This is a response to Cameron about ride-height settings. Apparently,
things are done a bit differently in the UK than in the 'States. ;-). The
general implication was that cars are a bit more "level" at rest than
what I was referring to. Anyway - here's the response:
Hi,
I'm not sure I understood the point of your message. I understand that
the Revington TR springs made your car sit differently, but you were not
very specific as to how.
FWIW, the Revington stuff that I've seen is very well made and appear to
be quality parts, those comments are born out by your point that the
springs are weighted equally - this is important to get the car balanced.
The general point that I made about TR's sitting a "bit high" in the rear
had deeper meaning. If you corner weight a big TR, you'll find that the
weight is a bit greater in the front... by raising the rear a "tad", you
get the car much closer to 50/50 weight distribution. Now, in my book, a
50/50 car will handle better than a 51/49 or 52/48 car (like most of the
stock big TRs.)
On you point about tires, over here most of race on tires that are
considerably larger than the 195 tires that you mentioned. I run either
225/55-15's on my streetable car (SCCA F Street Prepared) or 9 inch
"slicks" (size would be "roughly" 220/45-15) on my "real race car". These
tire/suspension packages handle _amazingly better_ than the tires that I
had on one of the cars when new... over 25 years ago. For example - the
radial "DOT" tires over here require something like less than half the
turn-in steering input than the "real street tires". The effect is so
dramatic, that the first race I was in I spun the car out (several times)
because I turned in "too hard". But now that I'm used to those tires, I
wouldn't trade them for anything. Well, I would trade them for better
tires - but I haven't found those yet!
I guess it's a preference thing.
FWIW, I mostly autocross my cars (slalom - gymkhana), but I drove the
streetable car 1500 miles this weekend and it handles quite well, thank
you. I also like heavy steering, and adjusted my suspension for a bit
extra caster so it'll "self center" faster... like I said, I guess it's a
preference thing. And if you ever drive either of my cars - DON'T WRAP
YOUR THUMBS AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL!
I also know that not too many folks can sit in my cars and be faster than
me "right out of the box", so I probably do have some wierd settings.
On the other hand, I'd really like to see some of the cars set up in the
UK run against some of the cars set up in the USofA to see who really is
faster. Hmmm, Triumph will be the featured marque at the Sprint Vintage
Classic in 2002 A.D. in Mid Ohio here in the US... you guys wanna bring
some British prepared cars over here to see how they run???
Oh well...
rml
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