Havin been involved in karting for 20yrs, I have noticed in last few years, that many karts ( Clubman /Rotax etc) run very wide at the front.
When I was learning John Pizzaro always told us to run the front as narrow as possible, now they run wide stubs, spacers & long hubs.
As Professor Julius Summer - Miller used to say " Why is it so????"
For all those under 20 he was a scientist that used to do Cadbury commercials ..
Hugh
When I was learning John Pizzaro always told us to run the front as narrow as possible, now they run wide stubs, spacers & long hubs.
As Professor Julius Summer - Miller used to say " Why is it so????"
For all those under 20 he was a scientist that used to do Cadbury commercials ..
Hugh
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Comments6
Maybe because the tyres used these days are much better and can handle the extra steer without making it want to swap ends.
I guess over time things change Hugh, however alot of people do like things differently. It's like saying I like beer and you like bourbon(as a side, I love both, hence I'll be racing clubman heavy soon). It's the ones that do the testing, that come up with these wacky results.
However, what works for one won't for for another, but alot of Euro karts I have seen need to run these massive hubs/spacers because they simply will not turn! No idea why they won't turn in the first place, whether it be setup of the chassis itself, or the design of them, but I have seen alot of Euro karts when people first get them and they just don't turn. However you see the front runners that can make them turn, so I am not sure.
Testing is the only way to see what or why these things work, and unfortunately alot of these guys have too much time/money on their hands to go try this stuff!
You, Fongy in clubman heavy, yeah right. I'll win the Nationals in clubman over 100 when that happens!
I think it's largely to do with weight.
Kart classes these days are generally heavier and stickier than the equivalent classes from yesteryear. That means there's greater weight transfer to the outside tyres than there used to be (because there's more weight, and higher G-forces). The best way to restrict weight transfer or roll is increased track width. That's why Le Mans racers are so flat and wide, right?
However, karts have long been restricted to a rear width of 1400mm, so increasing rear track width to reduce roll is not possible... that leaves front track width as the only alternative.
I don't think the huge scrub radius/front track is there to make the kart turn... I think it's there to reduce weight transfer mid-corner, which helps keep the rear unweighted past the apex.
I wonder wether the crucial factor here was John Pizzaro when i started two years ago i had a sprinter anddid we have to do some weird stuff in terms of setup to get that thing going anywhere near a decent lap time. just a thought
Pete
Col Fink said:I think it's largely to do with weight.
Kart classes these days are generally heavier and stickier than the equivalent classes from yesteryear. That means there's greater weight transfer to the outside tyres than there used to be (because there's more weight, and higher G-forces). The best way to restrict weight transfer or roll is increased track width. That's why Le Mans racers are so flat and wide, right?
However, karts have long been restricted to a rear width of 1400mm, so increasing rear track width to reduce roll is not possible... that leaves front track width as the only alternative.
I don't think the huge scrub radius/front track is there to make the kart turn... I think it's there to reduce weight transfer mid-corner, which helps keep the rear unweighted past the apex.
If you say so it must be right then. A set up artist, eh.