[Land-speed] Car Spins

[drmayf]

Interesting thoughts, JD.  Several thing there that I am a firm believer 
in. When you run out of push from the drive wheels, things get sporty.  
I drive with my hands on the wheel like I am gripping a live bird. No 
sudden moves, ever. If the car wants to drift around a bit, I let it. 
Just keep it between the lines.  Care to share with me, on or off list, 
what the chassis change that Bill Temple told you to do?   Just for 
curiosity, which way di dyou car spin, if it did? ANd was it 
consistently that way?

Thanks, JD

mayf
James Tone wrote:

> Just curious as it is not my  
>  
>
>>>>intention to do this on a regular basis, lol...
>>>>
>>>>Any thoughts that can tie the wheel base, track, weight, what the  
>>>>driver had for breakfast, etc is appreciated.
>>>>        
>>>>
>
>I believe guys build ther cars symetrical, non-flexible on a flat surface and feel they stay that way during a run. I will not tell everyone to build it like a hooked up sprint car in turn 2 but you need to think about what the vehicle is going thru an how to make adjustments when things do happen. I'm also not saying to build a flexi-flyer like a NHRA top fueler either. 
>
>All cars will apply force to the driveline and tires in a different way and I believe it to be gradual. Things change thru out the run and the driver needs to be ready for each of them. Letting your car have it's "own head" and bringing it back it a whole lot smarter than quickly making the wrong steering move and correcting what you think is wrong.
>
>Many roadster drivers told me our car would become more of a handfull over 185. They also told me the real fun comes when it runs out of horsepower (levels off). They were dead on right on both things. My son spun at 186 making us do a chassis change an old time racer, Bill Temple, told me to do when it spins; but not until it does. The other was at the end of the 4 at 214.5. I only gained 1.5 mph to the 5 and it was the ride of my life. HP leveled off and the 32 grille went hunting. and I was along for the ride. The key was not to over correct a 109" WB car to quickly. I didn't and made it thru the 5 OK at 216.1
>
>One of the other things I've watched over the years is what I call "violent horsepower" nomally it comes with turbo engines but I can happen with all of them at some point. Driving with the egg under your shoe and squeezing the power at the right time comes with seat time on the salt seems to remedy that problem. Good luck to all.............JD    
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