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Re: Course design/speed limits

To: <autox@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Course design/speed limits
From: "Justin Hughes" <ka1ult@channel1.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 18:58:56 -0500
>>One thing I like is a course that puts cars with poor power and good
>>handling on even ground with cars with good power and poor handling.
>
>A noble thought. I've seen this accomplished from time to time,
>but not  necessarily in the way you'd think.


Oh?  How do you mean?  And yes, I know it's a noble thought, and one that
isn't easily or often achieved...

>The slalom may help "equalize" things, but hairpins that exit
>onto straights tend to favor power and/or traction over handling.
>One of the common misconceptions about course design is that an
>"open" course necessarily favors high-powered cars. More often
>than not, it gives the cars with wimpy motors the opportunity to
>carry speed. Momentum is a precious thing and must be hoarded
>when you can't easily regain it. OTOH, the best way to favor
>horsepower is to design a course with relatively straight
>sections connected by tight 180s.

Hmmm, well, we've got both of those in ours - a very open design, which will
help my underpowered little Bimmer by letting me take a wider line and keep
momentum, plus a few 180s with the more powerful cars can blast out of.  But
not for long. :)

    - Justin


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