For road Racing, How much power is enough?
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? You can NEVER have TOO much power. In racing everywhere, it becomes the quest for the most power. somesay that traction problems will occur....well, that is racing. That is the next quest-> traction. think, we had traction problems with 550 HP inthe old World Challenge Mustangs. now, in Trans-Am, we have about 150 more Hp. guess what, with OUT traction control, we have about the same traction! we have just elevated the amount of traction that we have!
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? Yep, I say give more power then I will worry about how to harness it into traction.
I do agree that for our lapping sessions like at MSR, as long as you have say 300HP or so, you won't hardly get your butt handed to you as long as you can control what you have. <img src="images/icons/wink.gif" border="0">
But as Chuck said, the snowball grows as it rolls.
More power = need more traction, more traction = need more power all of which require tires, brakes and suspension. It is a never ending cycle. <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0">
I do agree that for our lapping sessions like at MSR, as long as you have say 300HP or so, you won't hardly get your butt handed to you as long as you can control what you have. <img src="images/icons/wink.gif" border="0">
But as Chuck said, the snowball grows as it rolls.
More power = need more traction, more traction = need more power all of which require tires, brakes and suspension. It is a never ending cycle. <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0">
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Orlando/Dallas
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? I know I wish I'd had about 60-70 more RWHP last weekend to more easily pass the NSX I was tailgating for what seemed like forever <img src="images/icons/mad.gif" border="0">
mike
mike
Staging Lane
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From: Round Rock, Texas
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? [quote]Originally posted by mitchntx:
<strong>Ok ... maybe out power one's abilities ... <img src="images/icons/wink.gif" border="0"> </strong><hr></blockquote>
In that case, the car bone stock is more than some can handle. Many people out there think they're Mario Andretti <img src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0">
Driving skill is very important, as is practice. <img src="images/icons/cool.gif" border="0">
<strong>Ok ... maybe out power one's abilities ... <img src="images/icons/wink.gif" border="0"> </strong><hr></blockquote>
In that case, the car bone stock is more than some can handle. Many people out there think they're Mario Andretti <img src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0">
Driving skill is very important, as is practice. <img src="images/icons/cool.gif" border="0">
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Launching!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: NC
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? I agree with Lou, you can never have too much, only you have to be able to control it. In Speedvision GT now, our 500HP cars are a bit hard to get out of the corners with a 295 street tire on the rear (Toyo). However, the aerodynamic package we run, along with a little self-control, brings it all together. Anyway, most track only have a few very slow corners, so the power-oversteer is only a big concern in a few places. Once you get into 4th and 5th gears, more power=more fun!
Dave F
Dave F
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Teching In
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: West Hartford, CT
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? At the risk of another well worn cliche, IMO, "it depends".
On tight, twisty tracks like Waterford Hills, NHIS, or Heartland Park, it matters little.
On HP tracks like watkins Glen, Road America or Road Atlanta, it matters a great deal more.
Then there's the alleged (paraphrased) comment from Mark Donohue to consider:
"When I can spin the tires from corner exit all the way to the next turn on any turn on any track in the world, then I'll have enough horsepower."
On tight, twisty tracks like Waterford Hills, NHIS, or Heartland Park, it matters little.
On HP tracks like watkins Glen, Road America or Road Atlanta, it matters a great deal more.
Then there's the alleged (paraphrased) comment from Mark Donohue to consider:
"When I can spin the tires from corner exit all the way to the next turn on any turn on any track in the world, then I'll have enough horsepower."
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? [quote]Originally posted by SweetSavannah:
<strong>
Then there's the alleged (paraphrased) comment from Mark Donohue to consider:
"When I can spin the tires from corner exit all the way to the next turn on any turn on any track in the world, then I'll have enough horsepower."</strong><hr></blockquote>
I like that phrase! <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0">
<strong>
Then there's the alleged (paraphrased) comment from Mark Donohue to consider:
"When I can spin the tires from corner exit all the way to the next turn on any turn on any track in the world, then I'll have enough horsepower."</strong><hr></blockquote>
I like that phrase! <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0">
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? [quote]When I can spin the tires from corner exit all the way to the next turn on any turn on any track in the world, then I'll have enough horsepower
<hr></blockquote>
exacltly. you can never have too much power. with my car making 500rwhp NA, it would spin off slower (2nd/some 3rd gear corners) but higher speed stuff like 4th/5th it was great. even when you have enough power to kill the tires out of the corner, that just gives you more options.. because you can use your foot to keep the car on the edge. if you don't have very much power, you will just flat foot it.. and if you can do that, you are giving up acceleration to somebody that is using 100% of there available grip.
<hr></blockquote>
exacltly. you can never have too much power. with my car making 500rwhp NA, it would spin off slower (2nd/some 3rd gear corners) but higher speed stuff like 4th/5th it was great. even when you have enough power to kill the tires out of the corner, that just gives you more options.. because you can use your foot to keep the car on the edge. if you don't have very much power, you will just flat foot it.. and if you can do that, you are giving up acceleration to somebody that is using 100% of there available grip.
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? Well, I remember a car that kind-of had too much power. It was a 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo, and three of us tried to get it around the track at 9/10ths and we all ended up following the rear end off.
Power was horribly non-smooth. 1500 rpm, maybe 200 lb/ft, 2000 rpm, maybe 220 lb/ft, 2500, 220 lb/ft, and 2600 rpm, 400 lb/ft.
It was like hitting n2o on every corner exit. Totally stupid. Turning the boost down to .7 bar made for a nice tractable car. I dont know if any amount of traction (realistically) could have kept that thing's rear end behind me at 1.2 bar boost. And that was only about 350-400 hp, far less than my Camaro SS, and the weight was over the drive wheels with a nice Quiafe diff. between them.
Just a funny little exception to the rule.
chris
Power was horribly non-smooth. 1500 rpm, maybe 200 lb/ft, 2000 rpm, maybe 220 lb/ft, 2500, 220 lb/ft, and 2600 rpm, 400 lb/ft.
It was like hitting n2o on every corner exit. Totally stupid. Turning the boost down to .7 bar made for a nice tractable car. I dont know if any amount of traction (realistically) could have kept that thing's rear end behind me at 1.2 bar boost. And that was only about 350-400 hp, far less than my Camaro SS, and the weight was over the drive wheels with a nice Quiafe diff. between them.
Just a funny little exception to the rule.
chris
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 11
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From: Cali.
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? [quote]Originally posted by 449pacecar:
<strong>
In that case, the car bone stock is more than some can handle. Many people out there think they're Mario Andretti <img src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0">
Driving skill is very important, as is practice. <img src="images/icons/cool.gif" border="0"> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Agreed, the best upgrade is seat time.
<strong>
In that case, the car bone stock is more than some can handle. Many people out there think they're Mario Andretti <img src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0">
Driving skill is very important, as is practice. <img src="images/icons/cool.gif" border="0"> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Agreed, the best upgrade is seat time.
Re: For road Racing, How much power is enough? agreed... driving is the most important thing. thats why I prefer AutoXing. every time you run you a get score board to tell you how bad you suck, and the car has less to do with it(stock classes)
