Auto slalom: constant throttle or rally style lift turn throttle

[Rassilon]

A local m3 pro recommended using rally style lift turn throttle to go through the slalom in a z shape. I wonder if you guys agree or I should just stick with the traditional constant throttle s shape.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by edwardgtxy

A local m3 pro recommended using rally style lift turn throttle to go through the slalom in a z shape. I wonder if you guys agree or I should just stick with the traditional constant throttle s shape.

He's wrong. Yes, you can throttle steer, but it's definitely not a 'z' shape. It's all about the arcs.

You always backside the slalom cones going as fast as physics will allow you to and as close to the cones as possible.

[u2b]www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzr2ffrwoQQ[/u2b] does a great job explaining it w/video and words.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by edwardgtxy

A local m3 pro recommended using rally style lift turn throttle to go through the slalom in a z shape. I wonder if you guys agree or I should just stick with the traditional constant throttle s shape.

Try both and see what works best for you.

Some FYI: at Bondurant last year, we learned to do the "Z" thing you described. Their logic was that it allows the weight to settle and keeps the car more controllable; the "S" thing means the car is always right on the edge.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by dparm

Try both and see what works best for you.

Some FYI: at Bondurant last year, we learned to do the "Z" thing you described. Their logic was that it allows the weight to settle and keeps the car more controllable; the "S" thing means the car is always right on the edge.

Did they suggest it was best for heavier cars? That might make sense. It's a great way to get into a tank slapper though if you're reflexes fail you...

[Rassilon]

I learned lift brake turn through the slalom in dirtfish rally school, it felt really good in their stock frs on gravel. You can actually use the "tank slapper" as the entry to the next cone on gravel. I haven't tried this in autox, but I remember sitting in one of our region's' national champion's corvette and it felt as if he too was pivoting the rear around each cone in the slalom.

[Richbot]

I do rally style j turns in slaloms

The right answer does usually seem to be to backside each cone but use the last two to power through rather than try and dance the car right on the limit just from a confidence and repeatability perspective

[dparm]

Originally Posted by admranger

Did they suggest it was best for heavier cars? That might make sense. It's a great way to get into a tank slapper though if you're reflexes fail you...

They didn't specify, but in general the things they teach are "applicable to most cars and situations". We were driving C7 Corvettes which are lighter than the M3 by a few hundred pounds.

[Rassilon]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I do rally style j turns in slaloms

The right answer does usually seem to be to backside each cone but use the last two to power through rather than try and dance the car right on the limit just from a confidence and repeatability perspective

interesting, do you brake before each cone or just lift abruptly?

[Richbot]

Neither, I pull the ebrake and put my foot out the window

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Neither, I pull the ebrake and put my foot out the window

Balancing weight is important. I like it.

[Richbot]

If you ain't using your knee, elbow and shoulder pads in slaloms you're a chicken. Obviously with a car you have to open the front doors to get enough lean

[z3papa]

I've used both techniques. The absolute key is to not be lazy by passing the easy entry slalom cones without attacking the backside of the first and then accelerate out of the last two. What happens in the middle is up to you but I tend to prefer a constant steady state of throttle.