Got a hypothetical question for you vehicle dynamics pros. What would a MINI do if it was cornering hard and the drive was suddenly interrupted, say from popping out of gear or a sudden clutch failure? I think it would "snap" over-steer, but I'm just guessing. Anybody know? I don't care to try it to find out!

 

I would believe your momentum would keep you going if you simply popped your shifter out of gear. Not sure on the clutch failure.

The one that gets me is there is a train track on the base that goes through a 45-degree left bend before the base entrance, and again through the main circle roundabout. In both locations, they used painted or polished black diamond board around the tracks. So, what do you think happens on those? Yep, my MINI slides to the right. And I really feel for those motorcycles going across it.

 

With a loss of drive during hard cornering, oversteer is certainly likely, especially if you have a stiffer-than-stock rear swaybar.

Any car will unload the rear wheels when you lift the throttle mid-corner (or if some mechanical failure disconnects the engine from the drivetrain) no matter if it's front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, front- or rear-engined. Unload the rear wheels enough in a turn and the car will oversteer.

 

Thanks a bunch Scott . I guess my suspicions were right. I vaguely remember that the classic Mini had a nasty habit of violent over-steer if you suddenly got off the gas in a hard corner, to the point of rolling. No fun at all!

 

You will not necessarily have an oversteer problem if the drivetrain has suddenly gone neutral. The oversteer is also dependent on the engine braking dynamics of the car. Unless you were on the throttle hard, it shouldn't cause a snap over-steer.