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What do you guys do when your High Powered rotary begins to drift sideways? .

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Old 06-05-15, 08:41 PM
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What do you guys do when your High Powered rotary begins to drift sideways? .

I am sure it scares the sh*t out of most of you when you are at the top of 2nd & into 3rd third when the rear kiks sideways due to traction loss. How do yo guys deal with it? Do you back off, or try to steer/drive out of the slide. I have been running 500+rwhp for a few years and am still am trying to master it. In 2nd gear, my car has zero traction from 5500rpm up, on 255/35-18 tires. For the most part, i have come very long way. I am able to control it right through 2nd (most of the time) by steering counteractively. The tires are now slipping in third probably due to low threads and is begining to give a sideward drift during straight line pulls.

I read somewhere on here that giving more throttle helps, but this absolutely does not work for me since I am already at 100% throttle most of the time when this happens.
What techniques do you use when the the *** goes sideways during straightline pulls?
Old 06-05-15, 09:42 PM
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Steer into it with smooth control inputs.

Then regulate power to maintain traction for optimum acceleration. (Traction control, boost ramp rates, skinny pedal adjustments, etc.)
Old 06-05-15, 10:17 PM
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If you hit the brakes, you're unweighting the rear end and taking more traction away from the rear wheels.
The rule of thumb is like Monkman said. Steer into the slide without over-correcting, stay on the throttle, and be smoooth like buttah
Old 06-06-15, 06:27 AM
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This is not just a "high powered rotary" problem, this is just an RWD driving technique issue.

With any loss of traction resulting in an unplanned direction change you counter steer and reduce throttle gently by a small amount if necessary(not usually required) until the car hooks up/straightens up.

Don't jump off the throttle, this unloads the rear and can exacerbate traction loss. Worse is if you jump off the throttle and the car is pointing in the wrong direction, the tyres hook up and you start heading off the road/into a barrier.

Don't brake, this also unloads the rear and exacerbates traction loss.

You need to learn not to go "OH SH*T" and freeze up when the car does something you don't expect, remain calm and in control and respond to what the car is telling you.

No other car I've driven hard is as communicative and controllable than the FD.

If you're concerned, get yourself and the car out on a skidpan and practice initiating and controlling a drift.

Last edited by Marf; 06-06-15 at 06:31 AM.
Old 06-06-15, 07:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Natey
If you hit the brakes, you're unweighting the rear end and taking more traction away from the rear wheels.
The rule of thumb is like Monkman said. Steer into the slide without over-correcting, stay on the throttle, and be smoooth like buttah
Agreed, most definitely don't hit the brake. Sometimes I think backing off the throttle is necessary.
Old 06-06-15, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by jetlude
Agreed, most definitely don't hit the brake. Sometimes I think backing off the throttle is necessary.
Yeah - I normally have to modulate the throttle till it straights back out. Hitting the brakes is definitely a no no. Since running drag radials, T2 diff and 2 in 1 diff cradle on the street I have never lost control of the car or gotten sideways ever in any gear. Even at over 600whp.
Old 06-06-15, 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Neutron
Yeah - I normally have to modulate the throttle till it straights back out. Hitting the brakes is definitely a no no. Since running drag radials, T2 diff and 2 in 1 diff cradle on the street I have never lost control of the car or gotten sideways ever in any gear. Even at over 600whp.
I think your drag radials help greatly
Old 06-06-15, 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by jetlude
I think your drag radials help greatly
They definitely do. It was like getting a new car. Combined with boost by gear boost control all gears are 100% usable. All other tires I've tried were 100% worthless.
Old 06-06-15, 10:04 PM
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It's easiest to stay into the throttle and steer into the drift. If you chop the throttle it will catch and throw you the other way.
Old 06-08-15, 12:10 AM
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I upgraded my tires, not 285 R888's and haven't had an issue since.
Old 06-08-15, 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by lOOkatme
It's easiest to stay into the throttle and steer into the drift. If you chop the throttle it will catch and throw you the other way.
I learned this, wait scratch that, I experienced this the hard way (not sure if I completely learned my lesson). My FC is somewhere around 375 rwhp, and while in a mountain cruise with the local rx7club peers, my fc went into boost while going uphill.

I am not sure if I hit the brake, lifted, or both, and damn sure was trying to correct with the steering wheel. All I know is that I was looking at the guardrail for a second, and then the mountain, and then the guard rail, and then the mountain.

I ended being "that guy" that caused an accident

Last edited by KNONFS; 06-08-15 at 09:54 AM.
Old 06-08-15, 12:54 PM
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Happened to me at Buttonwillow, trying to hold off a guy in an EVO VIII (who I later learned was on Hoosiers).
We were going counter clockwise. When I came out of the last turn and onto the straight, I got on it a little too much and the rear end let loose. I stayed on the throttle and over corrected.
Wall, kitty litter, wall kitty litter, wall
By the time I over corrected the third time, I was doing like 80, sideways down the straights. I got scared and let up on the gas. Round and round I went.

I'm glad I stayed on the track.
Old 06-08-15, 01:24 PM
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Another thing to remember is when setting up the car you want to set it up in a way that makes it mor predictable. Slightly stretching the tires onto the wheel is preferred for a more predictable car. it doesn't wiggle on you on corner exits. It also has a progressive breakaway and progressive grab. Softer springs also help with the breakaway characteristics as well. The only problem with slightly stretched tires and softer spring rates is the grip level is insanely high.
Old 06-08-15, 03:09 PM
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Guys, this may sound stupid, but I acually like when the car's rear gets loose. I just want be better at controlling it. A high powered RWD car thats always planted is just plain boring IMO. If I want better traction I could just lower the boost.

I am just expolring everyones techniques on controlling the slide while trying to go straight
Old 06-09-15, 10:52 AM
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Firstly, you need some good R-compound tires. On tiny little 255 / 17 here and hookin

I'm putting down over 550rwhp on this 20b @ 13psi and when I first hit it in 2nd, it burns through 2nd and 3rd, but the spin is unnoticed as far as effect on left/right angle. The car just feels slow (but sounds fast) on the first pull of the drive, hits rev limiter in second, and is jumpy in 3rd. Then once the tires are warm, its a rocket. Luckily it always tracks in a straight line when spinning.

On the street tires, it would always kick rear end to the left and require countersteer. I am also terrified of the left/right kicking at the top of gears, especially 3rd, and any correction is so easy to over-correct at high speed. I've found that letting out of the throttle, but only a TINY bit, like just lift your toe barely when you feel her moving and correct at the same time so that it keep forward momentum
Old 06-09-15, 12:31 PM
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I'm sorry Monsterbox, but that sig is pure ****. I'm gonna have to write you up.
Old 06-09-15, 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Monsterbox
I've found that letting out of the throttle, but only a TINY bit, like just lift your toe barely when you feel her moving and correct at the same time so that it keep forward momentum
This has been my experience as well.
Old 06-10-15, 08:52 AM
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^ Same here
Old 06-10-15, 11:39 AM
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mostly what everyone is saying throttle through it. mine spins 2nd all the way through and sometimes slightly in 3rd and i have R888. if you feel it going too far over you can clutch in. no brake at all just clutch in and up shift it will keep you somewhat straight.
Old 06-10-15, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by smg944
mostly what everyone is saying throttle through it. . if you feel it going too far over you can clutch in. no brake at all just clutch in and up shift it will keep you somewhat straight.
So is guess this is the general consesus. But it seems there comes a point when there is too much slide and there is absolutely no way I can be corrected with throttle.
Old 07-08-15, 08:12 AM
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ease into the throttle, dont just floor it. This will help.

Get a low powered rwd car with a lsd andgo out on a rainy dayand practice driving in a staight line with tire spinning. When you can throw around a stock miata in the wet then try a hi hp car in the dry.

Ensure your suspension componets are in top shape, looseness in pillow ***** and such will cause the the rear to be loose and less predictable
Old 07-08-15, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Natey
I'm sorry Monsterbox, but that sig is pure ****. I'm gonna have to write you up.
haha thanks!
Old 07-08-15, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by smg944
mostly what everyone is saying throttle through it. mine spins 2nd all the way through and sometimes slightly in 3rd and i have R888. if you feel it going too far over you can clutch in. no brake at all just clutch in and up shift it will keep you somewhat straight.
Your high speed acceleration times are so insane! You're faster than those Alpha 1200hp GTR's! How have you not broken the stock trans on that 60-130mph?
Old 07-11-15, 07:56 AM
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I'm on tranny #7 they only last up to 6 months depending on how hard the shifts are and the tires I have on . Those times were on 650whp at 35psi , still has more in it on full power. I also start off in 3rd on the 60-130 pulls. It's the 2-3 shift that gets the trannys
Old 07-11-15, 05:44 PM
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I always thought the standard thing to do was to yell out ......wheeeeee doggy !


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