Tony wrote:
>>> These are the patches from the front
>>> wheels of a front wheel drive car in the
>>> same corner which must transmit
>>> steering forces AND driving forces and,
>>> *all other things equal*, are forced to
>>> assume heroic slip angles which cause
>>> loss of adhesion, and running off the road
>>> and into trees! <
Steve replied:
>> Tony, thank you for your lucid explanation. At this point may I remind
>> you that one of the M100s attributes is grip, grip, grip to obviate this
>> effect. Those Lotus guys ain't stupid you know!
Tony responded:
> The M100 must have fantastic grip and has been called by
> those I respect, "the best handling FWD production car". But
> sorry;
> Under my "all other things equal" parameter (a great handling
> RWD car as well) the "equal tires" of the RWD car would
> maintain a "comfort zone" of performance at a cornering speed
> which would set the FWD car's front tires on fire! The
> designers of near every successful purpose-built race car
> must not be stupid either.
Meanwhile, Rod wrote:
> Ah thanks Tony!
My thanks, too, Tony. It's nice to have people like you and Rod around,
who are willing to spend time to gently counsel the less knowledgable.
I sometimes tend to get too impatient, with people who don't understand
handling, driving, and why handling near the limit is a completely
different thing than handling at 8/10ths. It takes someone who
understands these things, to really appreciate the various rwd vs fwd
arguments. Steve doesn't fully understand yet, but I believe real
progress is being made!
My impatience can sometimes show in the tone of my posts, when I get too
fired up on these subjects, and so I have found that it is really best
to leave the the debate in the hands of those who are a little more
diplomatic.
Tony has risen well to the occasion, in this particular case. Bravo.
Rod has carried the flag well in various previous cases.
> And of course, this brushes against that old
> "purpose of F1" arguement where it's technology of the "highest
> tech" vs. drivers of the highest skill and how to balance the two
> with the rules.
A very basic and important dichotomy, but one which I fear Steve may
not yet fully get the significance of.
> More directly to the original point though,
> driveability of the car is only an issue to somebody who goes to the
> limits. Below that level, the technology (tires, calibrated
> suspension bushings... whatever gives lots of pure grip) is welcome
> magic. Are you listening, Steve? ;-)
Rod, I think a lot could be accomplished if Steve drove a slalom school
with you as his instructor!
Regards,
Erik Berg
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