[Shotimes] Pontiac unveils SHO successor?

[cmichaelo@optonline.net]

> DING DING DING....The MASS part is what I have been trying 
> to get across all along.  Friction is just ONE part of the 
> traction equation, and when talking a very LOW CF on 
> snow/ice, the amount to be gained from extra weight on the 
> contact patch is so tiny that the extra mass cancels this out.

Assuming we are comparing two cars of the same MASS but one is FWD and the other is RWD, the MASS can be disregarded when comparing these two cars relative traction performance.

There are two forces needed to move the car forward: Momentum of the engine and friction at the contact patch.  And the more of the cars RELATIVE weight is on the contact patch, the faster the car can accellerate in a straigh line. 

In cases of very low CF, there is no weight transfer to the rear, and therefore a FWD easily outperforms a RWD.

In cases of high CF, there may be significant weight transfer, and therefore a RWD easily outperforms and FWD.

In both cases, the relative amount of the cars total weight that rests on the contact patch has a VERY SIGNIFICANT impact on the cars ability to accellerate.

Michael
94MTX,green,BOS+,Koni/Intrax,Baer,Corbeau
SHO items for sale: http://hometown.aol.com/cmichaelo/for_sale.html