[s-cars] RE: Confessions of indiscretions

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

It's a problem, and we are slow to address them at a club level.  The
insurance companies will change that.  I'd also point out (TB hat on here) that "at
the limit" in a torsen center car is an oxymoron to me.  After 6 years, I can't
get agreement that under specific conditions MID TURN, a torsen can shift 56%
of engine torque from the front to rear axle.  By definition of the device,
it can.

So, as we add HP, we increase the likelyhood that we will approach the hi
HP/cf ratio where this shift is known to occur at a higher frequency.  I'm still
struggling to figure out a teaching method for this occurance, and very few
are qualified to teach it, because even audisport didn't use it, EVER in the
same street car TBR.

Let's not forget Elijah, that the legends of audi:  Stig, Buffum, Stuck,
Rohrl, Biela  were racing with less HP than 425 (all save S1PP and IMSA GTO) with
factory backing and "other" center differentials (optimized chassis and
drivetrain), and a full cage.  That concerns me.  I'm an advocate of instructors
being in control, but as our club grows, the qualified instructor base really
hasn't.  The instructor ISN'T at fault if a student screws up, he's only at fault
if he's behind the wheel.  I had a perfectly clean record with students for 6
years, then some hihp A4 guy with big brakes and motor, put me 600ft off turn
11 at Blackhawk.  So quickly with all this power, that the line between
seeing the problem and mowing trees was too quick for a well seasoned instructor.

My survival instincts tell me that clubs are too slow to address the problem
on a club level.  I KNOW it will be immediate on the first insurance loss.
Until that time, pardon my indescretions and opinions on my concerns.  I'm just
a guy that's seen a lot in the quattro motorsports arena in the last 10 years,
and is becoming a more seasoned mortal because of these experiences.  And my
experience as a tweekster watching the Big Brake Rear "breakthru" doesn't make
me feel more comfortable.

Scott Justusson
In a message dated 10/23/2003 8:02:29 AM Central Daylight Time, Elijahallen92
writes:
Hi,
I think we got a little off the point here. We were talking about ACNA events
(driving Schools). We don't teach the perfect line in a driving school. We
teach you to find limits of your car no matter what your driving. The instructor
is at fault if you screw up so if you happen to be driving a 400hp s-car and
your instructor can tell your skills aren't up to it then maybe he should give
you some earlier braking points, some straight away speed limits, and just
some good advice on slow in fast out cornering. I know there are so many
opinions on what is a good track car but this should not have to do with whether or
not should attend driving schools in a scar. Who cares about the clock. You
shouldn't. If you do you should go to a racing school not a fun relaxed driving
school. Cars are going to keep getting faster and faster and if the club
instructors can't control there students then yes they have a problem and I'm sure
there will be new rules to keep people under control. Look at these old s4's.
There are a few out there with 400+ HP. This is after 10+ years of tuning. Now
look at the new S-4 2000 to 2001. At gingerman this year there we're five with
420hp kits on them. Have you noticed how many of these are at track events
these days and there making that kind of HP after a couple years. Imagine what
they will be like in 5 or 10 years. Power is here in big cars and will continue
to grow so clubs will have to deal with that but I doubt it will ever come to
having to drive a small underpowered car to be considered track worthy at a
Driving School..

Elijah