The Line
2002-05-31 15:04:42+00 by
Dan Lyke
2 comments
At some point (and I may not have even been a part of the conversation then), Faisal mentioned "the line" in racing, and passed along a page with lots of physics on it. I wish that page had better navigation, because I'd like to see the follow-on to it; this description assumes constant speed through the curve, more advanced techniques start to use the beginning of the corner as the final part of the braking, and let the radius increase to allow for acceleration through the curve.
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comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment made: 2002-06-03 04:38:03+00 by:
ebradway
And the true joy of racing comes from the fact that only one car can follow 'the line' at a time.
As far as acceleration through the curve, most of your acceleration gets lost in countering your angluar momentum. The goal is to brake until you hit the maximum safe velocity for the curve and accelerate to maintain that velocity. Once you come 'out of the turn' - that is, the angluar momentum is released - your acceleration will start to increase your velocity again.
The whole idea behind 'accelerating through the turns' isn't to increase your speed as you work through the turn, but to maintain the same speed until you are out. If it's possible to safely increase your speed through the turn, then you slowed too much before entering the turn.
#Comment made: 2002-06-03 10:54:37+00 by:
meuon
Accelerating through the turn also changes you effective center of gravity, suspension load, and has the car accelerating as you straighten out.