The last couple times on track I've really been using my ABS. I'm wondering if that's a good thing or if I'm training myself to rely on it? But then what choice do I have? I'm braking a lot later and harder now and the ABS is just there! What do you think?

Dave

 

That's why you have ABS


Try better tires, it will improve your braking and of course, overall handling.

 

My RS doesn't have ABS. I need to brake a little earlier into the turns than you do.

Someone who is a skilled race driver and owns an '03 EVO VIII drove my RS at Buttonwillow Raceway, was flying down the front straight, late braked into turn #1, locked up the wheels, smoked the tires, and got black flagged for his trouble. HE FORGOT IT DIDN'T HAVE ABS!!!

No harm, no foul, the tires were about gone anyway.

 

Ah, it just seems like I'm cheating. It's too easy to go fast in this car. This last weekend I was out-braking all the Corvettes in my group even when I felt I was being sloppy.

Dave

 

I get into the abs pretty regularly, but as soon as I feel it start I back off a bit on the pedal and modulate. To me it's a way of knowing where the traction threshold is without locking up and flat-spotting any tires.

 

I've never ever used ABS on the track. You guys must be driving on low-speed tracks. At Portland International Raceway, the only places I might get on the ABS are the sharp turns after the two main straights, and by the time I get to a decent entry speed at the end I doubt I could lock up my brakes if I tried (not enough friction in any of the pads I've used). However, I should have some Hawk Blues arriving on Thursday, and it might be a different story.

On the street I use ABS all the time just for fun. I don't think it's the ABS helping people out on the track though, I think it's the Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. I can definitely feel that working at the track. When I'm trail braking the thing rotates like it knows where I want to go. ABS unsettles my car and I think if my new pads do let me get to the point where I can actually use it on the track, I'll probably pull the fuse.

 

Yeah, I generally think you've reached the limit of how hard/late you should be breaking when the ABS kicks in some. Now I don't normally get that because I don't push it hard enough on the track, but I did get it to kick in a couple times

 

Now that you mention it I did trail brake some into T7 at Putnam and it was surprisingly easy, but otherwise I don't trail yet. But I can't imagine how you wouldn't be on the brakes as hard as possible at a couple points on any track.

Dave

 

I use ABS, but I only get into it when I experience 'brain-fade'. As a rule, I try not to use it though.

 

I discovered the true wonders of ABS on the track in the rain at Mid-Ohio. I was going MUCH deeper into the corner at the end of the straight stretch (at 120-125mph in the rain) than my track-day buddies. It is a huge advantage in the wet and a decent advantage in the dry. But, lots of heavy use will shorten brake-pad life a lot.

 

I try to stay out of the ABS too. If I feel it engage I know that I've exceeded the limit and need to back off a hair.

In the rain though it's a different story. It's always engaging when the track is wet, but the track is also unpredictable when it's wet. hard to be consistent.

 

So, do you guys prefer ABS, or no ABS? my RS doesnt have it... actually none of my cars have had it that ive tracked... i just learn the limit of the brakes and i feel like that is good enough.. but i guess ABS is nice just incase...

 

I've never tracked a car without it, but I've driven plenty on the streets without it. I prefer ABS personally. It saves me from flatspotting tires, keeps me in check before things go bad and very handy in the rain. I'm not competing right now so that last tenth of a second doesn't matter to me, plus I'm not good enough to consistently threshhold brake anyway.

 

The car magazine tests show ABS Evo's stopping much shorter than non-ABS Evo's. At a race tack, deceleration is as important as acceleration. You also retain the ability to steer, even with ABS on full, unlike the straight line induced skid caused by non-ABS brakes. Stopping 40' shorter on the street could be the difference between disaster and survival. I don't see a down side.

 

Same here, and is something I'd like to learn.

Dave