This is c&p from http://www.theracesite.com/index.cfm...m_article=4627 :

Peter Cunningham on FWD Vs RWD

Many drivers have made the transition from racing front-wheel drive cars to rear-wheel drive and back. But RealTime Racing's Peter Cunningham spent the 2002 season making that transition many times each race weekend. The Wisconsin driver won the 2002 Touring Car champion in his front engine, front-wheel drive Acura and finished second in the GT championship in his rear-engine rear-wheel drive NSX. To hear PD talk, it was really no big deal.

Of course Cunningham, like many of us, started his automotive experiences in a big Detroit car, in Peter's case Olds Vista Cruisers, but he first auto crossing in a FWD SAAB in 1980 and competed in his first road races in another SAAB in SSC in 1984. And if present day competitors have any complaints about present day tires ask Peter about what he was forced to use on that car.

"The biggest boon to my racing career was getting hooked up with Honda in 1987," Cunningham said. "It was here that my front-drive repertoire gained range. Ice racing and competing in the Firehawk Endurance Championship in those great handling first generation CRXs that year was a blast!" "After a Dodge Stealth effort in the Firehawk series came the Honda Prelude era and another advance in FWD handling," continued Cunningham. "But of course the ultimate thrill, front wheel drive wise, had to be the NATCC (the short-lived North American Touring Car Championship). I was very fortunate to have had that opportunity with HART (in the Honda Accord)."

Cunningham moved on to conventional rear wheel drive racecars in the mid 80's driving a Toyota Supra, a 300ZX Turbo and moved into Corvettes in 87 and 88. Get the picture? PD Cunningham, like so many racers, doesn't really care where the drive wheels are. All he needs are wheels.

But, consider PD Cunningham's weekend at Trois Rivieries in 1996. It was his first race in the Super Touring Honda Accord and on the same weekend he was also racing his NSX. The Accord was FWD using 19-inch Michelin slicks, right-hand drive, and a left handed sequential shift. The NSX was RWD on 16-inch Goodyear's and a right-handed H-pattern shift.

"My first time in the Accord was at Trois Rivieries," PD said. "This was my toughest transition. Those two races were back-to-back so I had to get out of the FWD and hop into RWD. Not a lot of fun on a concrete-lined circuit! But after all the years you just adapt."

Peter explained that he felt that there wasn't all that much difference in racing FWD Vs RWD cars saying, "Nowadays, the differences aren't all that pronounced and all the same rules apply. If you lift on the approach to an apex the nose will turn in. If you lift too long in a front driver you can imagine what happens next. But is that scenario that much different in a 911? The biggest difference I've seen is in the line. You need to get more work done BEFORE the apex in a FWD car. That way, in the second half of the corner, your steering wheel can be relatively straight compared to the RWD machine and more grip can be focused on acceleration."

"Braking technique is not very different either," Cunningham continued. "In any car you want to have an extra bit of energy left over to help turn the car as you finish the brake zone. Not everyone can successfully manage that on a daily basis, however."

More from Mr. RealTime Racing Cunningham next week!



enjoy!

 

decent article.

 

Another cool article from Shane

 

yep

 

PD is the man! Can't wait until the new race season starts.

 

P.D is a damn good driver but I don't like his tactics sometimes when it comes to winning. He does whatever it takes sometimes and can be very unsportsmanlike.


[Modified by stevel, 10:01 AM 1/10/2003]


[Modified by stevel, 10:02 AM 1/10/2003]

 

c00 article shane

[QUOTE]P.D is a damn good driver but I don't like his tactics sometimes when it comes to winning. He does whatever it takes sometimes and can be very unsportsmanlike. [QUOTE]
I can see this comment directed at maybe PK, his teammate, but not PD.

 

More plz

 

Yeah man Kleinubing is the one who can be somewhat dirty at times but PD is a class act. If you ever get to meet the two of them you will also see what a great guy, a true sportsman.

 

 

Cool Article

 

Thanks Ed. You should see all the stuff I post on the BMW Motorsports board at RoadFly.

BTW, PD is super cool in person. So is PK, though his race tactics are questionable sometimes. I sure miss those guys running in Grand Rapids.

cheers!