Front passenger tire location

[firestarter2]

I have had the car for a year and I have no idea where the front passenger side wheel is, it makes it hard to hit apexes! I curbed a wheel yesterday and I thought I was 10 inches from the curb :frusty:

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[ddozier]

I have had the car for a year and I have no idea where the front passenger side wheel is, it makes it hard to hit apexes! I curbed a wheel yesterday and I thought I was 10 inches from the curb :frusty:

Here is a little trick to try. If you have the room to do it, raise your seating position until you learn were the outer limits of the car are, then start lowering your seating position back to what you feel is normal. Once you drive the car enough on track you will get almost a 6th since about where the tires are.

The car is big but to me it drives much smaller than it is, the weight is also very deceptive, the car does not wallow around like a 3800lb car to me. You just need more seat time at the track.

Dave

 

[SteveW]

Think of it as 9" then? (Just giving you a hard time)

 

[Tobey]

I use the traffic dots to learn where the tires are. As long as nobody's coming the other way, edge over until you just start nicking the traffic dots. Do that a few times, and you'll get a feel for it.

Edit: you said passenger side. Around here, the highways often have reflectors mixed in with the stripes between lanes, so you could still try my method.

 

[SteveW]

In autox when I tip cones with the inside front I will sometimes just drive harder through there the next time and drift past the cone I hit previously. This practice might not be the best approach on a road course though.

Considering running over curbing at the apex on a road course...perhaps you're too focused on the apex for too long. At entry when you spot the apex and get the car pointed at it, shift your eyes to corner exit. Maybe that will help. You drive at what you're looking at.

 

[Mach4.6]

I use the traffic dots on the freeway to, I also run my gopro on the passenger side from time to time, I was surprised the first time I did it, I thought I was right on the cones during my runs, not so much

 

[NightmareMoon]

You can also tilt your side view mirrors down and in to get a good at the side of your car versus the stripes on the road. Gives you a better idea of where the sides of the car are.

Just don't do it in traffic.

 

[rocsteady]

I have had the car for a year and I have no idea where the front passenger side wheel is, it makes it hard to hit apexes! I curbed a wheel yesterday and I thought I was 10 inches from the curb :frusty:

Me too. From where I sit, my mind wants to think of the right side of the crease in the hood, from the vent, as the right side of the car. Not a good thing as you've still got 2 feet or more before you get to where the right side of the car actually sits.

I raised my seat a bit to get a better view of that R/F fender, since I'm only 5'8" I have a lot of room to work with, but when I'm comfortable in my seating position, can't see anywhere near the outer edge of that side.

 

[wildcatgoal]

Go to a track day, get an instructor who will be in your passenger seat. Tell him you have this issue. He (or she) will help you develop this perception by getting you to tap curbs at the apex. It'll get drilled into your head right quick. Expensive way to go about it but... you get to have some fun in the process.

 

[Austinj427]

Go to a track day, get an instructor who will be in your passenger seat. Tell him you have this issue. He (or she) will help you develop this perception by getting you to tap curbs at the apex. It'll get drilled into your head right quick. Expensive way to go about it but... you get to have some fun in the process.

It's not much more expensive than a regular track day.

NASA event with instructor $199, open lapping $150.

This is of course anecdotal and with my 2 local tracks.

There is also an annual NASA membership fee but it's only $40 and they send you a sticker.

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