While readers of the DSR board are still waiting for Jay Novak to nudge our understanding of Force Based Roll Centers, and the latest F1 geometry forward, he's been participating in a fascinating thread on Ackerman.

I know that some of you probably think that thinking about Ackerman is like thinking about jerking off - kind of pointless. But I beg to differ - about the Ackerman!

Here's the link: http://pub6.ezboard.com/fdsrfo...op=20

The thing about some of these chassis fundamentals is that the cost of effective if crude instrumentation is always coming down, making more accessible a better understanding - and a straighter shorter path to improvement.

Scott, who hopes someday to have little left to understand except what the checkered flag really means...

 

Thanks for the great read!

Pete- who has no clue what the deal is with these footnotes scott and the gang write at the end of every post.

 

good read

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by InfamousDC2FI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Pete- who has no clue what the deal is with these footnotes scott and the gang write at the end of every post.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm...and yet written as if it were second nature to you.


Scott, who doesn't know what the deal is either...it's just something that has to be done...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Hmm...and yet written as if it were second nature to you.


Scott, who doesn't know what the deal is either...it's just something that has to be done...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm, something smells fishy.

Pete, who still doesn't understand why it is something that has to be done.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know that some of you probably think that thinking about jerking off is kind of pointless. But I beg to differ.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What's that you say?


John, who just feels like focking with Scott. Unfortunately, nobody's safe on Friday's.

 

It's one of those Fridays when I wouldn't dare to even think about jerking off - something would probably go wrong.

Scott, who feels betrayed by johng during this difficult time...still, I should have known better. This is H-T after all.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's one of those Fridays when I wouldn't dare to even think about jerking off - something would probably go wrong.
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Weeeeee!

 

Damn, I knew that I was missing something. Strain guage sensors on my tie-rods. Now if I could just get those suspension travel linear pots installed! (only $250 ea. plus cable and connectors;-)

 

Some day when we're racing cars that have drive by wire, and a computer optimizes the steer angle of each wheel, then maybe we can eliminate all the black magic, and focus on actually driving the car!

Scott, who figures by then we'll have sensors hooked up to ourselves...I'm picturing it East German Olympic training style, run by the onboard computer...Missed that Apex? ZZAAAP!

Hey johng - Don't get any funny ideas, ok?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Some day when we're racing cars that have drive by wire, and a computer optimizes the steer angle of each wheel, then maybe we can eliminate all the black magic, and focus on actually driving the car!</TD></TR></TABLE>
It'll happen eventually. You just have soooo much more control over things when you can write a program to handle it rather than depend on complicated analog systems. It's already happened in the engine management realm. Forget about fiddling with those pesky jets when you have an ECU that can deliver any amount of fuel you want under whatever circumstances you choose. Transmission and suspension (traction control, active suspension) seem to be the next targets. It's looking like the internal combustion engine will eventually be replaced with fuel cells and electric motors. At that point it becomes much easier to develop a system that precisely controls the amount of torque going to each wheel at any given moment.

Yep, things have the prospect of becoming interestinger and interestinger.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, who figures by then we'll have sensors hooked up to ourselves...I'm picturing it East German Olympic training style, run by the onboard computer...Missed that Apex? ZZAAAP!</TD></TR></TABLE>
Oh boy! Now I'm envisioning a whole new kind of racing seat!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Agent Smith &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
It's looking like the internal combustion engine will eventually be replaced with fuel cells and electric motors. At that point it becomes much easier to develop a system that precisely controls the amount of torque going to each wheel at any given moment.

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And wasn't that the rumor for a while about the new Honda NSX. 300 hp gas motor for the rear wheels and two 50 hp electric motors (part of a hybrid system) for each front wheel for a total of 400 hp. Think of the tuning possiblities!