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- Obviously it's not as
simple as I've made it sound. All of these factors interact with
one another. For example, if you increase the downforce at the
front, the increased downforce will squash the tires down more
firmly. This can affect the temperatures, or require more negative
camber. Changing almost any of the factors we've reviewed can
impact on other factors. It's very easy to get into a situation
where you are chasing your tail. Professional racing teams refer
to this as "getting lost."
-
- Change one thing at
a time, and keep copious notes!
-
- Conclusion
- I hope you find this
overview of race car vehicle dynamics helpful. Race car setup
is a very complex subject, and, though the fundamentals haven't
changed, new knowledge is being added all the time. Good race
engineers and crew chiefs are among the most critical - and well-paid
- personnel in top racing series.
-
- There are many books
available on the subject of race car vehicle dynamics. I suggest
Race
Car Engineering & Mechanics,
by Paul Van Valkenburg, and the massive 992-page Race Car Vehicle
Dynamics, by William
F. Milliken and Douglas L. Milliken. [NOTE: the latter can now
be obtained here.]
-
- Another great source
for books on this subject is Classic Motorbooks (800-826-6600).
-
-
- ©
1997 Alison Hine
(reprinted with permission)
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