Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosso
I'm with you all the way up to your engine spec. They should be electric.
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I'm a big fan of Electrathon
http://www.electrathonamerica.org/We...n_America.html
and Formula Hybrid
http://www.formula-hybrid.org/
I've worked and spectated at a few, and I recommend that if people get the chance, they should attend one of the events, walk around the paddocks, look at the cars and talk to the people. You'll see a broad spectrum of design, workmanship, and just plain organization. A couple of years ago in New Hampshire, a Formula Hybrid team could have finished in the top third simply by going to all the meetings, presenting a workable vehicle at tech inspection and making the grid at all the events. Essential lessons for racing and for life.
The take-away message from any of these things is how devilishly difficult they are to get right. To qualify as a transportation energy expert, bureaucrats should be forced to build and race an Electrathon car. Only those on the podium get to debate policy.
The engineering propositions are intricate, and they lead to some interesting races, not in any conventional way of noise and the smell of Castrol R, but in the tension waiting to see whether the designers of the car that's running away from the field had aerodynamics, low rolling friction, energy recovery and drive train efficiency to match the speed.
Electrathon lets competitors race three at a time, and there's sometimes some good wheel-to-wheel contests (until the team leaders stand trackside waving hammers.)
Formula Hybrid runs a couple of cars at a time, but there's no passing allowed except when the passee is flagged into a a stop-box. Less interesting.
The Electrathon Connecticut run-offs are scheduled to be run on the Lime Rock autocross courses toward the end of October.
Subject: E-Car Race - Lakeville, CT - CT Electrathon Challenge
Date: Tuesday, October 25 2011
Summary: CT Electrathon Challenge - October 25, 2011 (8:00 am - 3:00 pm)
- COST: $50.00 per car
- LOCATION: Lime Rock Park, 497 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville, CT
- DESCRIPTION: 1/2 mile road course with several elevation changes
- CONTACT: Michael Grella, (860) 567-5811,
ths_solar_team@yahoo.com
IMHO either formula points tech development firmly in directions that are applicable to things we need now: lightness, handling, aerodynamics, regen braking, on-board recharging (FH), etc.
I'd love to build a carbon-filament-wound Electrathon car.
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Fred K.