Why I have decided to stop watching F1 been watching it for years. Now they changed the rules so electronics is the cars is largely disabled. On top of that, the basic electronics that everyone has to use, is made by Mercedes, who won of course.
In the old days you could read commercials like : 'The greatest improvements in our cars come from our success in F1 racing'. Now they even took out traction control, ABS, what not.
And of course this causes dangerous situations to the drivers.
I want to see a competition of the best man + machine combinations, else could as well be a bicycle race. Electronics these day is an integral part of cars.
Away with the current F1, it is a joke, has no value.
What they need is a 'Grand Prix De Engine Controllers' where the rules specify a certain drivetrain, and the competitors are teams of programmers from Boeing, MIT, CalTech, Intel, Sun, and win bragging rights by saying their computers and switches and whatnot used the same technology that won this years LeMans or whatever.
And furthermore, I'd personally pay big bux to sit right in front of a vertical loop that can be used by brave (foolhardy?) drivers to shortcut a level chicane of the same length. Above 120mph or so all those cars have about 2G of downforce, so as long as they had enough speed to get about 1.1G up at the top of the loop, they wouldnt fall down into the mud pit at the bottom. Like full size hotwheels.
On a sunny day (Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:14:22 +1100) it happened John Tserkezis wrote in :
So you prefer drivers to drive of the road without traction control, like happened today, get airborne, and get hurt.
There is no difference in streamlining a design in a wind tunnel, improving on an engine, or improving on the electronics, it has become an integral part.
I already made my choice, they made those cars unsafer then normal cars by removing the electronics. Why watch a bunch of anti modern electronics idiots try kill themselves because they think it is such a sport.
Next people who watch it will be disabling ABS in their cars too. BAD influence. But sure go pay, some only go to see cars crash, well plenty of cars crashed this time.
On a sunny day (Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:19:23 -0700 (PDT)) it happened BobG wrote in :
Right, and have robot drivers compete with real drivers in the same race. Robot drivers make no stupid mistakes ;-) If programmed the right way by the right team. And then, the whole team on the podium, when they win.
Then later we replace all drivers by robots, GPS guided. :-)
Garbage. Traction control doesn't stop you from getting airborne. It's all up to the nut behind the wheel. And just in case you didn't get that, I meant the four brain celled idiot who was driving.
Well, that's one thing we have in common, we both disagree.
Yeah, but that's like saying the technology of books hasn't changed for a century. True that they're made up of paper sheets with ink for writing - but the underlying technology that was used to construct books then, and now, is vastly different.
It's all about cost and mass production.
Wind tunnel testing is done to reduce drag for the purpose of reducing fuel usage.
The sexy slim rear wings you see on many cars today? There PURELY to reduce turbulance, and thus reduce drag, has NOTHING to do with using the wing for downforce. Very different purposes between F1 and a domestic vehicle.
EFI became popularised not because it's a sexy yet geeky technology, it was only because it was the only way to keep up with the tightening emissions laws. Did you think it was for improved power? Bzzt. They don't care about power, they care only that they comply with laws.
You have no clue, do you?
:-) Because it's a challenge.
You're an idiot.
Oh, I'm sorry, like boxing make people go out and bash each other's heads in? No wait, they already do that, way before boxing ever came in.
this time.
You really don't understand how motor sports works do you?
They are actually functional. I really don't see a car maker installing a wing purely on looks when it actually reduces performance. The reviewing auto-magazines would be more than happy to produce their test figures showing the super-sexy looking car runs like a truck. A good way of killing off a product before it has a chance to do anything.
(chuckle) or that...
And were it not for emission laws, carburettors would have lived for MUCH longer on larger vehicles. Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting EFI has all those effects. What I AM questioning is why they chose to install it on ALL the larger vehicles, and most of the smaller ones, where a carbie would have done the job a lot cheaper and marginally worse. *Especially* on the smaller cars. One of two reasons, it's a feature they're selling off to the consumers, or it's the only way for them to effectively comply with law. And I don't see them selling an "invisible" system that does not improve performance to a huge extent - as far as the guy behind the wheel is concerned anyway.
Nothing wrong with that. :-)
No, it always was about sponsorship and making money. The fact technology they used found it's way (in some form or another) to Mr Joe Averages' car was not the primary goal of motor racing. Barely a peripheral thought if you ask me.
John Tserkezis wrote in news:47de02ce$0$6277$ snipped-for-privacy@news.optusnet.com.au:
Oh? If it sells more cars,they'll do exactly that. Ever hear of the "Heavy Chevy"? It was a ordinary Chevy dressed up to look like a racer.No performance increase. Appearance is a huge factor in car purchases. If wings are "cool",then cars get wings.
Also,as I stated,it's place to put the LED CHMSL.
Only because of the inertia of automakers.
Because it's SIMPLER,in the long run.Lower maintenance,too. And for the smaller cars,better fuel efficiency;better mileage.
On a sunny day (Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:24:50 +0800) it happened rebel wrote in :
Europeans still use the manual gear. I actually prefer automatic, US had the brains to do away with that obstacle control :-)
IIRC it is _only_ Bridgestone because last year Michelin caused some upset in a US race when they did not deliver the right tires, or did not guarantee their tires on that circuit, or something like that. That left only Bridgestone. Quite the opposite of what you claim. I guess Michelin got more bad reactions then good ones to that, so then why bother to spend that much supporting F1, if it damages your image, they were out of there.
Well, eh seriously, some of these drivers have _very_ good basic driving skills, come from other races. I did try some of that stuff in the old days with my Mustang, probably still can. Could be a good thing for normal drivers to take a slip course etc.
Yes, maybe too huge.
I am all against drugs. And I would not like to drive long distances on a bike either :-)
One commentator gave the true slant on the 2008 changes: "Last year they simply had to point and shoot. Now they have to actually DRIVE the car". The removal of traction control means they have to (re-)learn to drive. Great step forward.
Maybe next they'll be given a manual (sic) clutch and have to change gears with hand and foot. I reckon that would eb another advance.
They all use a standard tyre (set) by Bridgestone. It's done to keep it from getting into special products that favour the competitor with the biggest bankroll.
No, it forces the drivers to regain the basic driving skills that you and I have had to develop over our years of driving (to our more modest level) - like when to apply just how much power coming out of a turn on a slippery surface. How often do YOU come unstuck in that situation?
Any danger comes from a shortfall of finesse.
There are rules that limit what they are allowed to do. Standardised fuel (and fuel temperatures), tyres, rev limits (19,000), the list is huge.
Ground effect was outlawed. Traction control has now gone (hooray!). What this forces the designers to do is INNOVATE, and the drivers to DRIVE. Work within the rules and see what they can achieve.
And a bicycle race? Strewth, they have big races and then they disqualify half the field for drug use. Call that sport? At least any drug taking in motor-sport is unlikely to result in lower lap times.
T wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news.east.cox.net:
IIRC,the WRX hood scoop brings cool,denser outside air to the intake,instead of hotter underhood air,for more power. It actually has a real function.
Also, Air with fuel mixed in it cannot negotiate bends in the intake as well as pure air,the fuel separates out and leans that cylinder,potentially leaning out the cylinder and burning valves and piston. Cold starting with carbs is harder,too.
I really, really doubt it. Consider the math for ram air situations.
Really good carburetors can nearly match EFI, just don't expect to find them in mass production vehicles. The tend to be very expensive.
Where in the heck did you find this baloney?
How? The masses, velocities, and pressures do not support this idea.
Does not have to be so, people have used gasoline and diesel engines in arctic class climates for eons. With aircraft the military often resorted to assistance in such climates in the past, but much less so now.
F1 as a technical showcase is somewhat interesting, however once you reach a point where the cars largely drive themselves the driver element is removed and the race simply becomes a procession.
I watch F1 because it is the pinnacle of motorsport, the technology is one factor in my enjoyment but without wheel to wheel racing, and driver talent being on display, it loses all its appeal.
This year, with traction control banned, I was fortunate enough to have a trip planned to Melbourne to watch the first race. It was fantastic to see the cars sliding around again as drivers fought to maintain traction. The era of traction control meant the cars looked like they were on rails, boring!!
I want to see a competition of best man + machine as well, but the way things were going (traction control, engine braking, etc) you were basically seeing a competition of best machine. The nut behind the wheel just had to twiddle a few dials, he could come into a corner point the wheel where he wanted the car to go and firewall the throttle and the computer would sort out the rest.
Bravo for bringing control back to the driver. May the man with the most talent and the biggest balls win.
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