Nice track safety feature
04-17-2016, 09:57 PM
#1
Nice track safety feature
Not sure if this is useful, or a double post, or not. If yes, let me know and I'll delete.
The direction of the handbrake (push for on, pull for off) for some reason has been annoying me like crazy. But then I read somewhere that in case of total brake failure, say at the end of a long straight like COTA, you can do an emergency lock up by pushing the handbrake button, in which case pushing makes a lot of sense.
BTW, if you test this, make sure you're not going too fast...it makes for a pretty back snapping experience if you don't know what to expect.
The direction of the handbrake (push for on, pull for off) for some reason has been annoying me like crazy. But then I read somewhere that in case of total brake failure, say at the end of a long straight like COTA, you can do an emergency lock up by pushing the handbrake button, in which case pushing makes a lot of sense.
BTW, if you test this, make sure you're not going too fast...it makes for a pretty back snapping experience if you don't know what to expect.
04-17-2016, 10:11 PM
#2
Drifting
I read that too (in the manual) and have been curious to try it but never did, for two reasons. The first is that the manual doesn't say how it works. I assume that if the use case is brake failure then it doesn't apply the normal brakes, but if it applies only the handbrake, which is only on the rear wheels, that would seem to increase the chance of spinning dramatically. Maybe that's acceptable if the alternative is going full speed into a wall, but that's not something I really want to attempt for no good reason. And second, the manual says you need to hold the button down for emergency braking, which means you can only have one hand on the wheel. Reduced control ability under heavy braking again seems like an unnecessary risk to take just to play around.
But if you've already tried it, let us know what it was like!
(I agree that the operation seemed backwards though! But I've made my peace with it because in the old school truck handbrake handles, you had to pull farther out and twist to release them, so a pull motion was required for both engagement and release, meaning there's no single right way to implement it on a button.)
But if you've already tried it, let us know what it was like!
(I agree that the operation seemed backwards though! But I've made my peace with it because in the old school truck handbrake handles, you had to pull farther out and twist to release them, so a pull motion was required for both engagement and release, meaning there's no single right way to implement it on a button.)
04-17-2016, 10:18 PM
#3
04-17-2016, 10:18 PM
#4
I read that too and have been curious to try it but never did, for two reasons. The first is that the manual doesn't say how it works. I assume that if the use case is brake failure then it doesn't apply the normal brakes, but if it applies only the handbrake, which is only on the rear wheels, that would seem to increase the chance of spinning dramatically. Maybe that's acceptable if the alternative is going full speed into a wall, but that's not something I really want to attempt for no good reason. And second, the manual says you need to hold the button down for emergency braking, which means you can only have one hand on the wheel. Reduced control ability under heavy braking again seems like an unnecessary risk to take just to play around.
But if you've already tried it, let us know what it was like!
But if you've already tried it, let us know what it was like!
More seriously, all your points are on spot on. I would guess it's an absolute last resort before hitting a wall/barrier head on. For example, I have now seen two incidents at COTA where someone lost brakes at the end of the straights and hit a barrier head on. First one was a Z51 'vette that lost brakes at end of the T11-T12 straight and totaled his car and second one was a 458 that lost brakes at end of main straight and went into barrier. I guess in both those cases you might use this as last resort to scrape speed before getting to barrier (If you even remember)...
04-17-2016, 10:27 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
Thanks for the info on the ebrake, good to know in case its needed.
04-17-2016, 10:32 PM
#7
That car was 8ft shorter. Amazing job by GM - the driver walked away.
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04-17-2016, 10:51 PM
#8
Rennlist Member
Yeah, it was sobering to see the car after the incident. He is a good guy, a shame I haven't seen him back out at the track. We had our ZL1's at the same time and I would chase him around COTA before he got the Vette. Really glad he walked away.
04-17-2016, 10:55 PM
#9
Drifting
Anybody find out what was behind sudden and total brake failure like that? There was no warning when the driver was braking for T11? Scary to think that's possible....
04-17-2016, 11:00 PM
#10
i CAN"T imagine what that experience was like....wow. 150 into a wall..
04-18-2016, 06:44 AM
#13
My C6 Z51 experienced total system failure. Fortunately it was at an autocross so the results weren't catastrophic. One of my instructors at the time experienced the same approaching Big Bend at Limerock. Totaled the car but also walked away. In my case it was a faulty brake line between the MC and ABS module.
04-18-2016, 10:59 AM
#14
04-18-2016, 11:04 AM
#15
I consistently try and push it to release it. Then I pull it, then I realize I need to have brake pushed. Why can't there just be a handbrake :-(