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From: chrisp@oliven.UUCP (Chris Prael)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: 84 Corvette Handling, etc.
Message-ID: <153@oliven.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Jun-84 13:19:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: oliven.153
Posted: Wed Jun 13 13:19:52 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 15-Jun-84 01:17:55 EDT
Organization: Olivetti ATC, Cupertino, Ca
Lines: 35

To:	Jeff Buchanan 
	Peter Barbee
	and anyone else who finds this subject entertaining:

Both of you seem to be in need of doing some homework on the subject of
handling. I would suggest Costin and Phipps as a starting point, even though the
book is getting a bit long in the tooth.  A more recent, and very good book is
Fred Puhn's on improving production car suspensions. You would also find the
article on driving technique in the latest Road & Track instructive.

Next, you might both note that LOGIC is totally useless on the subject of
handling and how to get it. Five years of messing around on the track in SCCA
did a thorough job of rubbing my nose in that. The only valid question is "what
works?". (The same rule applies very well in mucking around computers, by the
by.)

In essence, the art of getting more grip boils down to maximizing the area of
the tire contact patches at all times. With modern tires and no aero effects
the primary considerations are minimizing camber change and maximizing
compliance. These two factors involve a large number of complex compromizes.
When you add aerodynamic effects a whole new set of parametric compromizes
are required. While some rules of thumb are generally available, they only
provide "best guess" starting points from which to develop. And develop means
try lots of variations and MEASURE the results. Ditto combinations of
variations.

Finally, you might both of you check your facts. As an example, Peugot has not
been involved in "Grand Prix" racing since World War I. Their first attempt at
competition of any sort in the last 25 years is an entry in the world rally
series, based on the 205 series car. If you had either of you been paying any
attention to Formula 1 lately, you would know that the cars ride like buck
boards at present. This is because body attitude and ride height are the most
important factors in developing grip by aerodynamic downforce.

				Chris Prael