Me, me, me. I know that one. (can you tell I don't want to be at work
today)
HANDBRAKE TURNS!!
Drive into a tight corner at extreme rate of speed. Set the front
wheels into the direction of travel. Pull up the handbrake for an instant,
which locks the rear wheels. The back end of the car will swing around
following the track of the front wheels. At just the right point, the
steering wheel is spun to opposite lock. The rear end comes back into line
and power is applied to stop the slide. The car shoots off in the intended
direction.
AND YOU THOUGHT HEEL AND TOEING WAS HARD.
Done correctly there is a vector change with virtually no scrubbed
off speed. Done incorrectly there will be a smudge on localised objects.
This is a technique perfected by stage rallyists on loose gravel.
It is also applicable to tarmac, but requires much larger cojones.
Defensive driving schools teach Limo drivers this same technique for doing
180 degree turns at highway speed in stretch Limos.
The flyoff feature of the handbrake makes it much safer, as you do
not have to concentrate on holding down the release catch. Performing this
technique without holding down the release results in multiple pirouets.
The aclaimed expert of hand brake turns was a Swedish rally driver
(Erik something or other). The SAAB 96 had rear wheel hand brake and front
wheel drive. A combination that proved devastating.
Kelvin.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Schooler [mailto:schooler@erols.com]
> Sent: Saturday, November 06, 1999 4:15 AM
> To: Skye Poier
> Cc: MG Nuts
> Subject: Re: Flyoff Handbrake
>
>
> Skye,
>
> The "fly-off" handbrake looks like the one on a B, but works just a
> little differently. You pull up the handle to set the brakes, but you
> must also depress the "release" button on the end to get it
> to remain in
> that position. It's called a "fly-off" because you can very quickly
> release the handbrake - it just takes a quick pull up on the lever and
> then a release.
>
> Yes, the fly-off style was used on the T series, and the MGA as well.
> (You could order the bits necessary to convert an MGB handbrake to the
> fly-off configuration from the Special Tuning Department.)
>
> Someone else will have to explain the advantage of a fly-off handbrake
> during competitive driving. Never could quite figure it out...
>
> Bill
>
> Skye Poier wrote:
> >
> > Speaking of handbrakes,
> >
> > What's a "fly off type"? Is it on the T-series?
> >
> > Skye
> >
> > --
> > 1966 MGB 1800 - GHN3 __,__\__ ffwd internet division
> > 1962 Vespa 125 - VNB3 (_o____o_) http://www.ffwd.com/
>
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