It is possible that in your life as a driver, one day you will have to take a sharp turn quickly. This might be the case if you have to avoid a collision or if your life is on the line, you never know! There are several ways to make a sharp turn quickly depending on the type of turn and the model of your vehicle. To practice, rather than doing it on a busy road, you can go on a Sunday quickly turn around a lamp located in the parking lot of a large area.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Take a 90 ° turn
Step 1. Move as far to the right of the road as possible
If you make a sharp left turn, it will allow you to make a larger arc and counter the centrifugal force. If the bend is to the right, operate in the reverse order, starting by shifting, again for the same reason, to the left.
Step 2. Turn left following the edge of the outer track
Then "dive" into the middle of the inner apex (top of the curve). Turn as fast as possible without touching the materialization of the apex (edge of the track or painted strip of the track).
Step 3. Brake as late as possible
Brake carefully when entering the turn to stay on course. Never brake fully. You have to slow down enough to be able to take the turn safely, but not too much so as not to swerve.
When entering the turn, you hardly have to brake, but just have your foot on the pedal in order to keep the maximum traction. Once you have entered the turn, add a little acceleration in order to have a constant speed. When exiting a turn, press the accelerator normally while straightening the steering wheel
Step 4. Exit the turn keeping to your right
This will give you the largest radius of curvature and the most linear trajectory, which will allow you to turn as quickly as possible. This is the condition that you will have the best traction and the lowest centrifugal force.
Method 2 of 3: Take a 180 ° turn
Step 1. Approach the turn at a speed of approximately 60 km / h
This is the ideal speed to take a turn. With a manual gearbox, take your turn in second (this could make the engine roar!) Or third. A 180 ° turn (also known as a U-turn) can also be performed with the handbrake, but it is a technique which is reserved for specialists (stuntmen) and can only be accomplished on a secure roadway.
Step 2. Place your hands firmly on the steering wheel
Indeed, you will have to make a complete turn with your steering wheel. In the case of a U-turn to the right, place your right hand on the left side of the steering wheel: you will be able to turn the steering wheel quickly by one turn.
Step 3. Begin turning before pulling the handbrake
Take your foot off the accelerator. Put yourself in neutral (automatic gearbox) or disengage (manual gearbox). Quickly turn the steering wheel in the desired direction before locking the wheels.
Step 4. Apply your parking brake at the right time
Pull it out for a split second before entering the turn. Once in the turn, lower it quickly or if so equipped, step on the foot-operated parking brake. This will lock the rear wheels, preventing you from losing control of the vehicle.
Step 5. Straighten the steering wheel
Thus, you will straighten the wheels to go straight. You end up riding in the opposite direction from where you came from.
Step 6. Release the handbrake
Release it as you straighten the wheels. You regain grip on the ground and can control your trajectory.
Step 7. Use the brakes if necessary
Use them to get the car back on track. You don't have to brake a lot. The car will straighten up, preventing it from skidding as you go in the opposite direction.
Method 3 of 3: Take a flat, fast turn
Step 1. Keep both hands on the wheel
This will give you better control of your vehicle.
Step 2. Tackle gently
Turn slowly while having precise piloting thanks to reference points. During this time, you will have a light foot on the accelerator.
Step 3. Use the throttle to hold the bend radius
Too much acceleration will drag you outward, not enough will close the turn further. If you turn too much, the rear will likely chase. You should almost completely shut off the throttle, let the steering wheel turn in your hands, then accelerate fully for a few moments.
Step 4. Exit the turn correctly
When you come out of such a turn, you can accelerate again very quickly since at this speed the wheels cannot spin.
Advice
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If you want to go fast, none of these maneuvers, whether with a rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive vehicle, should be “drifted” (with the rear slipping when you accelerate). Keeping control of the rear of the vehicle is the best way to quickly turn a corner, unless the corner is very closed or very slippery.
- Looking towards the turn, quickly spotting the apex, turning, then looking into the distance - these are the main steps in the maneuver. The more you master them, the better and faster you will tack. You may have to look through the side window for this.
- The tighter the turn, the smoother you should take it. If you are racing with someone, you will take the turn faster and take the rope from them. The watchword is "Enter slowly, exit quickly".
- In most turns, if you can delay entry into the curve by turning your steering wheel a little faster, you will have a more straight line and your exit should be fairly quick.
- It was rally drivers who invented or at least widely adopted “drifting” and skidding to take turns on the tracks more quickly. They master the technique very well. Of course, if you are going to skid the turn, you will need to modify your entry and exit of the turn. Basically, you have to send more power, but it's a professional technique and you need specially prepared vehicles.
- Light use of the brakes and accelerator is essential. If you go lightly on the accelerator pedal, you will avoid locking or slipping the wheels when entering and exiting the bend.
- If your rear wheels are skidding and your trajectory widens, you have accelerated too much. If you lift your foot a little, you will see that you will take a faster turn. On the other hand, if you decelerate too much, you will get the same result, namely that the rear will chase. The secret to a successful turn is the golden mean.
- To take a sharp turn quickly, you need precision. To get there, you have to train a lot.
- The sharper the turn, the faster the steering wheel should be turned. In a fast, slightly closed turn, the steering wheel is turned smoothly without the need to change the hands of position. In a slightly tighter turn, the steering wheel is still turned smoothly, but faster than before. In a very tight turn, the steering wheel should be turned very quickly, even if the car is driving a bit. On slippery pavement, the car will always react with a delay to the steering wheel, but if you have given the steering wheel the right way, the trajectory will be perfect.
- If your vehicle understeers as you enter the turn (just after taking your foot off the brake pedal), brake a little longer or lift your foot earlier. If you take your foot off the brake pedal as you enter the turn, it will nose down the front of the car, resulting in more grip for your car.
Warnings
- Even with a lot of practice, be aware that these maneuvers have a mechanical impact on the vehicle. There is a high risk of disturbing the two trains, wearing out the shock absorbers and the ball joints. This is why some people train on a "practice car" that they are not afraid of damaging.
- Whether on a rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive vehicle, when you use the handbrake, you must always disengage or you will stall. With a front-wheel drive vehicle and depending on the differential you have, the use of the handbrake during the maneuver could well, through the play of inertia, severely damage the transmission / differential assembly.
- As mentioned above, “drifting” is suitable on the tracks, much less on asphalt roads, which means that this technique is far from being the fastest on the latter surface. The proof: if this technique were so efficient, Formula 1 racing cars would skid all the time! To go fast, you have to anticipate and turn without skidding. The skidding is certainly spectacular, but ultimately it is slow… on the tarmac!
- SUVs are hardly studied for this kind of maneuver, many have ended up on the roof!
- Always drive carefully. Watch out for pedestrians and other vehicles.
- As you can imagine, these maneuvers present a certain danger which can result in injury or death. These specific behaviors can only be explained by emergency situations, when there is no other choice possible.
- Do not break the Highway Code! Obey the speed limits and more generally all signage.
- These maneuvers should not be performed on public roads. You can train on closed circuits or at home if your property is large enough.