SalahK
10-03-2002, 03:19 PM
This is how I tackled MOWOG 6. It would be good to hear what everyone else used in terms of technique.
It took me quite a few runs to figure out how to get my car through the course effectively. The obvious obstacle was to successfully nogociate back to back low-speed u-turns. Of the two approaches I used throughout the day, one is conventional and the other is straight out of a rally manual.
These two techniques when used in combination seemed to produce the best results.
1. Trail Braking / High Entry Speed / Late throttle
My entry for most corners was characterised by late braking and very sharp turn-in while still lightly on the brakes (being smooth dosen't help when the speeds are this low). This method got the car rotated fairly quickly. I didn't accelerate until the car had rotated at least 50% (90 degrees) of the 180% turn. For those without a limited slip differential, you may have had to wait till you're about 70% through the turn.
2. Handbrake
I have used this method in the past with good success. The Rally drivers use it all the time when going around a 180 degree turn on Tarmac surface events. The only time the handbrake can be used effectively is if the entry speed is fairly high (because you must have enough speed to allow a proper braking zone) and the grip level is low. Of course your handbrake has to be strong as well. In my case the only turn I was able to execute the Handbrake turn correctly was the very first left-hander after the start line. My car's handbrake is weak and therefore requires ideal a high entry speed in order to work. If it had been stronger, I could have used it effectively in two other places, the right hander after the main slalom and the left hander following the single slalom.
At first I did not like the course at all, however because I LEARNED something from it, I am glad I ran it.
It took me quite a few runs to figure out how to get my car through the course effectively. The obvious obstacle was to successfully nogociate back to back low-speed u-turns. Of the two approaches I used throughout the day, one is conventional and the other is straight out of a rally manual.
These two techniques when used in combination seemed to produce the best results.
1. Trail Braking / High Entry Speed / Late throttle
My entry for most corners was characterised by late braking and very sharp turn-in while still lightly on the brakes (being smooth dosen't help when the speeds are this low). This method got the car rotated fairly quickly. I didn't accelerate until the car had rotated at least 50% (90 degrees) of the 180% turn. For those without a limited slip differential, you may have had to wait till you're about 70% through the turn.
2. Handbrake
I have used this method in the past with good success. The Rally drivers use it all the time when going around a 180 degree turn on Tarmac surface events. The only time the handbrake can be used effectively is if the entry speed is fairly high (because you must have enough speed to allow a proper braking zone) and the grip level is low. Of course your handbrake has to be strong as well. In my case the only turn I was able to execute the Handbrake turn correctly was the very first left-hander after the start line. My car's handbrake is weak and therefore requires ideal a high entry speed in order to work. If it had been stronger, I could have used it effectively in two other places, the right hander after the main slalom and the left hander following the single slalom.
At first I did not like the course at all, however because I LEARNED something from it, I am glad I ran it.