25 replies to this topic

[dotmatrix]

Is IT correct to say that matching a heavier car in power to weight Will make IT accellerate as good, corner Better but lack in top speed?

[grizzler73]

There are too many other factors involved to say that, such as gear ratio, suspension set up, final drive and in the case of all old cars, shape. Just to name few!

[DeadSquare]

Saving weight probably killed Jim Clark.

[Dusky]

Is IT correct to say that matching a heavier car in power to weight Will make IT accellerate as good, corner Better but lack in top speed?

Close id say, especialy with torque. But all depends on the car i guess, reminds me of the famous mini VS mustang races. Power to weight is close, but the mustangs torque gives them a good hand on the straights.

[Retroman]

It is a really interesting topic

 

A lot depends on your budget or lottery win and how far you want to go with it, and what you want to acheive

 

You can also use light suspension components which reduces unsprung weight thereby helping with road holding too...ally hubs, drive flanges, drums, radius arms, beam 'axle', coil overs, Spun alloy wheels,Titanium suspension arms

 

alloy / fiber body panels, polycarb 'glass' Light seat[s]

Light weight engine components...Ti con rods, light crank / timing gear / flywheel, alloy head

Hollow front tower bolts or alloy, quite a few smaller components.. clutch slave / arm

 

I even have some polycarb headlights and spun alloy headlight rims, with plastic bowls they weigh very little.

 

Being relatively light in the first place is one of the big advantages of a Mini, and anything sensible that reduces it further without compromising safety is a benefit in acceleration, braking and cornering. It also makes for better fuel efficiency.

 

Lightweight engine components are very effective, more so in the lower gears, as a rough guide its worth approx 10 times the weight off the car in 1st. So a 1kg drop in flywheel weight is similar to 10kg of the car in 1st gear. It also depends on the gearing and weight of the car to start with, there is a big convoluted calculation. The advantages are less in higher gears.

 

There is a lot you can do but not all of it instantly.

I have known hillclimbers run with front drum setups as they are lighter...

[scoop-deluxe]

Is IT correct to say that matching a heavier car in power to weight Will make IT accellerate as good, corner Better but lack in top speed?

Close id say, especialy with torque. But all depends on the car i guess, reminds me of the famous mini VS mustang races. Power to weight is close, but the mustangs torque gives them a good hand on the straights.

This comes to mind!
https://youtu.be/nS4MIfA5i64

https://youtu.be/X6aEoRPS4Io

I love mini racing!!

[DeadSquare]

Is IT correct to say that matching a heavier car in power to weight Will make IT accellerate as good, corner Better but lack in top speed?

 

 

1)   If you are talking about vehicles' comparative acceleration, it is the power to weight ratio at any give instant that matters.  (Strictly speaking, you need to substitute "power" with "torque" and mass or "weight"  with "inertia")

 

2)   Cornering is a vague term and has many variables, the biggest of which is probably friction, but an object with less mass will be more nimble.

 

3)   Without other impediments, it is wind resistance that limits top speed, and this is where 'Break-horse-power' comes in.  BHP is the torque multiplied by any given engine speed (RPM), and torque in an internal combustion engine is almost entirely dependent on the quantity of the 'charge' in the cylinder when the plug sparks, and it is the ability of the engine to replenish all or only part of that charge in the time between revolutions as the RPM increases that will determine the top speed.

[andyapanel]

Soundproofing is pretty heavy. I have stripped about 50% of it off my Racing Green without compromising noise levels.

A lightened flywheel has a noticeable effect.

Racing Batteries are a bit expensive, but are better quality. Additionally, being smaller, you gain a bit of space in the battery box, useful for storing spares.

I tried Carbon fibre doorskins, but the hinges bent and the glue did not work. I still have the passenger side, never used. I would like to try Aluminium next time I have to reskin a door.

[Reidbook]

The lighter the car is, the more reliable all the components will be as there is less stress on them.

[Bobbins]

That might have been Colin Chapman's theory ... ish!

[rich_959]

The lighter the car is, the more reliable all the components will be as there is less stress on them.

 

Yup. I really must stop flinging my 3.5 tonne Discovery around roundabouts if I want to stop wearing out bottom arm bushes. Need this mini finished.