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RE: Race bike Stability and Safety

To: "'Skip Higginbotham'" <saltrat@pro-blend.com>, Nafzger
Subject: RE: Race bike Stability and Safety
From: "Albaugh, Neil" <albaugh_neil@ti.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2002 11:31:37 -0500
Howard;

As far as mid-engine "sports" cars are concerned, I'm afraid Landa is pretty
far off in his CP location. Those cars typically have 60% of the weight on
the rear wheels, so their CG is pretty far aft-- requiring a CP that is even
further aft. 

Perhaps his "modern aerodynamic shaped track cars" definition covers this. I
suppose it depends on his definition of what the car is. 

In any case, the car chassis, suspension, etc should handle well at moderate
speeds-- get it stable before going to high speeds where aerodynamics are
another concern. That is, if it handles like a pig at low speeds, making it
work at high speed by playing with aerodynamics is a nightmare. Old
swing-axle VWs were awful on the autobahn on a windy day!

It is far more rewarding and safer to get the car set up for good handling
and then work on high speed aerodynamic stability.

Regards, Neil     Tucson, AZ



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