First (mid-engined) track day advice please

[tonyg]

So now i actually own an Elise and will no doubt do a few track days.I have plenty of track day experience,but always been in front engined cars.

What are the main differences i should be aware of?

[Shug]

Less throttle adjustability, mainly. Get an elise significantly sideways and it's a bit harder to catch than a caterham - also, if you rely on pure front grip, you'll likely understeer a bit.

Tough to explain, but it's just about getting the weight moving a little differently from the caterham - more rear grip, less front in a steady state, but the weight tends to induce roll oversteer, so you need to be aware of that on a trailing brake into the corners.

Just give it a shot and see what you feel.

[Andy G]

its weight mainly - actually the Elise SC on track is tremendously adjustable for an Elise, but clearly it isnt as point and shoot as a 7. Braking will take longer the line is slightly different.

Its a fair bit bigger also

Personally, i think i'd upgrade the brakes & suspension eventually, but bloody magic fun out of the box. It will quite easily lap in a controlled or lunatic fashion, and being so well balanced controlling it is relatively easy sideways, unless you try the Benny school of cornering

You wont also notice the speed it is carrying in the same way as you would in the 7, so beware of that - its caught me out in the past - thought I was going way slower than I actually was

When are you tracking it? Look forward to hearing how you get on

[Modena Scotland]

Trail brake will help the elise to turn in better, but be careful to come off the brake gently as the rear could come out quite easily if you are corning hot

When the rear starts to lose traction, the elise will swing faster than the 7 and not as controllable on the throttle (but still can drift). As usual, dont fight the steering when going sideways. Go with the flow

Good luck and have fun.

[Andy G]

Trail brake will help the elise to turn in better, but be careful not to come off the brake gently so the rear will come out quite easily if you are corning hot

Fixed that for you Mass

[Modena Scotland]

Well spotted Andy , just testing you

[tonyg]

Thanks for the advice guys - never tried , but may have to experiment.

I don't do sideways (Rule 1 - Car going sideways is not going forward as fast as it could be).

It does gain speed surprisingly quickly (and the high revs sound is addictive) so i'll bear that in mind Andy.

What tyre pressures shoud be used?

[Modena Scotland]

Tony, the point is not if you like going sideways......

If you drive the car to and over the limit, the traction will be lost. The way this happens on the elise and 7 are different. This is what you have to be aware of.

I agree that going sideways in an extreme fashion ( ) is fun but lose time. However, driving out of corner at the limit of traction making the car to slide and dance is very fast.

Try and see.

I used to use 22 front and 24 rear on the Exige S.

[fd]

I don't do sideways (Rule 1 - Car going sideways is not going forward as fast as it could be).

Nah, if you stick by this rule you will be limited by understeer for the rest of your days

Fd

[ClarkyBoy]

I don't do sideways (Rule 1 - Car going sideways is not going forward as fast as it could be).

Nah, if you stick by this rule you will be limited by understeer for the rest of your days

Fd