Kirkham Coupe Test Day :)

[David Kirkham]

We had a test day our at Miller Motorsports track on Saturday with our new Coupe. Everything ran really well. It was a great day



David

[dallas_]

Dang that's sweet!

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by dallas_

Dang that's sweet!

Thanks

ERA,

I still work with the Governor on legislation. We actually get along quite well together. I'm glad he is a friend. He had a great time in the car.

David

[ERA Chas]

I though you were now the governor David?
The Coupe driver was using the 'rain line'...

[ERA Chas]

I would have too David and I'm a Nobody...

[fordracing65]

We all know he uses all your ideas, that's how he (Gary) is so successful.

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

I would have too David and I'm a Nobody...

One thing I have learned in politics is that everyone is someone--no one is a "nobody." Yelling and hating doesn't get things done; it just alienates people. Making friends, even with those you disagree with (come to think of it--especially with ones you don't agree with) is how we move things in the right direction.

David

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

We had a test day our at Miller Motorsports track on Saturday with our new Coupe. Everything ran really well. It was a great day



David

Boy, that roadster needs some springs!

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by Cobra #3170

Boy, that roadster needs some springs!

Oh yes. Thomas likes his car sprung soft for street use; so, he decided not to change the springs (this was really a test day for the Coupe anyway). After watching the video I think he is changing his mind

David

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

Oh yes. Thomas likes his car sprung soft for street use; so, he decided not to change the springs (this was really a test day for the Coupe anyway). After watching the video I think he is changing his mind

David

Yes, those short little suspension arms with no camber gain do not cope well with large chassis roll angles

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by Cobra #3170

Yes, those short little suspension arms with no camber gain do not cope well with large chassis roll angles

3170,

Yes, the suspension has been on my mind for quite some time now. Thomas and I are really working hard on trying to figure out how to decouple roll, pitch, heave, and warp--as you know, this is a bedeviling problem. There are no free lunches and controlling one inevitably "controls" another one (in a way, it always seems, that you don't want)! For the track, it seems Chapman's saying, "Any suspension will work--if you don't let it!" is the cure for Cobra ills. 1000 pound springs work well on a smooth track, but not on our customers' bums as they drive down the street

Our conversations in the past on suspension have always stuck with me. (I always remember what you said about hitting pot holes with the brakes on and watching the loads skyrocket.) There is an answer to this problem--we just need to find it.

David

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

3170,

Yes, the suspension has been on my mind for quite some time now. Thomas and I are really working hard on trying to figure out how to decouple roll, pitch, heave, and warp--as you know, this is a bedeviling problem. There are no free lunches and controlling one inevitably "controls" another one (in a way, it always seems, that you don't want)! For the track, it seems Chapman's saying, "Any suspension will work--if you don't let it!" is the cure for Cobra ills. 1000 pound springs work well on a smooth track, but not on our customers' bums as they drive down the street

Our conversations in the past on suspension have always stuck with me. (I always remember what you said about hitting pot holes with the brakes on and watching the loads skyrocket.) There is an answer to this problem--we just need to find it.

David

Well said David,

It all starts with the chassis and I'll bet your beautiful new coupe goes a long way towards resolving that issue. A stiff chassis can tolerate high loads without all the ill effects associated with a lesser chassis with the same high rate springs. I have a 2005 Ford GT that has a rear motion ratio in the high 9's and a front motion ratio in the high 8's, I run 500 lb/" front and 800 lb/" rear springs and the ride is quite tolerable considering the super high wheel rates. The secret is the chassis is over 20,000 lbs/D. in Torsion. A wimpy chassis will actually give diminishing returns if the springs and bars cause the chassis to displace under load, so Chapman's theory only works to a point.

[thndrrd]

I'm suprised he can handle a standard transmission.

[AL427SBF]

For a nominal consulting fee along with NDA on proprietary engineering, contact Richard Hudgins/Larry Goins (of JBL fame) for an elegant edge of the art solution

[MAStuart]

I signed out at metal meet and came back to this thread and clicked on the link, it should work, but some of the pictures you can look at directly, the rest you will have to click on the link for that picture. Mark