What happened here?

[satyajitmenon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noxiqnNxiew#t=4m10s

Trying to turn while braking?

 

[disappoint]

He wasn't turning that fast. Might have been braking fast. Maybe because he was going over the crest of a hill. Ever go over the crest of a hill fast and feel like you're floating? Tires let go traction for just a split second there as he was going too fast. Braking at the same time compounds the problem. This is what happens when a car does not have enough downforce to keep it planted.

 

[96Firebird]

Word, a car that light can't afford to lose any weight to the tires going that fast. Looks like the tires broke loose at the crest.

Edit - After watching again, it looks like he was braking as well.

 

[satyajitmenon]

He wasn't turning that fast. Might have been braking fast. Maybe because he was going over the crest of a hill. Ever go over the crest of a hill fast and feel like you're floating? Tires let go traction for just a split second there as he was going too fast. Braking at the same time compounds the problem. This is what happens when a car does not have enough downforce to keep it planted.

Ah. Good point. So started braking too early? Should've waited till he passed the crest and then started braking?

 

[Demo24]

Looks cold too, tires may not have been warmed up yet. Couple that with the hill, braking, and you have a spin.

 

[jlee]

I haven't driven VIR..maybe black2na can chime in. It looks like he lost it as he went over the crest - suspension unloads, grip disappears, and off you go.

 

[Black2na]

i just got back from a Chump 24hour race last weekend at VIR. that part of the track he came up and the car got light over a crest he was engine braking which may have locked the rear wheels and thusly a spin. that hill is much more severe then it looks on flim. but fun as hell at speed! but patriot course reversed certainly had me shaking my head were he was on track!

 

[Black2na]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1E2V6v2tVQ&feature=related gives you a much better sense for the incline of the hill and oddly enough same issue!

 

[JCH13]

Three things that have been mentioned:

hill crest will unload the suspension as he goes over it

braking will transfer weight forward

slight turn requires a bit more grip

Any two and he probably would have been okay. All three, and the super low-weight and low-interia mid-engine platform will bend you over. My nick-name on my race team "spin kid" I know first hand how fast those kinds of cars (mid engine) will let go, especially if you're under braking or even let off the throttle.

I don't think the tires were cold, check out how much shit is stuck to them as he drives away, and still sticks as he continues to drive.

 

[exdeath]

Racing happened.

 

[Black2na]

Racing happened.

if you race lemons with us ever dont use that excuse to the judges youll be in a dog crate on the roof faster then you can blink there are reasons for every racing faupax most of them just come down to the driver runnning out of talent and driving WAYYYY past there ablity. double edge sword cant get better unless you push it. so moments like that are bound to happen

 

[Phanuel]

Black2na, you're not making any sense!

"Don't push it, but push it, but don't push it!"

 

[JCH13]

Black2na, you're not making any sense!

"Don't push it, but push it, but don't push it!"

It's the bane of Lemons drivers... how to find, and ride, the limit of a car without ever exceeding it...

I suck at that part of racing

 

[Phanuel]

It's the bane of Lemons drivers... how to find, and ride, the limit of a car without ever exceeding it...

I suck at that part of racing

"So if you've had a problem..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrKPPdTuk8I&feature=player_detailpage#t=54s

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's the bane of Lemons drivers... how to find, and ride, the limit of a car without ever exceeding it...

I suck at that part of racing

I tend to over drive the car. I usually have my best laps early in the session and then I get worse unless I really concentrate and try to not over drive the car. Being smooth is difficult. The fastest guys are very smooth.

Of course, I've only done this in electric karts capable of 40mph top speeds. Still, they have a ton of grip, great brakes and are very visceral to drive.

 

[disappoint]

WTH are Lemons drivers? Do you mean Le Mans or lemons as in POS vehicles?

 

[JCH13]

WTH are Lemons drivers? Do you mean Le Mans or lemons as in POS vehicles?

http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/

The super-constraining rule is that you get a black flag and maybe extra penalty time for vehicle contact, two wheels in the dirt, spinning, etc. So any time you exceed the vehicles limits or driver's skill your team loses time/laps/places. It is a good rule in that it keeps insane/overly-aggressive drivers off the track, but leaves little margin for relatively inexperienced drivers like me to explore the limits of a new car.

 

[disappoint]

http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/

The super-constraining rule is that you get a black flag and maybe extra penalty time for vehicle contact, two wheels in the dirt, spinning, etc. So any time you exceed the vehicles limits or driver's skill your team loses time/laps/places. It is a good rule in that it keeps insane/overly-aggressive drivers off the track, but leaves little margin for relatively inexperienced drivers like me to explore the limits of a new car.

Oh cool, thanks. I'd never heard of that before. That's a neat concept for people to get into racing I guess.