Did this happen at every corner or just a couple of turns?
The course had at least five sweeping turns that were for the most part
constant radius. In two of them there were some pretty big bumps where the
concrete blocks were uneven. During steady-state cornering (something that
course had lots of) if you hit one of these bumps while your suspension is
loaded up from the cornering forces, it will cause your car to hop over
quite a bit.
I was working at the "Showcase" turn on Saturday (station two) and saw many
cars get upset as they went through the second turn in the course. A couple
of the CSP cars with ultra stiff front suspensions would really get launched
by that bump, but once they hooked up the tires just bit and zip - they were
gone. The stock cars had more trouble because it looked like most of them
were cornering on the bump stops. The outside wheel's suspension couldn't
soak up the bump because the spring was nearly or fully compressed due to
the cornering loads.
For the benefit of those who weren't there, we were running the south course
backwards on Saturday, so the paticular bump I'm referring to would have
been in the corner just after the showcase turn when running the course as
it was designed.
I didn't run at Nationals last year, so this was my first time driving the
course. It was easily the most challenging course I've ever seen. Maybe it
was also because I was in an unfamiliar car, but I just couldn't figure out
the best way to drive that course. I loved it!
Brian Meyer
Wichita Region
p.s. I don't know if Solotime's "Stick" will work on your Toyo's. Better
splurge for the "Super Sticky Stick".
> ----------
> From: Eric Linnhoff[SMTP:eric10mm@qni.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 1999 11:06 AM
> To: autox
> Subject: car hopping
>
> Howdy all.
>
> I've finally had the opportunity to run on the concrete at Forbes field
> this past weekend at the Solotime Midwest Divisional Championship event
> and I was really impressed by the amount of grip that's available. BTW,
> it was an excellent course Karen Babb (we ran the 1998 south course). The
> weather was, well, typically midwestern. But the racing and the
> camaraderie was outstanding.
>
> Here's the problem: Normally when I enter a corner too hot with my FWD
> car on Toyos It just pushes due to our local slick racing surfaces. BUT,
> at Forbes the car's front end physically hopped sideways as I pushed
> through the turn due to entering too fast.
>
> Okay, here's the question: What caused this? Other than slowing down a
> tad bit is there any sort of tuning that I can do to my Stock Class car to
> lessen the hopping effect? Adjust the front tire pressures up or down?
> Swaybar endlink tightness? Drive better? Buy a can of "stick" from the
> Alfts?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> See you on course.
>
> Eric Linnhoff in KC
> #69DS TLS #13
> '98 Neon R/T
> <eric10mm@qni.com>
>
> she being brand new
> and consequently a little stiff
> i was careful of her
> and having thoroughly oiled the universal joint
> tested my gas
> felt of her radiator
> made sure her springs were ok
> =======================
> "she being brand new" by EE Cummings
>
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