Wicked Weasel

Well after a long love/hate relationship with active handling I finally turned it off this week at WGI. It was hard to seperate myself from the crutch of AH, but it got to the point that it was just so intrusive that I really felt it was hurting me more than helping me.

Believe me it was not easy to let it go. Maybe in the back of my mind I always hoped that if I screwed up that there was something there that could help me out, but in the end relying on something else then my judgement just didnt seem smart.

So here is my progression

1. street tires everything on.

2. graduate to treaded r-compound tires everything on

3. move to kumhos v710s traction control off

4. Move to Hoosiers R6 - traction control and AH off.

This is almost a full 3 year progression of learning the car and learning my abilities.

I do not recommend this for everyone, but there comes a day when the car setup is outperforming the original intented purpose of the car and thus the computer has no idea what is going on.

EV2DEMON

No way man. GM engineers designed the Active Handling on these cars. There's no way your car can be faster with it turned off, and you're guaranteed to crash and burn. I read so right here on this very forum.

Like yourself, I find the AH too intrusive, and I'm to the point that I can lap faster with it off than in competitive mode. I bought my car to enjoy and race. If I lose it and damage the car, so be it. I'm sure not going to live with the false sense of security that the AH is some kind of fix all and will be there to save my butt anytime I screw up though.

FasterIsBetter

Bob,

Sounds like you're having a good time with that car. I agree with you, in most instances, you're better off with TC/AH off. The only time I use it on the track anymore is when it wet out. With the amount of power to the rear wheels, I find it's just too easy to break the rear loose when the track is really wet, so I still use the crutch. After all, I'm not out there racing for money, I'm just out there having fun.

Hope to see you again at an upcoming event.

Steve

0Randy@DRM

We have a little joke around the shop about this subject during a race car build. "cut that wire"

Randy

0Randy@DRM

We have a little joke around the shop about this subject during a race car build. "cut that wire"

Randy

robvuk

I don't think anybody ever said that AH would make you faster around the track. The better you get, the more instrusive it is. AH is not there for speed, it's there to keep your car straight, particularly if you go off track.

When I want to go fast, I turn it off. (That's the beauty of it) I always leave it on while I'm learning a new track. Pretty much for the entire first day. I am a fairly aggressive driver and I have been off many times while at tracks I haven't been to before. AH has saved my butt many times over the years. I make my students use competetive mode. AH on, no TC. HPDE's don't give you money, they don't even give you a $5 trophy. I can live with going a second or two slower on my first day till I'm comfortable with my line. I'm not going to break any records anyway. The egos are supposed to be checked at the gate. jmho

rws.1

I generally run my first run of event 1 with everything on.
Run 2 event 1 is done in Competitive driving mode

Run 1 event 2 and all successive runs are done with active handling and traction control off.

If it is raining, I run with everything on.

Bink

I'm new to this.....sure is a lot of fun!!
I've never run with either AH or TC on?

Cobra4B

I made the break last year... I felt my driving skills were being hindered by the AH system. Plus, I wasn't learning to truly control the car as the AH was always interfering and I always had that safetly net in the back of my head.

The first event I turned it off was amazing... I could slide the car, trail brake, etc. It was like a new car.

Like others have said I leave it on in the wet or a new track.

wtknght1

Welcome to world of becoming a real driver!!

RoganR

I've done a few events in my fbody, so I am still pretty much a newbie to this. I was going to take off the ACH just b/c.... However after reading threads in this forum looks like I am still way too "new" to even think about driving without it.

Can someone explain how the ACH works in the Road Course environment. Or how it just works period.

Allthrottleandsomebottle

Exactly how it should be done.................once YOU are in your comfort zone with the different tracks/tires/seat time,etc......... off with the TC/AH. I was a cheap biatch and only bought C5s with std TC.............now you know why

Independent1

^^ Did the same thing though I have not yet hit the track, but hopefully will be able to soon.

mash

I agree with Ingle. YOU WILL become a better driver. The act/hdlng can be a scary deal, when it shuts off fuel to the motor, and you are in a slide! Can cause the car to snap, and hook. Very scarry.

Mash

robvuk

Thata's exactly what it avoids. And believe me, I know from first hand experience.

wtknght1

Active Handling (AH) and Traction Control (TC) work by applying the brakes to the wheels in different ways to keep the car in check...to keep the car from sliding. It also reduces engine power if the computer "feels" the car is out of control...or heading that way. It uses yaw sensors, engine management, the Electronic Brake Control Module, etc to keep it from sliding or spinning. It can't overcome physics, but it numbs the car pretty good.

You can put the car into 'competitive mode' which is not quite intrusive as the full version of AH/TC, but will still apply those same devices to help keep you from spinning. Competitive mode will let you move the car around (slide it) a little, but again, it just numbs the car.

For track purposes, all of the above can teach drivers some very bad habits...but we've beat that horse to death.

Cobra4B

That's why I ditched it... you're not learning what the car can really do and you're not learning the instincts it takes to save the car when you need to. AH only saves you to a point, then you're just screwed.

gfacter

I turned if off after 3 sessions. It was doing weird stuff and and making the car feel strange (to the point where I was questioning my C6 purchase)

Turn 10 at VIR felt really strange on turn in in Comp mode.

RoganR

Thanks for the explanation. I don't have much seat time in my Fbody and none at all in my c5. I am not a crazy person on the track, so would you recommend I just turn it off for a Road Coarse Event?

DOUG @ ECS

I was driving around the Glen at maybe half speed for a cool down lap (drizzling also) and without even using brakes at all, I noticed AH going off on EVERY turn. (maybe from the slicks?) Before I noticed it when in hard turns like the toe of boot etc when it's really intrusive, but I never realised it went off on every turn. No wonder why I'm so slow... Needless to say I'm done with it also, the car feels so much more responsive, and personally I feel much more in control of the car in general.