Driving technique

D

dyee

Experienced Member
Joined
24 June 2003
Messages
424
Location
Redondo Beach, CA
Can anybody with racing/high speed driving experience suggest to me how to round a curve (banked or unbanked) and keep my body under control in the seat? I want to rise and lean in the direction of the turn (the centripetal force) and my ass ends up wanting to come off the seat. Is this natural? Any Bob Bondurant grads wanna chime in on a counter technique so I can stay in the seat? What do I have to train myself to do to break this habit?...... "SLOWING DOWN IS NOT AN OPTION" .... :smile: :biggrin: :wink: Apollo 13.

Danny, Red SR71
 
Last edited:
Get a sports seat and a 5 point harness seat belt.
dyee said:
Can anybody with racing/high speed driving experience suggest to me how round a curve (banked or unbanked) and keep my body under control in the seat? I want to rise and lean in the direction of the turn (the centripetal force) and my ass ends up wanting to come off the seat. Is this natural? Any Bob Bondurant grads wanna chime in on a counter technique so I can stay in the seat? What do I have to train myself to do to break this habit?...... "SLOWING DOWN IS NOT AN OPTION" .... :smile: :biggrin: :wink: Apollo 13.

Danny, Red SR71
Click to expand...
 
Thank you. So you're saying you don't think the stock NSX seat and harness system is enough.

Danny.
 
Danny, the original leather seat had very good comfort in it, but on the track, I also found myself sliding quite uncontrollably, I felt like the seat is too big for someone in like me... (5-7, 150lbs). I went to the bucket seat mode, (recaro Spg) what I found out was very surprising, without the 4 and 5 pt. harness, I found myself's butt sliding towards the front, and (underneath the seat belt) after couple turns!! My problem, I found later, was that I didn't bolt the seat belt throught the harness holes and seems like that's the only way to get it safe for street and track use.

To get back to you before you purchase the racing seat and harness, getting a reclinable bucket would be a good start if you don't mind the little weight penalty (vs getting the full bucket).

People also have good results with CG locks, and knee protection.

I remembered before I had my recaro, and without CG locks, I had the following procedures.

1. Grab the steering wheel real hard get ready to duck when braking....
2. once you turn the wheel, you must lean your knee (and nsx's tunnel/console) is very good for you to rest there to get the upper body control. (Not realizing that until I drove my friend's STi on the track, OMG, I don't know how to drive with that light steering wheel and my body leaning towards my buddy..... :) )
 
I slid around too, even with my ample ass. I fixed the problem by removing the seat cushion and sitting on one of these: http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/ProductDetails.asp?RecId=1059
Not only does the cushion provide grip, but sitting so low in the stock seat gives a ton of hip support, feeling much like a race seat. This setup also provides more headroom to clear a helmet, but could also be too low to some.
 
I think you could try the CG lock on the stock seat and see if you like it. Do a seach on CG lock on google, they will give you full refund if you don't like the product.
I put a CG lock on my car for a while, I have the Recaro SPG as NSXdreamer2, I found it helpful to elimate the sinking problem with bucket seats, the product will defintely help reduce body rolling around the stock seats, but it's uncomfortable for everyday uses.
 
Common problem that gets worse with the increase of your driving skills (and decrease of laptimes) and unacceptable when changing to race slicks and higher g forces. Modifying the stock seat as described above can help together with a 4 or 5 point harness but was uncomfortable in my case. Changed to a real race seat with 4 point harness (much better): Keep in mind that the steering wheel is there for you to control the car and not to keep you in place.

You'll encounter a much better control of the car (and faster laptimes) when your butt is really fixed in the seat and can help you to feel the car's reaction without sliding around on the seat.
 
First you never grab hold of the steering and hold on for dear life. You always should a light grasp of the wheel so you can sense track surface data that is transmitted through the wheel. An iron hold will block the transmission of such data and increase your fatique.

Second forget a four point harness. Consider only a five or six point. The four point will ride ride on your stomach and if you have an impact and four point can do considersable soft tissue damage or abdominal damage.The additional fifth or sixth belt will hold your lap belts firmly across your pelvis or hip bone and should eliminate any chance of STD.

Dali racing sells a seat cushion for the NSX which increases your helmet clearance with the targa top and, as stated in a previous post, will fit on the stock aluminum seat pan. It's a thinner cushion causing you to fit much lower in the stock seat therefor creating a tighter fit between the bolsters.

Consumer Warning:Make sure Dali has these in stock before ordering and purchase either COD or use a major credit card.
 
Peter Mills said:
Second forget a four point harness. Consider only a five or six point. The four point will ride ride on your stomach and if you have an impact and four point can do considersable soft tissue damage or abdominal damage.The additional fifth or sixth belt will hold your lap belts firmly across your pelvis or hip bone and should eliminate any chance of STD.
Click to expand...
Of course Peter's right. I didn't want to express that 4 point harnesses are best - if I have had the knowledge when installing the whole stuff I would surely have gone the 5 (or 6) point way. I will upgrade as soon as I return to the tracks (hopefuly next year).
 
First you never grab hold of the steering and hold on for dear life. You always should a light grasp of the wheel so you can sense track surface data that is transmitted through the wheel. An iron hold will block the transmission of such data and increase your fatique.
Click to expand...

I agreed, and that's why I changed to a Recaro. And I found out it's much more comfortable and easy to control with the 5 point harness... But then we had some discussions here about some instructors refused to get inside students' car if they have race seat and 5 point but without the head protection namely $$$ roll cage ;)... It sadly came to the conclusion that if you can't afford to push the car off the cliff, you can't afford to put it on race track.... Polar bought that command wholeheartly and got a miata, and seems like his nsx will be retired from track use shamefully......

The slope getting very slippery and steep very fast...... ;)

Not to mention if the nsx is track / Street use like mine, the racing seat is not too comfortable in daily in/out driving. I had worked for a company that I can wear jeans to work everyday, so that's not a problem. Recently, I've been job hunting, and my daily driver got hit and was in the body shop. I've been forced to wear suit for interviews in my nsx. Driving through some of the bumpy local city roads in stop and go traffic. Trying to find a space that my future employer won't be able to see the car, yet crawling out from the bucket seat...... well oh well.
 
I've got a CG lock that I'm not using any more if any wants to buy it. PM me.
 
Thanks guys. It looks like a function of seat,restraint, and physics instead of technique.

Danny, Red SR71 :smile: :biggrin: :wink:
 
Or you can do what I did for two years....

1. Slide seat back
2. Put seatbelt on
3. Tug on seatbelt causing it to lock
4. slide seat forward while keeping pressure on seatbelt..

you get nice and snug.. and it's free!

:biggrin:

x
 
I do what VBNSX does with a CG lock. I feel pretty stable with that set up. Ofcourse a 5 pt. harness and Recaro's would be ideal but it works for me for now.
 
I will try the inertial seat belt tensioner trick. I never thought about doing that (never practiced it). What "mu" would you recommend to balance mv^2/r, chopjazz? Sandpaper pants? or maybe a few more Big Macs so force normal will be greater?

Danny RED SR 71 :smile: :biggrin: :wink:
 
Hi, the 16x18 fits well with just a little squeezing.

Its a good track-only solution...there won't be any knee support for long trips, etc.

OLDE GUY said:
SolidCitizen: Did the 16x18 inch fit nicely or did you need the large size? Thanks,,,Bill
Click to expand...
 
dyee said:
Can anybody with racing/high speed driving experience suggest to me how to round a curve (banked or unbanked) and keep my body under control in the seat?
Click to expand...

Push on the dead peddle with your left foot as hard as you can ... that will keep you planted in your seat. I don't have a race seat .. nor a multi point harness. I do however have a strong left thigh muscle now from pushing so hard :wink:
 
VintageracerNYC said:
has anyone put a roll bar/ cage in a street driven NSX?
Click to expand...
Some guy with a concussion did:rolleyes:

A roll cage makes a car only safe to drive with a helmet, race car only!!!!!

A harness bar is a good idea for street or track but steer clear of any bars which are in the passenger compartment where your head can come in contact with them in an accident. The stock compartment is plenty strong for most uses.
 
titaniumdave said:
Some guy with a concussion did:rolleyes:

A roll cage makes a car only safe to drive with a helmet, race car only!!!!!

A harness bar is a good idea for street or track but steer clear of any bars which are in the passenger compartment where your head can come in contact with them in an accident. The stock compartment is plenty strong for most uses.
Click to expand...

I VERY STRONGLY agree with this statement!!! Next time you drive your car swing your head around from side to side and front to back. You'll notice precious little room between your head and the upper window frame. Now consider a piece of metal tubing right there and think of how your (and your passenger's) head will be swinging around the passenger compartment in the event of an accident.

Roll cages are for use with helmets only! :eek:
 
thanks for the passionate replies concerning roll cages/ bars however many tracks now will NOT let a car out without some form of rollover protection so I was curious as to there usability. I am looking for a nice NSX, possibly with some mods to use as a street/ track car.
Thanks
JJ
NYC
 

Similar threads

C
RickRolled – 1990 Honda NSX revival
Replies
8
Views
5K
chiefsfan
C
L
"It"
Replies
10
Views
2K
Miner
M
Operator
Max effiency turbo build
2 3
Replies
58
Views
17K
sca037
sca037
dquarasr2
Driving Pet Peeves
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
flaminio
flaminio
DDozier
Brand Spanky New NCM Motorsports in Bowling Green, KY
Replies
4
Views
2K
DDozier
DDozier
Back
Top