Spun Out My 7!
12-07-2003, 08:46 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Posts: 223
Aaaaaaaah! 
Thanks to swapping out my car's base model rear anti-sway bar for an 88 GTU bar, among other suspension tweaks has brought my FC's handling pretty close to neutral territory. However, having an open diff and slamming some sharp 90* turns in the rain is not a good idea with no understeer to save you.
So I was out enjoying some nice curves when I came to this sequence of sharp turns and went around a few pretty quickly by braking while turning in, releasing brakes while tightening the turn, and finally putting the power down after the apex. I drove harder through each subsequent corner and made the mistake of trusting the rear traction too much. After getting on the gas following a 3-2 downshift, passing through about 4000 rpm the rear end broke completely loose as the chassis pulled through the apex of the turn. Around it went into a nice steep ditch separating the road from a muddy farm field.
A lady in a BMW that I passed a few miles back stopped and gave me a ride into town so I could call a tow truck to pull out the FC. It's a good thing FC base models are pretty light because the truck's winch pulled it out very quickly.
The car is fine other than some rear lower quarter panel crumplage. And I just painted this car!
So if anyone cares, don't get on the power in the rain if you have an open diff until WELL AFTER the apex of the turn.
Even though it sucked putting my car in a ditch, I had a blast the entire time. Am I neurotic?
Thanks to swapping out my car's base model rear anti-sway bar for an 88 GTU bar, among other suspension tweaks has brought my FC's handling pretty close to neutral territory. However, having an open diff and slamming some sharp 90* turns in the rain is not a good idea with no understeer to save you.
So I was out enjoying some nice curves when I came to this sequence of sharp turns and went around a few pretty quickly by braking while turning in, releasing brakes while tightening the turn, and finally putting the power down after the apex. I drove harder through each subsequent corner and made the mistake of trusting the rear traction too much. After getting on the gas following a 3-2 downshift, passing through about 4000 rpm the rear end broke completely loose as the chassis pulled through the apex of the turn. Around it went into a nice steep ditch separating the road from a muddy farm field.
A lady in a BMW that I passed a few miles back stopped and gave me a ride into town so I could call a tow truck to pull out the FC. It's a good thing FC base models are pretty light because the truck's winch pulled it out very quickly.
The car is fine other than some rear lower quarter panel crumplage. And I just painted this car!
So if anyone cares, don't get on the power in the rain if you have an open diff until WELL AFTER the apex of the turn.
Even though it sucked putting my car in a ditch, I had a blast the entire time. Am I neurotic?
12-07-2003, 08:57 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Posts: 223
Thanks. It's still good, it still drives the same and the damage is pretty minor. When I get a job and get money, I'll do a little bodywork on it and make it as good as before, but with an LSD back there. I learned a lot today about driving a car that has no understeer. And it drives very sweetly like this, but when the rear end breaks on wet pavement, it goes around! Crashing a car is actually pretty fun. It's exciting.
12-07-2003, 09:24 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Posts: 223
Hey let's stay in touch about that LSD because I need one.
Like I said, after finals this week I am going to start looking for a part time job, because financial aid is not enough to pay for RX7 toys ($450 a month to live off of).
This car is like a drug.
Like I said, after finals this week I am going to start looking for a part time job, because financial aid is not enough to pay for RX7 toys ($450 a month to live off of).
This car is like a drug.
