Trevor,
Or course you had to leave out my disclaimer in this quote. Comparing a
Mini to anything is apples and oranges. A Mini is a wonderful car to drive,
I've driven one in competition. Just because a Mini can do amazing
things doesn't mean that a Honda (or whatever FWD flavor you like) is the
best road racing car.
I don't think a sound engineering judgement of "what wins races" can be
made by comparing a Mini to a big jag. Small is good in the world of
racing (when you're talking about going around corners). In a corner
the question of inertia is on the side of something like a Mini, FWD
or not. Why don't you dig through those old archives and
look for the sports racers based on the Mini. The were mid-engine (well
sort of mid-engine), rear wheel drive. I wonder why.
-Keith Wheeler
Team Sanctuary http://www.teamsanctuary.com/
At 01:25 AM 9/17/98 -0400, Trevor Boicey wrote:
>Keith Wheeler wrote:
>> Here's the why behind the "real race cars" thing. Under acceleration
>> there is weight transfer to the rear tyres. That weight transfer means
>> more grip. "Floor it" in a FWD and the driven wheels get light and spin.
>> Accelerate hard in a RWD car and you get more grip. What's fun is to
>> be loose in a corner (some oversteer) and be able to come out of it
>> by accelerating.
>>
>> Of course front engine, front wheel drive, with understeer that makes
>> the car gods ashamed...well, those things are built for people who can't
>> drive.
>
> This always makes me think of watching those vintage LBC
>racing films they sometimes show on Speedvision.
>
> The big jags and our MGs and the TRs are sweeping gloriously
>around the corners in a controlled four wheel drift, deftly
>using the throttle to woo the fans.
>
> Meanwhile the minis make the corner look hum drum as
>they do it at 20% higher speed.
>
> I'm more concerned with what wins races than with what
>looks impressive on film.
>
>--
>Trevor Boicey, P. Eng.
>Ottawa, Canada, tboicey@brit.ca
>ICQ #17432933 http://www.brit.ca/~tboicey/
>
>
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