Better slow in and fast out, than fast in and dead out.

 

to make a long story short, dont do it if you have the slightest fear or concern. one mistake or mechanical failure means your life and car.

 

so ... to start my suspension mods... start on tires and light weight rims? not bushings and anti-sway bars?

 

I'd start with new tires (but if $$$ is an issue & the tires are still going to be good for a while..maybe not), than coilovers, than bars (perhaps maybe the strut bar could be installed before hand cause its ez), but to get the full feel of things tires makes a huge difference. I'm not absolute on the coilovers than bars order, but thats the order I'd do mine in.

 

For canyon roads or auto-x, I'd do tires 1st. RE92s are OE tires for WRX too, and they suck. Bad grip in dry and worse in the wet.

Here's a pic of someone over driving their car. Look closely, thats a Subaru on its roof.

 

I agree, it's dangerous.

But did you know there's a trip to the canyons by car groups almost every weekend? They're safe at it and they rarely have an accident.

In fact, I've driven my car 5 times through palomar mtn(San Diego), and twice through angeles crest(LA). No scratches, nothing. And yes, I was going pretty fast. But I guess i was smart about it. SCC said it right, NEVER cross lanes, cause someone always pops out driving the opposite way.

The guy in the video obviously was way too confident on that turn. I bet it was his first or second time through it, and was going too fast because he was showing off to the camera.

The first time i went through palomar, i went through it below 40 on the turns. Then i gradually went faster and faster. By my fourth time, i felt like i drove through the road every weekend. It's all about practice, and knowing where your car is at, and the level that you are at. OBVIOUSLY it's not initial D- in fact i think having a FF car is much safer on the mtns. DON"T try to drift a tC- I've tried.....doesn't work! HAHAHAHA

On a side note- the tC handles high speed corners with difficulty. But kicks ___ on slower, but much sharper corners. I learned that at Angeles Crest. Angeles Crest is scary- I suggest Palomar because the turns are much slower, but much sharper. Ever felt like you were on the verge of passing out going through a turn? If you do it right, you'll feel that on Palomar. Newbies stay out of Angeles till you learn to gauge turns and NOT brake during a turn!

Bottom line- have fun learning the road and your car and what its' limits are. When you know your car well enough, that's when you will learn to extract it for it's full potential- without falling into a canyon.

check this website out: http://www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm

 

No one should be sliding through a mountain road anywhere... PERIOD

I'll even go so far as saying... those KINDS of cars should not be up there.

Driving through the mountain is a GRIP situation.

If you drive past the speed limit on a canyon road... at least in SoCal... you are asking for tragedy.

Better safe than stupid.

 

I drive very aggressively in the mountains all the time but I almost always stay in my lane and so far seem to stay within my actual abilities, been doing this for decades so must be doing something right.

I do agree, sliding around barely in control is not a safe thing to do, it is not considerate of the safety of others on the road. Of course I have over cooked a few corners in my day, did so last week, my years of experience saved me, autopilot takes over and just do what has to be done. In fact it was not a big deal at all, just made the needed corrections and did not even slow down, just pulled in the reins to a more sensable level for the rest of the ride, what everyone should do.

Somedays I am better than others, found two more new roads(to us) last night, one had to many houses on it so we really cut back on our speed in respect for the people living there. The other got it on pretty well but did not feel totally up to my best so backed down to a level I knew I was safe at. Sometimes I can really haul **** and do so safely, other times I need to chill out a bit.

I never do this with others involved, soon egos, adrenaline and natural desire to win can take over and then start doing stupid things, that is how the majority get into trouble, driving way above their skill level.

I agree with your first and third statements if open to the public and especially if traffic is expected.

Number two is fine, it is not the car anyway, it is the driver, maybe he should not be up there;)

Number four I do not agree with at all, I think it fine if you have some common sense and respect for others and some practiced skill levels at your disposal

Rick

 

#4 is the more important statement. Stay within the legal limits in the canyons. We'll wait on the tow truck for you.

 

I suppose my time may come, I probaby have driven 750k miles in my time and at least 10% of that hauling ****, have not been in a ditch or an accident that had anything to do with my fault in 30+ years

I guess some of us learn our limits and stay within them, some are obviously higher than others have attained;)

Rick

 

knowing your and your car's limits is not an excuse to drive faster than the speed limit in a canyon

 

It isn't an excuse, never meant it to be, it is a fact, I do it because I love it and because I am good at it and never once hurt anybody or anything.

My cars are always setup to handle far more than I ever take them to on the road, I save that for autocrosses, etc.

When I come upon a slower car, when the there are houses near the road, if I see a bicyclist, walkers, joggers, somebodies dog or cat, etc, etc, etc... I slow down and drive respectufully when near them, they derserve it.

I also drive at least 4 times better when pushing it a bit, far more focused on everything around me.

Just because the law states a speed limit does not even make it right in my book, the vast majority of the laws we have to suffer through are unconstitutional anyway.

By the way, I have a perfect driving record, the best insurance company there is and huge deductions for my "safe driving" record.

I only really go all out on a closed course events as well, never 10/10ths on public roads, just not safe.

Rick

 

The new issue of sport compact car with the cusco subura has a little article called The Seven Rules of Mt. Akina, I suggest that you or anybody interested in mountain passing read it over and over and make it your bible. The things he say are so true. Also, I'd like to comment that along with driving technique, proper setup, and whatever else you'd like to add...famliarity is also a very VERY IMO important factor. Learn the pass, take the time to digest its curves, learn the proper entry and exit speeds etc. etc. whether it takes a few passes, a few months, even a few years...always learn the road. If you don't you're signing youself up for an accident. I'd also like to say that you don't necessarily need to run on coilovers, although superior, it's not THE way. I run on Koni adjustable shocks and I run just as good as the next guy in coilovers if not sometimes better! Alot of shop cars in Japan use adjustable shocks...Yashio Factory's s15 runs on adjustable shocks with a spring rate of 7kg front 8kg rear, and if you've seen Hot Versions JDM Racers, then you know that thing can togue...just my two cents. I highly suggest reading The Seven Rules of Mt. Akina, oh, and learn heel-toe downshifting, and don't be afraid to yank the e-brake quickly to adjust for understeer....if it wasnt for that I wouldnt be typing this today

 

Great advice! I actually love the challenge of going fairly quickly on a road I have never been on, did it for 60 miles a couple of weeks ago and only had one problem corner. A big dip in a shadow caught me out just a bit, had a bit of neutral slide going on for a moment but a slight lift the dip into the trottle pulled right back under control. That is not normally what I would think the correct thing to do but it was purely instinctual and it worked. The road was clear as I could see the next two bends so was pushing a bit harder than I would of on a blind corner.

When on unknown roads try to always take each corner as it comes, if I cannot judge safely what is coming up just out of sight I slow down, period. Sometimes it can be very interesting what can be found around the hidden bend in the road

We have several roads within miles of us that are so tight and twisty that I am going to have to build an ebrake release button lockout becuase it is far to easy to not hit the button and release when you should, that is not fun;)

These bends are so tight I have to look out the side window as if I where in a big slide on gravel, I learned along time ago to not drive the road right in front of you, to late, you must drive the road you are about to come to next and let your training and body deal with your exact location on autopilot because they are faster than your mind.

But, for going as fast as you can on every single corner I completely agree, learn the road, every single bend by heart, that is the only way you will do your best and be the safest while doing so.

When I started doing this the term coilover was never even discussed as an option on a street car, we were lucky to even buy springs and decent shocks. I ran on Mulholland cartridges in custom shortened stock struts and with cut down straight wound coil springs from heavier cars as the available aftermarket springs were far to stiff for the street.
I used a Mulholland FSB, build my own STB, and build all the rest of the ajustable suspension parts for my 510 Datsun I lowered in 1972

Rick
Rick

Rick

 

Sure it is... .. a fact That statement ^ there is a ____poor excuse to justify your wrongdoings. Admit it dude.

So is that your excuse for breaking the law and possibly endangering innocent lives and damaging property?

Wow you have the acute awareness of a ninja. It's just another self validation for your wrongdoings.

That's about as logical as saying "I drive better drunk!"

Oh so now you're Steven Segal of the Touge eh? Laws are placed on the road to protect us from YOU.

Another pointless, self-justification...

Has the music changed???




think about it, it's because of ignorance like this that laws are enforced, insurance is adjusted, people get hurt, property gets damaged, taxes go up, etc.

Follow the rules dude

 

A Quote to live by

"Drive careful, the life you save could be mine"

-James Dean- (Ironicly he said that in a public service anouncement about 3 weeks before a driver that wasn't paying attention cut him off and killed him)

 

Thanks bblhed, that is a powerful quote.

 

Have you ever considered therapy?

 

Therapy? Seems like you're the one in denial, justifying your disregard for safety and property there Mr Segal.

 

U've got major issues TeamMiniCpopers.