Quote:
Originally Posted by ddeflyer
For me anyway, I have to disagree; I can usually feel the aides coming on when I mess up. My first two days on track I think they saved me because I got myself in trouble without even knowing I was in trouble. At the beginner level your realization of issues can come well after things can be saved.
I can only imagine what would have happened without traction control when, on my second day of my first track event, I touched the brakes at the top of turn one at Laguna Seca (basically a panic reflex at seeing the normal line without lifting through the straight (also in my car (civic si) before the BRZ)). That moment when the car got squirrely I knew I was just along for the ride. The traction control got the car stabilized and nothing bad happened but I learned a very major lesson about weight transfer at speed which could have been a very, very expensive lesson without it. going sideways at 95 MPH would not have been fun. Also, I didn't even realize that the track had those dynamics until I saw it at that speed.
By all means turn off the traction control once the tunnel vision is gone and you've experienced a few hiccups (and be aware that the amazingly well put together car saved your freshman ass), but don't add more distractions to an already hostile alien environment. I've seen the looks of a driver after they mangled the side of their car on a tire wall in the beginner group; it is better to take a little longer to learn and not go through that than to rush things and go home with your car merely a reflection of its prior glory.
It is a fantastic thing that we have cars as forgiving as we do in order to learn with.
|
I agree. In a new car or one that hasn't been tracked I've noticed doing a session or two with the aides on made me appreciate turning them off after. That being said, once I figure the car out I can't stand to do a track day with them on.