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Driving Help and Instruction
Hi,
I am picking up my Factory Five MK IV from the painter next week. 427W with Holley EFI and T600. Should be healthy but not over the top. Has X heads and not Z. In any event it has been some time since I have driven a car like this and not sure any ever came close. I have a real respect for this car and before I go to far I am trying to find resources on the net for driving help. I have been unable to find anything on You Tube that really gives driving instruction other than Autocross which is not all that bad . But what I am looking for is some instruction that may be Cobra specific for short wheel base light and fast. Something that teaches me what to do if it starts to spin etc. ( I do have some basic ideas on what to do but want more detail and help). I would appreciate any reference to help. I am also trying to schedule the Course in Houston but in the meantime need some help. Thanks. Henry |
Honestly, it sounds like autocross with an instructor is exactly what you need. Go to one of your local events and there will be someone there more than happy to give you pointers. You can't just "teach" control of the car either, you have to do.
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Until you get professional instruction, the (throttle) operative word is "gradual". Don't apply or reduce throttle all at once. Either way might induce a spin if you are not going in a perfectly straight line.
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Take the learning curve slowly: 1: Remember, as soon as the start the car, even sitting still, it will try to kill you. 2: Repeat #1 in your head every time you get in the car. 3: If you have ever walked on ice (skating rink, etc), think of the learning curve as walking on ice, everything happens in small steps, carefully, and in slow motion. Your learning curve is the very same mindset. One step at a time, partial throttle, partial braking, partial turn in and lead out of turns. Do any of those things quickly, and you'll see that repeating line #1 was not just a brain tease. 4: Basics, basic, basics, just like you once learned to walk, talk, eat solid foods, the same goes for driving a high HP, short wheelbase Cobra (real or replica). Congratulations and good luck with it. Bill S. |
Congratulations and good luck with the car. If you have a road race track anywhere near you that has high performance driving schools, I would recommend taking at least one of them. I have gone through several and every time learned more. Also take the car out to a deserted parking lot or highway and carefully start trying it out to learn your limits and the cars. I don't think that you ever stop learning with these cars. I no longer race and I am still learning.
Ron |
I want to echo the suggestion to learn at a SCCA autocross event. The courses are laid out to limit top speed and provide run off areas to limit the potential for real damage. When you add the natural urge to compete at these events, you will soon be finding and stepping over the limits (yours and your car's) in a safe environment. The best advice I can offer is to learn about your limits in a safe, track environment rather than on public streets. ... My car likely doesn't behave just like yours, but when it started to spin, it was all over. I spun it at least two dozen times at various track events and I managed to keep it from looping only once. As a result of that experience, I've not pressed the limits on the street.
P.S. Racing of any kind will find any weak spots in your engine and drive train. It is not uncommon to break something. Make sure your car is properly prepared, and have a backup plan for how you'll get home if your car breaks. |
You have received some great advice here. Please listen and try an autocross (SCCA calls it Solo2). Driving as fast as you can around the cones will let you know what your car will do when the tires break loose. It is also great fun! I did a lot of adjustments and roll bar swaps between the events before I felt I could trust my car a little bit. Then, it broke and tried to kill me.
I also find that I can learn a lot in a hurry at a shopping mall parking lot in the middle of the night. A few hard figure 8's and then get out before the cops arrive. :) |
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Any and all of these things make sense, however most are subject to scheduling and time restrictions.
One very important thing you can do here and now is to find a large space, empty mall parking lot, etc. and without going nuts see how your car reacts to sudden, not extreme, throttle inputs, letoff, steering inputs, corrections. The point here is to gradually explore what upsets the car, what looses traction without extremes, where you can gain a feel, without traffic and large stuff to hit. It is the cheapo alternative to schools that teach slide control/correction. It is a nice, controlled methodology to help you when and how sudden things happen. |
If you have BF Goodrich -- toss them and get better tires.
The BF are good tires for heavier cars, but not for these. Follow what Bill said and you will be fine. |
Minus the humor, Jay Nordstrum ( forgive me Jay of I butchered your last name ) has or had a NASCAR driving school.
He is a member on here and...hopefully, he may respond to this post. You might want to ask him about taking your driving to a level that may match the car you are about to get. Just an idea. This post in no way implies anything. Tru |
You may consider signing up for a HPDE and getting a coach. Good way to learn, however, you will need a brave coach who wants to get in a Cobra replica in the co-pilot seat and sit there at speed.
I coach for HOD and I would be nervous about getting in a Cobra...replica or real. |
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