^ it may just be a timing thing, i've noticed in the lower speed classes the controller sometimes vibrates a second time after the boost start, but doesnt happen so often in rapier/phantom.

As for always coming off second best in a ramming contest, i think thats mainly due to lag. Maybe you guys dont experience it too bad as your racing ppl relatvley close, but im usually racing hollow people, and when they do ram, it seems they are on a weird line and completely immovable (its not nice being pushed aside by an assegai while your in a triakis )