Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site oliven.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!houxz!vax135!floyd!cmcl2!seismo!hao!hplabs!oliveb!olivej!oliven!chrisp 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