In-car 914 on track Options

[Dave_Darling]

Some footage of a four-cylinder 914 out on track. The first corner is a bit ... scruffy, but he gathers it back up and gets going reasonably well.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Psn3k9_oek


--DD

[brant]

I thought his suspension tune could use a little more balance and front end bite. I’m sure a historic racing in Europe limits his tire choice. But the balance can still be achieved through spring choice
Plus a bigger front anti roll bar

[Superhawk996]

I thought his suspension tune could use a little more balance and front end bite. I’m sure a historic racing in Europe limits his tire choice. But the balance can still be achieved through spring choice
Plus a bigger front anti roll bar

Say what???

Typically increasing front roll stiffness either by spring or by anti roll bar will increase understeer. [note: I know you didn’t say increase front spring rate]

There may be edge cases where a bigger front anti roll bar would help decrease understeer (if car is starting with huge body roll) but not knowing anything about that particular car and its setup, I wouldn’t be proposing more front bar to help front end “bite”. Maybe we are just not using the world “bite” the same way? . When I hear bite, I hear “grip”. In the case of an oversteering vehicle, the front end has more “bite”, more grip (traction) than the rear. As a result the rear lets loose and rotates faster than the front end.

If the proposal is to add more understeer via more front roll stiffness to reduce the car’s tendency to oversteer - I’m with you 100%. All things being equal, the same effect could be achieved by reducing rear bar and/or rear spring rate.

I’m not trying to be pedantic. However I feel it’s important discussion because so many guys are thinking they need huge front anti roll bars and huge torsion bars because of what they read on these forums. Too often people just want to follow a “formula” rather than understanding vehicle dynamics.

Note: one of the hardest parts of racing is getting the whole crew using the same language and having a common understanding of the language. This post isn’t meant to disparage Brant or imply he’s wrong or doesn’t understand race car setup.