UK Karting

Notice Board (General Karting)




Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart
Posted by 'itpro' on 30 Apr 2010 @ 10:17


| View Message Thread | Reply to this message |
itpro
Joined: August 2001
Total Posts: 6
[ View User Profile ]
Ben.....

I am always bothered by such 'one-size-fits-all' type approaches.

Many of us have more than one engine and we know that each one produces a different 'power-curve' even if they SEEM identical from a casual glance. Some of us even have each one set up differently DELIBERATELY so that we can make use of those difference on different days, tracks, conditions... etc..

For example.... on a track which is dominated by a HUGE straight with a fabulous hairpin at he end of it (I.e., Kimbolton), it becomes more important to use an egine which produces a LOT of it's power at the TOP of the rev-range. However, at Rye House, a motor with a more WIDE power band coming in lower down the rev-range may be more important.

The point I am making is that two supposedly IDENTICAL engines can be quite different.....

...... so....

......how does the 'chart' deal with THOSE two requirements? How did the writer of the chart KNOW which engine I would be using BEFORE he printed it?

Personally, I'd recommend buying a Mychron 4 (or second-hand Mychron 3) and looking at the POWWER curve of your engine to see what suits IT best at Track X on Day Y in Conditions Z.

It's worth thinking about the concept of (for example) peak revs. Many people tell you you need to hit Revs X at the end of a straight. However, when you display your 'power curve' and 'time at revs X', you'll note that you ONLY hit that peak for (let's guess) 2% of your ENTIRE lap: you then need to ask if setting your engine/sprockets for precisely 2% of the lap really IS the best use of the engine....

What I am suggesting is that you go into this a bit more deeply now you have left the comfort of an 'awning'. There are quite DEFINITELY 10ths of seconds to be found in such approaches..... if not HALF seconds!

Ian

Message Thread:

Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'bencoggins'   (29 Apr 2010 @ 12:41)
Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'TeamKermit'   (29 Apr 2010 @ 13:40)
Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'bencoggins'   (29 Apr 2010 @ 13:46)
Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'TeamKermit'   (29 Apr 2010 @ 19:35)
Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'StressedMum'   (29 Apr 2010 @ 20:27)
Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'itpro'   (30 Apr 2010 @ 1:09)
Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'bencoggins'   (30 Apr 2010 @ 8:48)
Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'itpro'  << You are here!
Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'davidmc'   (30 Apr 2010 @ 10:42)
Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'John'   (30 Apr 2010 @ 10:48)
Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart  by 'JimG'   (30 Apr 2010 @ 12:44)

Post a Reply:
You may post a direct reply to this message which will appear in this thread.
To post a new or unrelated message use This Form.
Reply To "Re: Kart Gear Ratio Chart"
Email Address :   Not Registered? Click Here to register...
Password :   Passwords are Case Sensitive!   [ Password Lookup ]
Message Title / Subject :
Message :
Options : Subscribe to this thread?   [ More Information ]

Top of Page
Notice Board Index

[ UK Karting Main Index ]


News Karts and Karting Notice Board Market Place Companies Directory Tracks Directory Events Calendar Race Results Photo Gallery Links
News Karts &
Karting
Notice
Board
Market
Place
Companies
Directory
Tracks
Directory
Events
Calendar
Race
Results
Photo
Gallery
Links

UK Karting

Copyright © 1996-2018 UK Karting
Comments, Suggestions etc. mail@karting.co.uk