Throttle Steering/4 wheel drift

Robert Joe · Joined: 17 Sep 2001 Posts: 7

I was at a Porsche Performance Driving School this weekend. We were taught the concept of throttle steering - Turn; lift/ease off the throttle to unload the rear tires and get the rear of the car to rotate; feed the throttle to catch the rotation and then continue to accelerate.

Is this used a lot in karting?

Can you drift all 4 wheels through a cornor in karting?

Dan Schultz · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2001 9:00 pm Post subject: Throttle Steering/4 wheel drift

Most karts are relatively over tired, meaning they have an over abundance of grip. That being the case, if you are getting 4 wheel drifts, you are likely scrubbing off an excessive amount of speed and slowing yourself down. While 4 wheel drifts are probably not the fastest way around the track, the throttle is still used to balance the kart. Typically, there are corners where a lift is not needed, but a slight lift or dab on the brakes on entry will yield a faster time. The slight lift shifts weight to the front of the kart allowing the front to grip better (and preventing push) and this allows the kart to corner more smoothly. The application of gas can also help the back grip in mid corner as it shifts the weight to the back tires and it can help pull you out of the corner. So, to answer your question, the throttle is used to balance a kart but probably not to the extent it does in a car.

Martin Secrest · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2001 10:42 pm Post subject: Throttle Steering/4 wheel drift

quote:
Originally posted by BADGER:
Most karts are relatively over tired, meaning they have an over abundance of grip. That being the case, if you are getting 4 wheel drifts, you are likely scrubbing off an excessive amount of speed and slowing yourself down.

Huh? I believe the reverse to actually be the case.

Given their lack of torque, I don't believe "throttle steering" particularly applies to karts, but that notwithstanding, drift implies that a clutch kart is moving through a corner with its wheels spinning at top speed and the clutch engaged. Upon corner exit, this is a highly desirable state of affairs, isn't it?

Drew Cleaver · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2001 3:29 am Post subject: Throttle Steering/4 wheel drift

We had a temporary circuit race in a parking lot. It was a blast, 4-wheel drifts flew you around 90degree turns due to the lack of grip.

Happy racing,
Drew Cleaver www.vmaxracing.cjb.net

Sean Robbins · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2001 3:40 am Post subject: Throttle Steering/4 wheel drift

I think you are both right, just coming from opposing ends of the sport. For sprint racing (with 7.1 inch rears and a wide track), the mysterious "Badger" is correct that a kart is over-tired as compared to a sports car. With full-time direct drive (formula Y) or part-time direct drive (shifter), you have the horsepower and instantaneous power transfer to the rear tires to torque steer the kart around sharp corners.

Martin (and for the most part myself as well) come from the long track side of the sport, where a four wheel drift is a high speed cornering technique on a sweeping and typically constant radius turn, such as turn 10 at Summit which you take at 90+mph. The four wheel drift's advantage is that it allows the kart to corner, while minimizing the chassis bind. And they are a whole lot of fun.

The throttle balances the car/kart--lift the throttle or brake to shift weight to the front, more throttle (particularly in a direct drive mode) to shift weight to the back.

P.S. Badger--unless you are actually a one-named celebrity, you need to use first and last names in these forums, the administrators are starting to delete quasi-anonymous posts.

Patrick Hubbell · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2001 6:28 pm Post subject: Throttle Steering/4 wheel drift

quote:
Originally posted by Martin Secrest:

Huh? I believe the reverse to actually be the case.

Given their lack of torque, I don't believe "throttle steering" particularly applies to karts, but that notwithstanding, drift implies that a clutch kart is moving through a corner with its wheels spinning at top speed and the clutch engaged. Upon corner exit, this is a highly desirable state of affairs, isn't it?

While drifting a kart through a corner is fun the technique is actualy slow. While drifting you are eating up additional real estate and over heating the tires.

A fast kart will appear to be slow on the track and it will appear as though it is riding on a rail. Many many drivers overdrive their karts and look to the chassis for the problem. They end spending a great deal of time chasing a ghost not to mention wearing out equipment and becoming frustrated with the situation. Quite often one must slow down to be faster.