Glenn, are you referring solely to center of gravity
(CG) and/or centroid axis (CA)? CA is weight located
close to the centerline of the car (vertical axis or
moment). CA varies quite a bit due to component
packaging (including the driver) so you have different
moment arm lengths in affect for the entire length of
the car. CG is weight located on the horizontal axis.
As you can see, we have many moment arms working
simultaneously.
However you choose to look at it, we should all try
and package weight as low in the race car as possible.
This naturally lowers CG but maybe not CA. The higher
the CG, the higher (and longer) the moment arm. The
longer the moment arm, the more it will encourage a
rollover. Whatever car you are building, get that CG
and CA as low as possible. You don't have to turn
corners to benefit from this.
John
--- Glenn Ridlen <gridlen@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net> wrote:
> ... nothing fancy... I just want to make sure I've
> got a bit
> more on the front tires then the back...
>
> Keith
>
> How did you determine that was the best weight
> distribution? Does the Camaro just seem happy there?
> I wasn't in on the thread earlier....if you look it
> up let me know where it is. I am particularly
> interested in any comments about moment about the
> center of gravity. Many years ago I read that cars
> that need to turn quickly, like road racers, need a
> low moment ( weight located close to center) and
> cars that are trying to go in a straight line need a
> high moment to resist rotation about the CG. Like
> the difference between trying to spin a bowling ball
> versus a bar bell of the same weight. I have been
> told that if I need to add weight in the back it
> should be put in front of the rear axle.....That
> goes against what I read and what makes sense to me.
> I think that is drag raceing technoligy...when the
> suspension reacts it has to lift that added weight
> which forces the rear tires down. That makes sense
> for drag raceing where traction and excelleration
> are high but in our case wher!
> e the
> added weight is primarily to add to the traction
> needed to push the car thru the air I think we are
> better served by weight in the tail where it also
> resists direction change. Would welcome any
> comments.
>
> The ignorant other
> trucker from east Texas....Glenn
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