

Cornering before the bend arrives

 

Good cornering means good anticipation. Read the road ahead. Position the car to give the maximum vision through each up-coming corner so you can judge your speed.

 

Cornering performance isn't measured by entry speed but by exit speed - go in too fast and you'll just come out too slow; the car will scrub off speed with understeer and you'll probably find yourself on the wrong line as well.

 

Do all your braking and down-shifting in a straight line before turn-in, otherwise the car will be unsettled and grip and stability both reduced.

 

And don't slow the car on the gears.

 

Rgds

 

Paul Yong

Edited October 28, 2002 by Pauly75ts

[Presea]

Hi Paul....

 

ah...Good Driving techniques...my favourite topic.

Hope you don't mind if I contribute...

 

Cornering 101?

 

....For simple "FAST CORNERS", finding the apex is easy.

As with most constant radius/angled cornering, the apex is the midpoint between where the road starts to turn (the entry) and where it straigtens out (exit point) - See attached diagram

 

So...as Paul has mentioned, the car has to be at the correct "ENTRY SPEED" for the corner before the driver starts to turn the steering wheel, meaning that before the "turn-in point", all braking has to be completed.

 

Note:

Extra-late braking will only delay the point of entry, and slow down the whole process.

And turning the steering wheel is a progressive movement, rather than a sudden flick of the wrist.

 

From the "turn-in point" to the "apex", the driver should be feathering the throttle (hopefully in the appropriate gear for the speed to maximise torque) to maintain the ideal cornering speed.

 

Once at the "apex", the driver can start to accelerate towards the "exit point".

For FWD cars, this is a simple process, as the car is "pulled" towards the exit, and speed is gained progressively, and maximum throttle can be applied all the way.

For RWD cars, it is all a matter of traction and horsepower control (without driver aids, ETC...) Too much too early, and the car may drift or fishtail (which could also be a good thing...some drivers use drift for corners...but only the accomplished can successfully control their maximum cornering speed). So a driver would have to progressively increase the vehicle's speed without losing traction.

 

A majority of Singapore roads contain constant radius bends, and it is relatively easy to spot the entry, apex and exit. Do note that undulations on worn roads can unsettle a car, and the driver may need to compensate occasionally.

 

"Know the road...not just the car"

Edited October 28, 2002 by Presea

[Presea]

Advanced Corners (track racing)

 

This is an Increasing Radius Corner, where the corner opens up more as it progresses.

 

As such, the best racing line often is the one where cornering is done to increase the length of the straight/straighter path that follows.

This normally means that the turn in point is deliberately early (first arrow), so as to increase the acceleration path, and maximise the exit speed (3rd arrow). So by the apex (2nd arrow), the driver can start to accelerate all the way.

 

However, the driver will need to practise a few times to get the corner speed correct, and braking point in check.

 

and the opposite of the above corner....

 

Decreasing Radius Corner

Also known as a tightening corner, the angle of the turn becomes progressively tighter.

 

This makes it hard to see where the apex is, since it can't be seen during the entry. If there is a long straight before the corner, it would make sense to delay the point of entry (and braking) in order to attain the maximum speed.

So instead of maximising the exit speed, the idea is to maximise the speed before entry, so as to make full use of whatever speed gains there are before braking for the turn.

Again, a driver will need to practise to get the timing and entry speed perfect.

 

Note: This method can also be used for taking a corner while overtaking another car.

 

By creating a RIGHT ANGLE TURN having braked later into the turn, a vehicle would be in position to cut across the path of another vehicle (provided they are on different racing lines). This would be known as "taking the outside line".

Please note that the other driver can also brake late (not effecient, but effective in preventing overtaking), and the racing line will be blocked. A driver has to anticipate the others' move, and being behind the car being overtaken, the outside line driver has to be able to compensate for any reactions of the other car.

 

Also, any collision in a corner often leads to spins and both cars often end up off the track (we are not talking about road racing here...but Track Racing. Please do not do any of the above on public roads...it is highly dangerous and possibly illegal)

[Super7]

"....... And don't slow the car on the gears. ..."

 

Hi Paul,

 

any reasons for this????.... i tot lower gears help decelerate yet not locking up wheels etc etc ... care to enlighten abit??..

 

Thanks

 

(now continue reading Presea's thesis...... )

[Presea]

engine braking (I'm assuming that's what using gears to slow down means) is a smooth driving technique, but not efficient braking.

It would take much longer to slow down from 100-60 using engine brake, but only 1s using pedal brake.

 

And using the pedal efficiently will not cause lock/skid, even without ABS.

I can demo for you another day....with and without lock up of wheels.

In fact, without locking up your wheels, a car's deceleration is very great... up to -1G.

Edited October 29, 2002 by Presea

[Super7]

..... my old celica got extra braking device:- there's a hole directly below the brake pedal.... in case of emergency, i put my foot thru it and step on the ground.... instant stopping power and human abs combined.......

 

sorry for the digression........hmmmm , where were we???

 

Edited October 29, 2002 by Super7

[Gadgeter]

whenever I tried cornering.... the stuff in my car starts flying around..

[Darkroad]

Hi DL,

 

I have the same question as Super7 on dropping gears to slow down the vehicle (first mentioned by Paul). I agree, stepping on the brake pedal gives instant relief (only before the turn-in as you have usefully illustrated above, and heat buildup on the brake system notwithstanding) but won't dropping a gear or two (depending on how much speed needs to be relinquished AND replenished) puts one in a good position to step on it again? I mean, right on/after the apex, one should go full throttle and if you are already in 3rd or 2nd, you waste no time to let it rip.

 

I do agree with your (and Paul's) assessment that mid-corner gear changing can cause instability (and that is something we don't want when executing a fast turn). I'm referring to dropping gears just before a high speed entry.

 

Darkroad approaches corners with caution and exits with a blast ...

[Jman888]

>>..... my old celica got extra braking device:- there's a hole directly below the brake pedal.... in case of emergency, i put my foot thru it and step on the ground.... instant stopping power and human abs combined....... welcome home Flinstone, you still have car with you, sure is fun to drive remind me of the Sunday night movie on Channel 5

[French_porn]

is your car like the flintstones one.?

juz joking..

[Super7]

LOL....... flintstones imitate me lor........ bugger, i muz suit them for copyrights infringement.........

[French_porn]

wah,u guy talk about cornering,like watching the movie Initial D.

Very exciting...

My heart is pounding fast when reading it..

[Super7]

more importantly:- did you strap your 'thingy' tightly???.... dun like to have it fly out of the window man

[Gadgeter]

Foo,

 

I used the Non-slip Dash map... But I guess they didn't create the stuff for people like us..

 

should have ask us for user acceptance test before they launch the product..

[Cardinal]

Non slip dash mat... interesting... As they say, a little friction aids pleasure, but this much friction?

 

[Magfocus]

"...this much friction?"

 

Pain!

[Cardinal]

you mean might as well engage in ?

 

Oops

[Magfocus]

But too much friction makes it practically impossible to...