I did a skid pan day yesterday with the folks at Evo OZ and thought it might be of interest to post the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKXdt8ZDo3A
Both me and my mate (we shared the car) were blown away by the sheer ability of the X. Once we figured out how to do it properly, it was really easy to get the car sideways and keep it there. For a mediocre driver like me, it really makes me look good. There was another X there and he was flinging it around like a pro-drifter.
My first few rounds were full of understeer, I was getting frustrated because I wasn't getting the procedure right. But once you get it right, it's like a light switch and soon the slides were coming like no tomorrow.
Essentially, the procedure is:
- Turn ASC to 'off off'
- Turn S-AWC to gravel mode
- Build up speed to about 60 km/h
- Start the turn by flicking into it, then immediately throttle off and pull the handbrake. Keep the handbrake on until you feel the back get loose.
- Handbrake off. I was told that the centre differential disconnects when the handbrake is engaged, so don't keep power on and handbrake on at the same time.
- At the same time, steer into the corner quickly until the desired slide angle is reached.
- Start countersteering so that you don't spin out due to oversteer (this was the hardest part to get right)
- Feather the throttle to keep the car going sideways!
I have new found respect for my car.
It is just so controllable and predictable at the limit. I now understand why the stunt drivers at Movieworld use the Evo X as their weapon of choice!
