John;
I recognize that an LSR car is a special case. In LSR, the reduction of
frontal area is so important that it may warrant going to a quasi-tricycle
configuration. I just wanted to point out the big compromise in handling
characteristics that it brings-- don't do it just to be different.
Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
-----Original Message-----
From: john robinson [mailto:john@engr.wisc.edu]
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2003 11:22 AM
To: Albaugh, Neil
Cc: land-speed@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: rws
I have always been thinking of a tricycle layout, but with 4 wheels, with
the rear wheels tandem...although this does not alleviate the triangle
configuration, it does help somewhat....
At 01:06 PM 10/2/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>John;
>
>People are always re-inventing the "three-wheeled car" for some reason.
>It is a terrible configuration handling-wise. The end with a single
>wheel has zero roll stiffness. Different is not always better.
>
>Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: john robinson [mailto:john@engr.wisc.edu]
>Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2003 9:46 AM
>To: land-speed@autox.team.net
>Subject: rws
>
>
>The UW did a rws car back in '81, a 50cc chainsaw motor and electrical
>conduit, the problem for it was that the very long wheelbase coupled
>with a tricycle rear steered wheel and a driver only a couple of feet
>ahead of the rear wheel made it very tippy, a 30+ mpg turn would cause
>it to fall over. but that was because the cg was pretty far aft, and
>thereby close to the wheel contact patch lines between front and rear
>tires. (center of front wheel contact patch to rear wheel patch,) the
>cg was pretty close to this line compared to a 4 wheel (rectangular )
>car, and this was surmised to cause the tippyness. it did get lots of
>MPG though......
>
> John Robinson, Mechanician
> Mechanical Engineering University of Wisconsin
> 1513 University Ave.
> Madison, Wi. 53706
> 608-262-3606
> Current World Land Speed Record Holder
> Bonneville Salt Flats
> H/GCC 92 cu.in. 1980 Dodge Colt
> 144.396 MPH set 2000
> MPS-PG 441 c.c. 1967 BSA Victor Motorcycle
> 95.193 MPH set 2001
> Antarctic Ice Driller Oct02-Jan03
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