Originally Posted by shortfellow
Thanks for the replies guys.
I have the standard xfire.
The tires are Contintental Sport Contact 2.
OK, I'll start the turns slower and carry a little brake into the turn to keep more weight on the front tires.
When the camber adjust bolts arrive I'll have it adjusted from -1.22 deg. to -1.6. Seems to me that less understeer can only help.
Two of you suggested using "Trailing Throttle Oversteer". That's new to me.
I would appreciate someone explaining, in as much detail as possibe, the proceecure for that. Meanwhile I'll search it on the web.
All of your help has been and will be appreciated.
Vince
Also known as "the car tried to kill me", trailing throttle oversteer can be the bane of every unskilled driver or it can be another tool in your bag of tricks. It's simply coming in hard to a turn. When the front end starts to plow a furrow off the track, lift....carefully. The back end can be made to swing out a little or a lot thereby correcting the attitude of the car. Once you get back coming around, use throttle and steering to keep it balanced until you come out of the turn. Done properly, trailing throttle oversteer can be used for minute course adjustments rather than tire smoking drifts through the corners. Done improperly, the usual lament is "the car spun out for no reason".
And I should mention that it's most useful with cars that have neutral to mild understeering behavior. There are no tricks to save you coming in hot to a corner in a plowing pig like a Camry or the family SUV. Physics will not be denied. You will go off roading.
And, sorry to say, with a regular Crossfire you may have a hard time in a fight with a Miata. The little buggers have a 700 lb weight advantage and they are very well balanced cars. Don't underestimate the cute little secretary's car. An SRT-6 can compensate for weight and finesse with raw grip, power, and torque. You'll need to be very smooth in a base Crossfire and carry as much speed as possible through turns or they will eat you up.