computers and racing/off topic, FWIW

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-5347581.html?tag=header.newsfeed

An interesting interview with Dieter Gundel, offers a little insight about
the racing electronics associated with Ferrari's effort. Off topic but
illustrates how advanced they(F-1) are compared to any MGP effort. On the
other hand, a reboot in the middle of a 150mph corner might give new meaning
to the term crash....
Regards,
T3

 

We had Danica Patrick of Toyota Atlantic fame come to work one day to show
us how her team uses our products to integrate everything.

http://www.danica-patrick.com/

http://www.toyotaatlantic.com/Driver.asp?ID=376

 

I don't think the MotoGP teams are that far away. There are some things
you just can't do on a bike, like traction control, yet.

 

According to some article I read recently, the major problem that must be
solved comes from the cooling system.
You cannot have that big radiator out front and not have problems sucking
air through it at 200mph. The boundry layer sticks to the radiator like
glue; therefore not allowing for proper cooling.
They have solved this issue in Formula 1 with ground effects and being able
to place the radiators where they can get cleaner air. Besides Benelli, I
don't know who has experimented with placing the radiator elsewhere than out
front (yes, I know about the Honda side mounted radiators, but when you get
the HRC Kit for the RC45, RC51, etc., you get a big ole radiator out front.)
When they get this figured out they will be able to break through to much
higher speeds.

 

Current clutch technology -to avoid downshift issues- could be seen as an
instance of traction control where it affects motorcycles most negatively.

....pablo

 

I don't think the MotoGP teams are that far away. There are some things

I'm sure they have (or had) traction control.. They even have (had?)
launch control.

Not sure what the regulations state in '04 but the backfiring noises I
heard particularly from Biaggi's Yamaha in '02 when I went to Phillip
Island were surely nothing other than traction control!

 

Nobody doubts the existence of traction control, it's more about how they do
it and how effextive they've made it and/or want it. Will a GP bike be
faster without _any_ spin? How do they avoid fatal "double action" through
both rider and electonic input?
......

/MBE

 

Check out Tularis (http://cycleshark.com/Project_Tularis/project_tularis.html,
http://www.visi.com/~moperfserv/tularis.htm). It's Dr. Robin Tuluie's
second bike. I forget how the first one had the radiator, but Tularis
has an underseat radiator design, where the engine slows the air flow
and makes the air pass through the radiator at a more optimum rate.
In theory that increases cooling efficiency and improves aeros. They
already have a bunch of track records to back up what they're talking
about.