TTO: a force to be reckoned with.

[dallas_]

You probably won't find any of those books in the last bookstore you were in though.

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by dallas_

You probably won't find any of those books in the last bookstore you were in though.

I went in the "Wong Fook Hing Book Store" here in Zhuhai and asked for a Cobra book, they gave me a book about snakes and smiled most politely, go figure.

John, AKA, tin-man Zhuhai, P.R.C.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by tin-man

I went in the "Wong Fook Hing Book Store" here in Zhuhai and asked for a Cobra book, they gave me a book about snakes and smiled most politely, go figure.

John, AKA, tin-man Zhuhai, P.R.C.

Was it a cook book?

[RallySnake]

Tin-Man,

You got some good advice here, but not the BEST advice. Taking your new Cobra to a track day is a bad idea. Going to a driving school is good, but not the best first step. I have been driving my Arntz Cobra 25 years now and have had many "near death" experiences. My Guardian Angel is pretty beat up! I will explain how to stay alive.

The first step is to take your Cobra to an SCCA Solo2 event. If there's any question about which class to enter, just ask for B Street Prepared. These events are set up on large parking lots and the course is lined with rubber cones. You drive around the course as fast as you can and the electronic timing gives you a very accurate result. The important thing is, that you do this at low speeds. You may hit 50 or 60 on the longest straight. At these speed, you can make massive mistakes and lose nothing but a little rubber off your tires and a ding in your ego when the workers laugh at you. It is tremendous fun! You will find out how badly your car handles and what is going to happen at the limits of traction without endangering fellow motorist. The people at Southern California events are very friendly and can give you tips on tire pressures and suspension setups.

On my first event, I swung around a left hand curve and my rear end suddenly snapped to the right at about 45 mph and the side of my helmet was pelted with bits of gravel and rubber. That's when I learned how important a front roll bar is. On another event, I couldn't get the front wheels to grip and slid them through the turns. That's how I learned that I needed a rear rollbar. As I progressed, I kept improving my car and my driving.

Early on, you learn to get your braking done before you turn the wheel, then, use power to accelerate through the turn. Later, you learn that if you leave the braking until the last possible moment and stab the brake pedal hard just before you turn in, the brakes will help you rotate the car. If you get it just right, the car will slide and you will countersteer, apply throttle and catch it and come out of the turn with the rear tires smoking and feeling like a hero. If you are a very slight bit too late on the brakes, the car will continue all the way around and rubber cone will fly in all directions amd you will encounter more laughter. When you have reached this level and are very confident knowing exactly when the tires will let go and how to handle the situation, you are ready to proceed to run your car at higher speed at a track day.

RS

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by RallySnake

Tin-Man,

You got some good advice here, but not the BEST advice. Taking your new Cobra to a track day is a bad idea. Going to a driving school is good, but not the best first step. I have been driving my Arntz Cobra 25 years now and have had many "near death" experiences. My Guardian Angel is pretty beat up! I will explain how to stay alive.

RS

Whenever anyone recounts a many near death experience I pay attention and am borderline anal retentive. Jeeez, if this car can make a turn at a lowly speed of 45mph and still spin out, how can anyone ever attempt a high speed turn without losing their cool??

Now I am begining to realize maybe this car is more than I ever bargained for given the power and torque I have and there is no doubt in my mind I will become a permanent fixture at Bondurant Driving School until I have the confidence to take it out for a real spin.

That said, I need some advice from anyone who has an automatic tranny and are willing to share their driving experiences particularly when slowing down going into a curve.

Guys, please forgive my naivette here, I'm still waiting for my car and am doing what I consider is my due diligence in endevoring to determibne what I will experience real time when I drive, thus all my questions. I fully realize taking the beast out for its first dance will see how much I have assimilated from all your experiences and advice.

I am humbled by all your collective experiences and am thankfull for the opportunity of being a member of a club populated by such Cobra enthusiasts.

Keep the advice coming and thanks.

Cheers, John, AKA, tin-man

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by tin-man

I need some advice from anyone who has an automatic tranny and are willing to share their driving experiences particularly when slowing down going into a curve.

I had the good fortune to spend a day at the GM test track near Mesa, Arizona some years ago. I spent more than an hour that day flogging a 1989 Corvette auto around an oversized autocross track they had set up. I'd make one pass through the three minute size course then hit the long straight for a minute to cool the brakes and do it again. I used up a set of tires during that hour. The Corvette had an automatic transmission and antilock brakes. The GM driver who showed me how to drive the car said the key to quick times was to trust the antilock feature and brake late and hard. The automatic transmission seemed to always be in the gear I wanted when I wanted it. I don't recall it ever adversely affecting my entry into a turn. I left thinking that an auto transmission car would likely be quicker around that course than a manual, especially if I were the one driving it.

One other comment - You're wise to have great respect for the potential to lose control of a Cobra. But don't go overboard. If you plan to drive the car hard, or you doubt your ability to resist the urge to open it up from time to time, then your caution is warranted. But if you take it easy while you're getting accustomed to it, and you save your spirited driving for autocross events and the track, you should be fine. Even on the track, there's nothing that says you have to enter every corner at 100% of your car's capability. If you enter a corner using 75% of the car's grip and mishandle the power or brakes a little, you've got a pad that can allow you to learn from your mistakes without going off the track.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by tin-man

Guys, please forgive my naivette here, I'm still waiting for my car and am doing what I consider is my due diligence in endevoring to determibne what I will experience real time when I drive, thus all my questions. I fully realize taking the beast out for its first dance will see how much I have assimilated from all your experiences and advice.

I am humbled by all your collective experiences and am thankfull for the opportunity of being a member of a club populated by such Cobra enthusiasts.

Keep the advice coming and thanks.

Cheers, John, AKA, tin-man

Well said, tin-man! I, like you, don't have a Cobra replica in my garage yet, and also like you, I am on an 'intelligence gathering mission' in preparation for that great day.
Almost all forum members are extremely forthcoming and generous with advice and good natured humour, but just occasionally, when giving my opinion, I have been criticized because I am a 'wannabe'.
I unreservedly appreciate the opportunity of being a member of this great community of enthusiasts. The collective experience and knowledge, mixed with light-hearted banter is much appreciated.

Cheers!
Glen