S550 strengths and weaknesses?

[Shadow277]

Going to my first open road course Saturday as Wu Han becomes less of a deterent. Meaning that I cannot have a passanger coach my first run.

Aside from that, I was curious to what the second and third gens strengths and weaknesses are. I heard it is important to know so if our S550 is only capable of raw power, straight aways are the safest pass if the driver in front of me is in a car of less power.

Does my question make sense? Am I overthinking this?

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[strengthrehab]

Biggest weakness? The driver....especially starting out.

 

[Shadow277]

Biggest weakness? The driver....especially starting out.

My mentality for Saturday is to stay safe above everything. Learn as much as I can and also have fun, which I know I will.

 

[Brian@BMVK]

Treat the throttle with respect. Don't ask the tires to do too much at once. You cannot simultaneously max brake and try to turn, nor max sustained cornering and accelerate. Imagine your foot and the steering wheel are connected by rope, and that as you release a pedal (brake or gas) you can start adding more steering lock.

 

[Norm Peterson]

... I was curious to what the second and third gens strengths and weaknesses are.

Don't worry about that now . . . with the possible exceptions of differential and/or transmission fluid temperatures.

I heard it is important to know so if our S550 is only capable of raw power, straight aways are the safest pass if the driver in front of me is in a car of less power.

At your stage raw power is not important at all.

Passing rules - which will be the most restrictive for your novice run group - will be discussed in the drivers' meeting. Pay attention in class . . . but yeah, if you're allowed to pass at all it'll be permitted on the straights only, and only with a point-by from the driver you're about to pass. No point-by, no pass.

I urge you to do as good a job of forgetting how much power you have on tap as you possibly can, lest it get in the way of learning. Developing smoothness (on your part) is going to be worth far more than any excitement you get from big throttle response. There's a fair amount of totally new stuff to learn, and you're not ready for 10/10ths driving just yet.


On edit - try not to look at a road course as being a sequence of dragstrips separated by the occasional corners. You can just as easily look at a road course as being a collection of corners that have straights in between to keep them separated.


Norm

 

[Shadow277]

Don't worry about that now . . . with the possible exceptions of differential and/or transmission fluid temperatures.



At your stage raw power is not important at all.

Passing rules - which will be the most restrictive for your novice run group - will be discussed in the drivers' meeting. Pay attention in class . . . but yeah, if you're allowed to pass at all it'll be permitted on the straights only, and only with a point-by from the driver you're about to pass. No point-by, no pass.

I urge you to do as good a job of forgetting how much power you have on tap as you possibly can, lest it get in the way of learning. Developing smoothness (on your part) is going to be worth far more than any excitement you get from big throttle response. There's a fair amount of totally new stuff to learn, and you're not ready for 10/10ths driving just yet.


On edit - try not to look at a road course as being a sequence of dragstrips separated by the occasional corners. You can just as easily look at a road course as being a collection of corners that have straights in between to keep them separated.


Norm

Thanks Norm. You always have sound advice, along with others here. I'll make my primary focus on safety and education.

 

[Grintch]

Depends on which one you have, and what you may have done to it.

But yeah, driver is the biggest limiting factor.
After that tires, especially as the Mustang is big and heavy and usually doesn't have enough camber for track use.

 

[Shadow277]

Depends on which one you have, and what you may have done to it.

But yeah, driver is the biggest limiting factor.
After that tires, especially as the Mustang is big and heavy and usually doesn't have enough camber for track use.

I am pretty much stock. 255/275 stock wheels on Fire Hawk Indys. It's been lowered by an inch. Maybe cut coils? Flowmaster cat back with the middle resonator gone. I'm the second owner.

 

[Ewheels]

Am I overthinking this?

Yes you are. You have your event this weekend. Just go and have fun and let the car tell you what it needs.

 

[Shadow277]

Yes you are. You have your event this weekend. Just go and have fun and let the car tell you what it needs.

Switch my rears from 255 to 275s... Firestone goofed big time. That's what my car needs lol.

 

[Ewheels]

Switch my rears from 255 to 275s... Firestone goofed big time. That's what my car needs lol.

K

 

[tevaburns]

My mentality for Saturday is to stay safe above everything. Learn as much as I can and also have fun, which I know I will.

Don't let traffic ruin your fun, stay calm. If your brakes fade dramatically get off the track.

Next time: fresh brake fluid and trackpads.

For the future: upgrade to a road race oil pan before you get big-sticky track tires.

Bonus round: Some time in 2016 or 2017 Ford updated the driver side valve cover. If you get a ton of oil in the intake and some smoke out the tailpipes during track sessions you might need that updated part.

 

[Michael_vroomvroom]

Treat the throttle with respect. Don't ask the tires to do too much at once. You cannot simultaneously max brake and try to turn, nor max sustained cornering and accelerate. Imagine your foot and the steering wheel are connected by rope, and that as you release a pedal (brake or gas) you can start adding more steering lock.

Great and easy to understand analogy.

 

[TopJimmyCooks]

Going to my first open road course Saturday as Wu Han becomes less of a deterent. Meaning that I cannot have a passanger coach my first run.

Aside from that, I was curious to what the second and third gens strengths and weaknesses are. I heard it is important to know so if our S550 is only capable of raw power, straight aways are the safest pass if the driver in front of me is in a car of less power.

Does my question make sense? Am I overthinking this?

Let us know how it went! Hope you had fun...that’s what it’s all about.

 

[Shadow277]

Let us know how it went! Hope you had fun...that’s what it’s all about.

It was a blast and I cannot stop thinking about it. Better brakes and seat is now desireable...

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