Miata Mailing List: May 1998, Message #30

sponsored by

I wasn't refering to autoxing, I agree with your statements in that context.
I was refering to the rain slick 50mph decreasing radius exit ramp when trafic
all of a sudden slows.  About 2 years ago I had a 'street built' Miata spin
out right in front of me in the above conditions and go down a 20 ft
embankment.  He lifted the throttle when the traffic slowed and snap spun
around. 

I was driving my wifes Miata, which has stock springs and 1" front and 5/8"
rear sway bars and I never even came close to the tail getting light.  In
street driving where you might encounter emergency manuevers and oil slick
rain conditions I recommend a more conservative approach.  My 2cents. -Randy

>>I ask retorically, 'is that a good thing?'
> 
>> << much less understeer, easy to bring the tail around,
>><<  especially trailing throttle. >>

>I think it depends (as everything...). There's no one True Setup. The
type of courses affects a lot, as does the type of activity.  Finally,
driver preference is a BIG thing. Often we hear how two F1 drivers who
are about equally fast set their cars in diametrically opposite ways
to achieve the same laptimes (and neither can accomplish more than
spin out if they switch cars).  Lots of front stiffness and understeer
doesn't suit everyone's driving style.