Re: Weight a minute

[Dave Eaton <dave.eaton@minedu.govt.nz>]

err. no dave...

the mb class 1 racer was *rumoured* to have a moveable mass to which was bolted
it's 'success ballast' (the weight added to the car after it won a race), and
probably a little more besides. 

the effect of it is exactly the opppostite of which you describe.  the weight
moved to the *rear* on acceleration, and to the front for braking.  don't
forget that we are talking about a rwd machine here racing against awd (opel
and alfa).  traction control is all well and dandy, but removes power from your
racer when it most needs it (exit from corners).  in this case, the moveable
weight was designed to *lessen* the incidence of traction control, and bring
some of the awd advantages...

i had nothing to do with 50:50 weight distribution and everything to do with
moving weight to where it was needed.  after all isn't 50:50 just a compromise
between the requirements for good braking and acceleration?  (eg. why are 911's
tail happy under hard braking?)

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q

>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 11:22:28 -0600
>From: "Lawson, Dave" <dlawson@service.ball.com>
>
>Weight distribution is very important to handling and braking
>performance. For those interested in just how far factory race teams will
>go to achieve this, review the mercedes DTM cars from a few years ago. 
>They had a computer controlled, rail mounted, movable mass, installed 
>inside the car. This mass would move forward on accel and move rearward 
>on braking, all so the ideal 50/50 weight distribution could be achieved 
>under all conditions.
>- -
>Dave Lawson