Howdy,
I am aware of the Bucky car, but had not thought of driver
position....I'll do a lookup on this, thanks,
I don't see how the Thrust' steering box would stop feedback to
the driver, feedback for a driver is a combination of vision and inner ear,
and response requires a high amount of hand coordination. Granted there is
feedback through the steering, but I believe it to be minimal.....compared
to vision and inner ear.........
At 09:06 AM 5/26/00 , you wrote:
>Hello John.
>I've been following the land-speed@autox.team.net list for some time.
>I'm surprised no one has mention Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion car.
>I believe one reason it worked was that the driver was in front of the
>front wheels. (I used metacrawler with "dymaxion car" to get about 25
>hits.)
>
> Glynne Bowsher told me the big secret, if any, with ThrustSSC's steering
>was the worm and wheel gear box (Brit. for worm gear) which prevented
>confusing feedback from getting to the driver.
>
>After they set the first record at 714, Andy Green told me that he had no
>problem controlling the car. When the car got into the transonic range
>control turned to worms and rear steer didn't have much to do with it.
>It may have helped make the driver feel helpless, which he was, but front
>would not have changed that much if at all.
>
>
>Bryan
John Robinson, Mechanician
Mechanical Engineering University of Wisconsin
1513 University Ave.
Madison, Wi. 53706
608-262-3606
FAX 608-265-2316
Current World Land Speed Record Holder
Bonneville Salt Flats
H/GCC 92 cu.in. 1980 Dodge Colt
131.333 MPH set 1995
136.666 MPH set 1996
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