Racing Tips - Gymkhanas
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These are tips from our drivers with regards to different types of racing, please be aware that these tips are written from the point of view of driving a Toyota MR2, but many of the techniques will apply to other vehicles, particularly rear wheel drive ones. Also note we cannot be held responsible for any damages, injury, death or other consequences of using or misusing the information contained here (or on any other part of our website). This information is for use at your own risk, and you must assume full responsibility for it.
Gymkhanas (grass motorkhana)
For most motorkhanas you'll want to stay in first gear the whole time as most of the circuits are so tight you won't get up enough speed for long enough to make second gear worthwhile. Also, if
you don't have power-steering you'll quite often want both hands on the wheel to be able to turn it to full lock. When steering, you'll often want to be using full lock in one direction or another, regardless of whether your doing handbrake turns or steering on throttle. Steering on throttle is easiest as far as driver actions go, although you'll need to make sure your suspension (shocks/springs etc) is in good condition, otherwise you'll probably understeer significantly. To steer on throttle, simply turn the wheel to full lock (all the way round) in the direction you want to go and stand on the accelerator, this should cause the back end to slide around behind you. Once the rear is sliding you can control the slide by lifting off the accelarator (to get more traction and reduce the slide) or using more gas (to brake traction and keep the slide going). We have been advised that it should be possible to use the foot brake and accelarator at the same time to get a nice drift going, but so far we have been unable to do this ourselves - it usually results in understeer.
To do a handbrake turn get up some speed, start to turn the wheel, then clutch in and pull the handbrake
on - keep the button on the handbrake pushed in and hold the handbrake up.
The front wheels may slide a little, but not for long, as soon as
they start to bite again release the handbrake completely and bring the clutch
out again. At this point you can use the accelerator to continue the
slide, or leave the power off to stop sliding and get traction so you can try
to get moving forwards again. Note that doing this will shorten the life of your handbrake cable, so be prepared to get the car home again without a handbrake if it should become neccesary.
In a front-wheel drive car it is not neccesary to operate the clutch. Some
people get a strong tape, such as insulation tape, and use it in
combination with a small coin to hold the button on the handbrake down for the
entire event, so they only need to lift the handbrake and then release it
again. Having a handbrake that operates this was is often referred to as
having a "fly-off" handbrake.
Regardless of how you choose to turn, don't be afraid to rev the engine. The 4-AGE engine is very tough, and race cars are going to get punished anyway.
That having been said, too many revs will often cause you to loose
traction and you won't end up going as fast as you might with fewer revs, so
only use as much as you need unless you're trying to slide. Try not to be first out on a Motorkhana either,
then try to stay on the grass where everyone else has been driving as this will
usually allow you greater traction. When reversing, you can reverse either by turning and looking over your shoulder or by using your mirrors, whatever is most comfortable for you will likely give you the best time. Finally, check with the officials about how the timing is done. Usually the time is marked at the point where your FRONT wheels (or rear wheels if you have to reverse in) enter the 'garage'. Overshooting and having your front wheels go out the other side of the 'garage' often leads to a penalty, so when only worry about getting your front wheels in and then drive the rest of the car in slowly to avoid the overshoot penalty. If you find that you're pointing in the direction you want to go, but you've got too many revs on and aren't getting transaction try changing to a higher gear like third, or maybe second, instead of waiting for the revs to die down which will probably be slower. Finally, although we haven't tried it ourselves yet we have been told that lowering your tire pressure can help to increase traction,
however we've also been told you should put inner tubes in your tires to prevent them from being torn off the rims when performing sharp turns on rough/uneven grass surfaces.
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