MOTORSPORTS - Battery Location

[tony barnhill]

Is there a better place than the stock location for an SCCA SOLO car?

 

[jlaird]

Can't resist this sorry in advance.

The back seat is a better place.

 

[DrEntropy]

Well, I can't think of a betteer place. Low, keeping the weight (C.G. & roll ctr.) where it should be. Anyplace else and it's another foot or more higher. Fore or aft further and you add it to bias considerations. I'd say don't go looking for more work for less return.

Just my opinion.

 

[tony barnhill]

I'm thinking the same thing, Doc - leave it where it is...removing the battery box would lighten a bit but I think an Optima down there would be okay...I've already removed the box behind the driver.

 

[kennypinkerton]

It'll keep the necessary weight of the battery low. But isn't roll center a result of suspension geometry and not where the weight is in the car?

 

[tony barnhill]

Kenny - I think lower center of gravity (weight down low) helps...but, then, what do I know about racing? Doc & the other guys know better

 

[MGA Steve]

[ QUOTE ]
Is there a better place than the stock location for an SCCA SOLO car?

[/ QUOTE ]What is the front vs. rear weight distribution in the GT now, Tony? How much weight have you removed from the front vs. the rear? That may tell you if somewhere other than under the rear seat (or where the rear seat once was) would provide better handling. I don't think there is any way to get it any lower, is there? Or to put it under the front passenger seat to help balance driver weight?

 

[kennypinkerton]

Best place for any moveable weight is going to be low and between the wheels, as close to the middle of the car as possible. The factory spot is pretty good... It sortof balances the drivers weight being on the passenger side. Anything closer to the ends of the car increases the amount of energy needed to turn the car, and stop turning too.

I learned that much flying aerobatic Radio controlled airplanes for 10 years, and racing R/C cars competitively for 3 years.

One other suggestion I just thought of, but it's probably too late to change now is to have the fuel tank where the passenger seat was. That would eliminate changes in handling as the tank empties. I've seen this in other race cars and wondered why, but it suddenly made sense.

 

[tony barnhill]

Think I'll leave it where it is

Kenny, the gas tank has to be separated from the driver by a metal partition..I'm bending aluminum to cover it right now!

 

[kennypinkerton]

Good rule. It'd suck to be dowsed in gas during a wreck. Are you allowed to use race fuel? Or is there a Pump Only limit? I know where you can get nitromethane in Birmingham to add to the pump gas - packs a whollup!

 

[tony barnhill]

No rule on gas but I'm using a stock engine

 

[Bugeye58]

Tony, I've always found it helpful to position moveable components with the car on corner scales. Then you can juggle to optimize corner weights.
If you're lucky, and come in underweight, you have the same option when positioning ballast.
Jeff

 

[tony barnhill]

Jeff....if only I had corer weights! I'm looking for some bathroom scales that go up to 500lbs, then I can jury-rig a corner setup.

 

[Nunyas]

hmmmmm... even if you can't find scales that go to 500lbs you could still rig up something with that type of scale by using a system of levers. Of course, there'll be a bit of math involved to figure out the length of levers needed to reduce the amount of force applied to the scale and then to translate the amount of force applied to the scale to what the original weight is.

that may require a bit more fabrication than you want to do at this point though... but it could be done with scales that have a lower max wieght.

 

[jlaird]

Use two, and put a 2X6 between them?

 

[tony barnhill]

As of this afternoon, the only remaining battery box under the car is only a series of thin angle metal - sides are cut out! Completely!

 

[kennypinkerton]

Hmmm mine looks like that one sounds. I didn't know they had sides on them.

 

[DrEntropy]

[ QUOTE ]
As of this afternoon, the only remaining battery box under the car is only a series of thin angle metal - sides are cut out! Completely!

[/ QUOTE ]

YAY!!! Got my angled ~aluminum~ (1") to remake mine about a week ago... Just waiting for the Round Tuit to show up.

 

[tony barnhill]

Kenny - this is a '68 w/dual batteries - different box than yours....man, it hurt to cut up 2 perfectly good, solid battery boxes!

 

[DrEntropy]

I'd *almost* want to have the left-overs, but my heart's set on ONE battery, and a bit less to rust later.