Does anyone use this software?

[CameraCourage]

Hey guys, I was looking for some information on Chassis setup. I don’t really want to tinker yet since I am still a hack and just need to get more smooth before I can see the differences in my chassis changes.

Anyhow I came across this:
http://www.download3000.com/download_2491.html

Now, it will only run on my work computer (I have a pre-intel mac) so before I download it I just want to see what you guys have to say about it.

Thanks in advance.

[Kirk Deason]

I’m curious how software would be able to calculate an intangible such as how a kart ‘feels’ on corner entry/exit, etc. I downloaded some freeware called ‘kartcalc’ which has similar info..I only used it to calculate top speeds, using gearing, tire circumference, and RPM. (i was just curious about my blazingly fast top speeds). For that, it worked great.

Think about the vast differences between frames. There would seem to me to be too many variables for software to give you any sort of definitive set-up information. Here’s another way to look at it: Often on http://www.ekartingnews.com a new racer asks where he can get a book which explains chassis dynamics and set-up. Short answer? There isn’t one. BUT there are some books which can give you some tips on which direction to go when chasing a problem. I like Memo Gidley’s ‘secrets of speed for two-cycle kart racing’. It doesn’t tell you exactly what to do to your kart but it does explain what some changes will do and it gives a great overview of HOW a kart handles and what makes it go around a corner. This book really helped me out.

Keep testing and making changes and note what the changes did to your baseline.

kirk

[CameraCourage]

Thanks Kirk,
That makes sense. I have been reading all the various chassis setup writeups that I can find, most say about the same thing, but I am just trying to get a grasp on all the info.

With that being said, what is a good starting point for running tire pressure in MG’s.

[Jeff Welch]

Disclaimer: I have not used the software you’re asking about.

However, Kirk is absolutely right – there are way too many variables at play for a computer program to be able to tell you how to set up your kart. Driver, frame design, engine package, track surface, conditions, and characteristics, etc. all will affect your kart setup. The basic principles are generally pretty universal (ie, a softer axle decreases rear grip, etc.), but your specific setup will depend on all the factors above.

Here’s an example. My brother and I both raced in TaG Senior a couple years ago. We had identical equipment: KGB chassis with Rotax engines, and we were running on the same tracks at the same time. We usually ran within a tenth of each other in terms of lap times. But, we almost always had different chassis setups. Why? Because we have different driving styles. Both were equally fast, but what worked for him didn’t work for me, and vice versa.

I briefly mentioned track characteristics. Grand Junction is a great example of a track that requires special setup considerations. It has a long, gently curving back straightaway. It’s tricky to get the kart set up such that the kart will get on three wheels through this corner and roll freely, yet still handle favorably on the rest of the circuit. If you can’t get the kart on three wheels through that long corner, it robs tons of horsepower. This is the type of thing a software program probably won’t consider.

I think you have the right idea by focusing on driving first. Until you can drive fairly smoothly and consistently, chassis setup isn’t super important (unless it’s really, really bad). Once you’re ready to start experimenting with chassis setup, head out to the track and just start changing things. Move the front wheels, just to see what happens. Change caster. Change axles. Change hubs. The goal isn’t to improve the handling, just to figure out how each adjustment changes the way the kart reacts. Over time, you’ll develop the ability to diagnose handling problems in greater and greater detail. For example, a kart that’s loose in the rear due to an overstuck front end feels different than a kart that’s loose because the rear is simply too loose, but it’s a subtle feeling.

Here’s an article we wrote several years ago that might be useful to you.
http://www.shockwavekarting.com/tech/article2.html
I haven’t read the whole thing, but I’ve seen some excerpts from Memo Gidley’s book that Kirk mentioned and was reasonably impressed with what I saw.

[CameraCourage]

Thanks Jeff I appreciate the info. Like I said, I don’t really have any desire to tinker to much just yet. My lap times vary by about 1 second now and I really need to figure out how to be smoother in some of the tight corners so I can get faster and more consistent.

I am excited to get a grasp on all the information though and I will have to come up with a good way to log all my settings so I can keep track of it all when I do start tinkering.

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