Formula One?
 

Does anyone here watch F1?

Amazing race this weekend :)

Shame about all the controversy before & after but at least the actual race itself was good.

Can't wait until Malaysia next weekend :car:

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More of ALMS fan here But the new F1 cars should make it interesting Back to slick tires regenerative braking driver adjustable front wing to add or reduce down force should make for some interesting racing. I can see a few crashes untill the drivers get used to all the new controls

It's going to be an interesting season. Looks like Ross Brawn is back in fine form. But already we have the stewards making questionalble calls :splat:

Also, if you are an ALMS fan have you seen the Truth in 24 documentary yet? It's really well done and a great look at LeMans.

Regenerative braking??? Isnt that something used in electric vehicles? recharge the battery when braking

Quite a few crashes already in the 1st race of the season.

banditpowdercoat - this season F1 cars can use regenerative braking systems (KERS - kinetic energy recovery system) to store up energy & release it once a lap to hopefully encourage more overtaking.

KERS can give you 80 bhp extra for 7 secs per lap.

Certainly made for some entertaining racing yesterday!

As for the stewards... pah! will they ever get it right!?!?!

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KERS hmmm intereting. I wonder how they accomplishing this? Must be some form of elec motor assist and batteries, or capacitors? Got to add weight to the car for sure though. I love technical stuff like this.

KERS adds approx 40kg so some teams aren't using it (especially if the driver is big boned!).

There's 2 types of KERS in F1 right now, a big cap version & a fly-wheel version giving mechanical assist.

Most people are using the caps.

The techie stuff is what makes F1 so interesting for geeks like me!

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If they use LiPo cells the weight gain would be minimal and as far as I under stand they use a batt and motor set up of some kind

And no I have not seen truth in 24 yet I will have too look for it. Endurance racing is the best road racing there is multipal classes on the same track differant drivers in the same cars never mind tire changes but brakes and just about every other part could be changed out on a car. Plus you wont find too many types of racing that a car that crashes on the first lap could still win the race. The only problem is you need to dedicate alot of time if you want to watch a whole race.

I just wish we could get some televised rally racing in Canada seams like Speed Channel has become NASCAR TV

I usually follow F1 , wouldn't miss a race but had to watch this one later, great race not sure of some of the calls though.

I might be persuaded to follow F1 again if they make them put real gearshifts with clutches (manual xmission) back into the cars.

It's a big elastic band that winds up every time you brake, you get to unwind it once per lap to pass someone:)

That would result in more locked wheels, blown engines & missed gear shifts.

Would be cheaper than the semi-auto 'boxes they're using & would make the racing even better!

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Well as far as the truth in 24 documentary goes if you live south of the boarder you can download it for free from itunes but for use north of the boarder we are S.O.L. for the time being. and it sounds like you cant buy the DVD it was a free promo handed out by audi at races and so on. :(

Exactly, real driving.

With all the controversial rule changes, stewards decisions, team protests & revisions to the points system real driving would distract from the F1 circus act!

That being said slicks, KERS & revised aero regs have brought us that bit closer to decent racing.

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Well finally got to see truth in 24 last night on Speed. I have always been an audi racing fan and I knew they were good but this makes you really appreciate just how good that team really is.

Wow some nice changes! I may have to start watching again. Should keep things real interesting this year for sure!

hahahhaa.... cuz they aren't already some some of the best drivers in the world... :wink:

Real driving eh? You do realize they have 30-50 buttons/knobs/switches on the steering wheel that they are constantly adjusting throughout the race at top speeds, adjusting brake balance for certain corners, adjusting front wing to change downforce, all while driving within 1.5secs of each others lap times... Yea these guys don't have enough on their plate, might as well slap another pedal and shift knob in the car.... :lol:


As for anyone curious about KERS... Here is a video from Mclaren showing their KERS system.. unfortunately you can't understand much unless you know German... :lol: KERS usually adds 25-30kgs to the chassis and provides 80HP for 6.6secs which can be used in 1 long burst or multiple times for shorter bursts PER lap, and the only team that has used it EVERY race this year is Mclaren, Ferrari have been on and off with the system pretty much lighting on fire inside Kimi's car, BMW has scrapped it pretty much until they get their Aero figured out, and Renault has had it in and out but mostly out, if memory serves me correct, no one else is using it or even have the system at their disposal to try... Mclaren will probably end up providing Force India and Brawn with the KERS system in the future as they are already both running Mercedes engines...

Here's the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4_Nmr2Hmwc