While a change in driving style will help, the fundamental problem is the car. In an effort to prevent oversteer under any conditions, GM "tuned" the Fiero to understeer, especially in extreme situations, and left foot braking certainly qualifies as extreme.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rjohnson999:
While a change in driving style will help, the fundamental problem is the car. In an effort to prevent oversteer under any conditions, GM "tuned" the Fiero to understeer, especially in extreme situations, and left foot braking certainly qualifies as extreme.

No "buts" about it. That was the point.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DA9 Integra:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by rjohnson999:
While a change in driving style will help, the fundamental problem is the car. In an effort to prevent oversteer under any conditions, GM "tuned" the Fiero to understeer, especially in extreme situations, and left foot braking certainly qualifies as extreme.

First off that poor Fiero was "made" to understeer , can't have American guru drivers in an oversteering car or they'll sue you.
You can left foot brake in a RWD car , my old Volvo 144 rally car was set up for left foot braking by the Finn that built it. But rally left foot braking is done in short pulses except......there is one technique where you can intentionaly overcook a set of corners put the car completely sideways , keep the brakes on , a bunch of opposite lock and the gas pedal pinned. Just as the car is about to spin you unwind the steering lock and literally pop off the brake pedal , the sudden application of power keeps the car from spinning and you will put the car in an intentional tank slapper which should corresponde with the left right left of the road. (not to be confused with Scandenavian flick which is similar in technique). The technigue also works well if you over do it on the exit of a hairpin - this is obviusoly not going to be used at an Autocross or road course. Would likely end in a rollover on pavement.
For Auto-X I'm not sure LFB is the hot way to go. In the D-sports racer I left foot braked only becuase once you left the pit lane there was no need to use the clutch to up or down shift.There were points on track where you would have both gas and brake on at the same time but this was more due to the motorcycle engine than trying to get the car to rotate.
Just curious: have you attained good result left foot braking?

Tom

I have an 85 MR2 and find it quite balanced but it has Tokico dampers on it (don't know what bars)
As for Schumacher and LFB , well he is a Kart racer , and F1 drivers aren't using the clutch to shift. Also I once read a interview with one of his former team mates that had to run the backup car which was set up for Mikey - the driver said the car had scary oversteer. Watch in car Suzuka video , on the final right hander in the esses (this is headed to the uphill left with ferris wheel in background) Schumacher runs the car about a foot more to the left on the exit than any other driver - Senna did the same thing.They are obviously winding in less steering , freeing up the car , and I would imagine they are uisng techniques to accomadate this.
I'm not sure I want to try something that works for F1 elite as I'm no Schumacher. Now if we could only get Mikey to a few Autocrosses to see what technique he would adopt.
It is ironic you mention braking to much , trail braking seems to be lost art with ABS. I have students at track days that sometimes don't understand that braking less means less pedal pressure and not less distance. I.E. stand it on the nose then gas through the corner in an attempt to gain back the long gone momentum.
Still I'm curiuos as to how many national level competitive drivers left foot brake.

Tom

then we went to Fresno , Fresno no one goes to Fresno anymore.

Of the 50/50 is it safe to say they are in FWD??

Tom

Tim the Fresno referance was from "Airplane" - Some of our Vegas guys go up that way. I seem to recall about a decade ago you ran at the mall.


Tom