[macintologist]

In Cars the movie, the Doc tells Lightning McQueen that in order to turn the tight left corner he has to turn his wheel right.

First of all, I don't get how that works, and second, isn't this something that experienced race car drivers would already know?

[Dark_Lotus]

Im not sure how it works either, but if you watch people drift you can see that their tires sometimes are going left while they are turning right. Its a kids movie.

[macintologist]

Maybe if there's an actual term for that move I could look it up on wikipedia

[macintologist]

Ahh, thanks to the term "drifting" I found the wikipedia article

Opposite lock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by macintologist 

In Cars the movie, the Doc tells Lightning McQueen that in order to turn the tight left corner he has to turn his wheel right.

First of all, I don't get how that works, and second, isn't this something that experienced race car drivers would already know?

1) No idea what Lightning McQueen is.

2) I have a friend who almost always turns the opposite way to the way he wants to go on his Triumph. Speedway style.

3) Check out "Scandinavian Flick" while you're at it.

[OldManMac]

You obviously have to turn left initially, but at high speed, once the rear end of the car (and this works on rear wheel drive only) starts to swing out to the right (inertia), you have to turn the wheels to the right, to counteract the rear end's swing. Otherwise the car could do a 360. Once you get the car straight, you straighten the wheels back up and go on your merry way. On a front drive car, you turn left, and then when the rear swings out, you keep the wheels left and nail the gas, as the inertia and weight are on the front, which pulls the car out of the corner. Of course, how much turning and accelerating you do depends on what speed you're going, and how much breakaway the rear end does.

[macintologist]

Is that why front-drive cars are considered more sporty than rear-drive? What about 4 wheeler drive.

[KeyLimePi]

Originally Posted by macintologist 

...and second, isn't this something that experienced race car drivers would already know?

I think in that car was used to driving on a paved track. I remember hearing Paul Newman say "dirt is different."

[TETENAL]

[DigitalEl]

It's just like driving in snow. You turn the steering wheel the way the BACK of the car is skidding. To some, that might seem like you're turning left to turn right... Or turning the wheel the opposite of the way you want to go.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by macintologist 

Is that why front-drive cars are considered more sporty than rear-drive? What about 4 wheeler drive.

It's the other way around.

[PB2K]

i have rearwheel drive, i am only starting to get used to it, i made a 180 this year and that's no fun if you don't expect it

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by macintologist 

What about 4 wheeler drive.

Don't try any of that stuff in a 4wd/awd unless you really know what you're doing and know the car inside out. Check Clarkson spinning the Lambo on TG last night.

[centerchannel68]

.... ... ... wow.

[Doofy]

Rob?

[centerchannel68]

Not wow at you, just this whole thread.

[Eriamjh]

You're not "turning into the skid" as much as you are keeping the front wheels pointed in the direction you wish to go. Watch any car race and the front wheels are always parallel to the direction they are driving no matter what angle the whole car is at.

[OwlBoy]

This is a reasonable question . I too wondered if it was a bit too simplistic of an explanation given in the movie.

-Owl

[finboy]

Originally Posted by macintologist 

Maybe if there's an actual term for that move I could look it up on wikipedia

Also called "the bootleg." Works really well when you have a trunk full of moonshine. Ask any of the NASCAR guys.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by KarlG 

You obviously have to turn left initially, but at high speed, once the rear end of the car (and this works on rear wheel drive only) starts to swing out to the right (inertia),

Works on front wheel drive too sometimes. On a dirt road surface like in Cars it is easy to get the rear end loose with front wheel drive. I've done it in my Volvo. The dirt makes the rear end just float around since it is lighter.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

Works on front wheel drive too sometimes. On a dirt road surface like in Cars it is easy to get the rear end loose with front wheel drive. I've done it in my Volvo. The dirt makes the rear end just float around since it is lighter.

Do it on any road. Just momentarily jab your brakes to unsettle the weight balance just before you hit the apex.

[ajprice]

Yeah its the Scandinavian Flick, drifting, pendulum turn, whatever you want to call it, flick the wheel away from the corner then into it, to unsettle the car and swing the back end around into the corner. Link of an 'old' Top Gear from the Wiki page on the Scandinavian Flick

[Sherman Homan]

...in order to turn the tight left corner he has to turn his wheel right.

Isn't this always true South of the equator?

[d4nth3m4n]

beware the Scandinavian flick

[ajprice]

Hehe, forgot about that other Hammond crash .

[d4nth3m4n]

click for gif

[macforray]

For those of us that grew up driving only rear wheel drive cars, "four wheel drift" or "drifting" is normal when cornering at high speeds on soft or dirt tracks. Sprint style cars still do this on dirt tracks.

[ghporter]

On a motorcycle it's called "outtracking" or "countersteering" and it works by causing the wheels, primarily the front one, to precess, thus putting you into a "perfect lean" for the turn. (I don't agree with the Wiki article in that they say the rider "must" countersteer to turn-it works well at speed, but it's not easy or simple to do at low speeds.)

Most of the time when I see this done on four wheels, it's done by people who just don't know how to take turns properly-they are going too fast to take the turn correctly, so they have to swing left to get the right turn radius that matches their speed. Dumb. Often they actually go over the marker into the next lane when they do this. Very dumb.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

Works on front wheel drive too sometimes. On a dirt road surface like in Cars it is easy to get the rear end loose with front wheel drive. I've done it in my Volvo. The dirt makes the rear end just float around since it is lighter.

Only when you're off throttle. ie, if you're ont he gas, going around a turn, and then let off the gas, then teh rear end will come around. But other than porsche, almost all car companies build in understeer to their cars.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

.... ... ... wow.

How presumptuous of you.