Learning to speak Automobile

[Tim Ling]

In a recent SRT episode, Sean was talking about car setups, and "letting the car tell you what it's doing".

I'm sure my cars are trying to do that, but I don't know enough to listen properly.

I''m slowly beginning to understand about tyre temps, suspension settings, camber etc., but none of that helps if I don't know what the car needs to make it more stable, more drivable.

For instance, how doI know if my setup needs softer suspension? What tell tale sings do I need to watch for as I lap the track?

Or driving the Camaros, someone said I needed to disconnect the rear ARB. How on earth do I even feel that the ARB needs softening?

I'm know there is no set way to setup a car, as it depends on your style of driving. I just would like some help learning what my car needs from me.

[Jamie Wilson]

It's a case of looking at it the other way around, Tim - judge how the car feels with regards to understeer, oversteer (both in different corner types; in fast sweepers, chicanes, etc), how eager the car is to turn in, how stable it is when powering out of different types of corners, how it responds to bumps etc - then it's a case of knowing what setting to change to correct those problems.

[Tim Ling]

Originally Posted by Jamie Wilson

It's a case of looking at it the other way around, Tim - judge how the car feels with regards to understeer, oversteer (both in different corner types; in fast sweepers, chicanes, etc), how eager the car is to turn in, how stable it is when powering out of different types of corners, how it responds to bumps etc - then it's a case of knowing what setting to change to correct those problems.

Therein lies the problem Jamie. I managed to setup a car the other day that oversteered out of chicanes, but understeered in fast corners. I know, I'm "special" .

There must be more science to it than to just keep trying different options unril you find one that works!

[Sam J Simpson]

Try this guide Tim, it has decent descriptions of what does what and why.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/cbarnett/SetupMatrix.html

Sam

PS. Badmoons n Speed Freeks Rulez, hehe

[Tim Ling]

Awesome site Sam, with some great further links. Now to try and get my head round the explanations.

(BTW, it's Evil Sunz, not Bad Moons )

[Sam J Simpson]

LOL, I knew, I played Badmoons and Speed Freeks from Rogue Trader days until a couple of years ago through all the rule changes\different generations, still got 5000+ points of Orks and loads of Codex\rule books lying around in boxes, plus Inqisitor/Warhammer/Mordheim etc. Can't paint anymore for various reasons and that was always my main reason for getting into it so it's all just doing nought, kept it going with the computer games though and I can't wait for DoW2 either

Sam

[Luc Mangas]

Thanks for the link Sam ! I was looking for something similar explaining what to do in specific circumstances.
Now, lots of testing to do

[Mailson Pereira]

I believe the main thing is understand what over and understeer the car. With that you can start to understand the car.