[Land-speed] Polar Moment

[NT788 at comcast.net]

Elon   Caster when turned creats a diagonal weight bias ie right turn loads r.f and l.r. very bad with a locked rear end!Wheels steer best when all four both touch the ground equally"lsr." Weight on front wheels steering. weight on rear wheels traction, weight in the middle a deficit. Note how little steering it takes to change lanes at 60mph! A lot of caster = steer-correct- steer-correct-steer-spin! A lot of castor would work good rock climbing!    jack

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Elon" <saltfever at comcast.net> 

I thought caster had a self-centering effect?  Are you saying putting as much weight through the center of the contact patch is better than the caster-effect?  IOW, caster moves the weight forward of the contact patch. . . and that is not good?  Very interesting, Jack :-)
  -Elon 

-----Original Message-----
From: NT788 at comcast.net [mailto:NT788 at comcast.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 10:01 AM
To: Elon
Subject: Re: Polar Moment

Minimal caster might help. Jack

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Elon" <saltfever at comcast.net> 
That is a good point, Jack. But on a car as long as yours the rate of spin is not that same as a 98 Monza.   The length of wheel base slows things down as well, so I am wondering if polar moment is as critical as it would be on a 98 car?  -Elon

-----Original Message-----
From: NT788 at comcast.net  
Hi Elon   Skaters--arms out,slow spin, arms in, fast spin. Jack