Safe road testing Options

[VaccaRabite]

How do you folks figure out what your cars can do in a safe surrounding?

Now that my car is driving, I'd like to find out how it corners, where it can be pushed, and where it can not. I guess a big parking lot would work, I know I don't want to do this on the open street. And I'd prefer not to learn my car on an auto-X course.

I'm interested in doing things like Drivers Ed and Auto-X, but I want to get an idea of my limits w/o trees, poles, other cars or babies in prams getting in my way - and preferably in an environment where Johnny Law won't ticket me for it either.

in a factory built and balanced car, I figure they have done the basic handling testing. In my car, none of that has been done yet, and I am driving it like a pussy cause I don't know when the back end will come loose or the front end is going to push, or what will happen when the wheels lock under emergency stop conditions, etc.

Zach

[r_towle]

I will jump up on my soap box.

........blah blah blha

Go to the Autox.

Rich

[SirAndy]

Go to the Autox.

I dis-agree ...

I don't think a competitive event is a good place to do the initial car setup.
It's a event. It's fast paced. It's hectic. You'll have your hands full just to keep up with the event.


On the race car, we go to open track days for the final dial in of the car. But even then, we've already done the initial setup before we get there.


A open space where you can set your own pace is the way to go.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) Andy

[r_towle]

Go to the Autox.

I dis-agree ...

I don't think a competitive event is a good place to do the initial car setup.
It's a event. It's fast paced. It's hectic. You'll have your hands full just to keep up with the event.


On the race car, we go to open track days for the final dial in of the car. But even then, we've already done the initial setup before we get there.


A open space where you can set your own pace is the way to go.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) Andy

Maybe I am confused.
I thought he wanted to test the limits of his car in a safe place....no trees, no kids.
If its for initial suspension tuning and setup...certainly an autox is not a great venue for that.

If its for testing the limits of the car...autox is perfect.
I got a call when I was posting....so I made it short.

I have brought all my kids to the autox. Its a great place to learn.
Its a venue (if you forget about the competition) to find out where the line is.
The line that when you cross it...you loose control.

That line is both car and driver dependant.
If you spin at an autox all you hurt is your ego.
Its a fantastic place to learn.

The key Zach.....spin the car.
Spin it two ways.

Head into a sharp corner while braking and feel how the weight shifts forward and your ass end gets super light...then you spin.

Spin it a second way...same corner.
DO NOT BRAKE.
keep pushing that corner with no brakes till the car spins.

Thos two tests will teach you what it feel like right BEFORE it spins.

The fix for both is different, but can be learned.

Rich