Let's Drive: The Car Control Clinic

There are many ways to enjoy your GR. Possibly the best might be a car control clinic. So, what is a car control clinic?

It is an opportunity to learn how your car handles at the limits of the tires in a safe environment. Lap times are not the objective, exceeding the limits of the tires while maintaining control of the vehicle is. In other words, its time to do some skids. You get to prioritize pushing your car into understeer and recover, oversteer and recover, or maybe the sweetest 4-wheel drifts and recover. Many see a car control clinic as an opportunity to try and drift and that is not really the goal.

If you dive deeper beyond just reaching the limits of the tires you begin to learn how the tires reach their limits. As the driver you are weight manager that ideally has full demand over how much weight gets transferred to each of the 4 tires on your car. The driver has 3 knobs to transfer weight via the steering, brakes, and throttle. It is important to practice using each of the weight transfer tools independently and simultaneously to achieve your intended car placement. 

If a driver not seeking competition, a car control clinic is likely the experience and learning environment for them. You are likely to walk away with a better understanding of how your car handles and even be safer on the street.

What are some things you need to know about a car control clinic before attending?

• Venue is important. A car control clinic venue should provide ample space for drivers to practice with little to no risk of making contact with anything that could damage your vehicle. Damage to your vehicle should be the last concern this environment decreases the risk that track days and even autocross can present. The FCP Proving Grounds at Lime Rock Park, CT is an ideal venue and renowned for its low risk course.

• Rain and a slick surface is a blessing not a curse for a car control clinic. In the rain grip levels are lower so it is even easier to practice car control. Rain will also make your tires wear less than if it were dry.

• Instruction is a good idea for all levels of drivers. For an entry level driver an instructor can help introduce you to how to approach the limits of your car. For the advanced driver an instructor can challenge you; make the car oversteer here, make it understeer here, maintain a slide (drift), link these corners together, etc. Showing up with an open mind is important! Regardless of experience level, a different point of view could be your key to getting faster.

• Keep an eye on your tire pressures. Starting at the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle is a good place to begin. Keep an eye on your tires throughout the event. It is unlikely that you will destroy a healthy tire on one car control stint.

If you are a GR owner come and join us on track with the SCDA, you will get $50 off your first track day.