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Re: Traction

To: <kturk@ala.net>
Subject: Re: Traction
From: "John Beckett" <landspeedracer@email.msn.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 21:51:03 -0400
>> From: John Beckett <landspeedracer@email.msn.com>
>> To: Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>
>> Subject: Re: Traction
>> Date: Sunday, August 29, 1999 7:10 AM
>>
>>     Keith
>>
>>     Wow, personally I think you've got it backwards. Traction has always
>> been at a premium at Bonneville, some years more so than others. Heck my
>> little 258 incher had enough torque to twist the car sideways , and I
>only
>> have a 2.32 first gear. One thing for sure is that the gears that you had
>> this year just exacerbated the problem. Your new trans should help, but a
>> 2.0 or 1.9 first gear, with less torque multiplication, would be even
>> better.
>>
>>     Think again about adding a bunch of weight to the rear of the car.
>> Remember all those discussions about ballast? Adding the weight works
>great
>> until that one time that you lose a little traction and then the rear
>will
>> be around before you can blink. I took all but 50 lbs (left in the front)
>of
>> my 500 lbs out this year, and the car handled just as good as last year.
>>
>>     If you think your having traction problems on the top end, then a
>rear
>> spoiler, if allowed, would be a better choice. A lot of testing is
>necessary
>> to find the best position for maximum down force and minimum drag. Just
>> don't add so much pressure on the rear that it begins to lever the front
>up
>> in the air at speed. Your front air dam may also have positve effect by
>> attempting to creating a low pressure area under the car.
>>
>>     This is all part of the science of Bonneville.
>>
>>     John Beckett
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>
>> To: land-speed@autox.team.net <land-speed@autox.team.net>
>> Date: Saturday, August 28, 1999 11:53 PM
>> Subject: Transmission Junk
>>
>>
>> >Finally got that Trans Rebuilt... now we have an option... this one is a
>> >T-10 with / 2:43 First, 1:61 Second , 1:23 Third.... and a 1-1 forth..
>> >
>> >I would have liked the 1:18 Third to go with this combination but to be
>> >real honest we couldn't use the Horsepower we had available.... Which
>means
>> >to me that the car needs rear end weight.... Based on my current
>> >understanding if you have excessive Hp to spare all the Spoilers in the
>> >world won't hurt your top speed if it helps you plant that Hp to the
>> >Salt.... if your down on Hp Lead Weights are the most user friendly way
>of
>> >Planting the tires.... but otherwise Spoilers and aerodynamic aids are
>> >better if allowed in your class ( as it allows for quicker acceleration
>by
>> >limiting the Mass..
>> >
>> >Any thoughts?
>> >
>> >Keith Turk
>> >Austin Healey 100  /  Bugeye / Box Sprite / Bonneville Land Speed Racer
>> >Camaro ( D Gas Altered )
>>
>>
>>




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