[200q20v] G60's vs. UFO's

[linust at mindspring.com]

gpowell at ennovatenetworks.com wrote:
> 
>Couple of things to consider...
>
> The best braking is not obtained with the wheels locked-up. Near 
> lock-up generally provides the best stopping performance (Gs) and 
> shortest stopping distances. ABS attempts to do this. Experienced 
> racers do this all the time,'threshold braking' they call it I 
> think, braking up to and on the threshold of lock-up.

One minor disagreement here...I think ABS is intended more to help Joe Average Driver on the street maintain control (steerability) of the car by avoiding lock-up as Joe mashes the brake in a panic.  ABS will not help a car stop any shorter than a skilled driver--shortest stopping distance is gonna be the same with or without ABS if ABS can keep up with the sensitivity of a racer's foot--in reality, technology limits mean ABS is set just a bit short of that.  As you note, though, a skidding tire can slide to a stop farther than a properly braked one, so in this sense, ABS can help shorten the stop.

Everything else you said--yup!

--Linus