safe
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Registered: 09/25/09
Posts: 119
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| | 04/02/10 at 10:20 AM | Reply with quote | #16 |
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Racetrack Math
Let's assume:
TurnDistance * TurnSpeed = TurnTime
StraightDistance * StraightSpeed = StraightTime
TurnTime + StraightTime = LapTime
...and for a go kart track we make the guess:
TurnPercentage = 75%
StraightPercentage = 25%
...basically we are going to see how important it is to go fast in the turns verses how fast on the straight aways.
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RiderBikeA - 25 mph turn speed, 50 mph straight away speed
RiderBikeB - 30 mph turn speed, 40 mph straight away speed
TrackLength - 0ne mile.
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RiderBikeA
TurnDistance * TurnSpeed = TurnTime
TrackLength (0.75mile) * (1/RiderBikeA (25 mph))(60min)(60s) = 108 seconds
StraightDistance * StraightSpeed = StraightTime
TrackLength (0.25mile) * (1/RiderBikeA (50 mph))(60min)(60s) = 18 seconds
TurnTime + StraightTime = LapTime
108 seconds + 18 seconds = 126 seconds (two minutes, 6 seconds)
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RiderBikeB
TurnDistance * TurnSpeed = TurnTime
TrackLength (0.75mile) * (1/RiderBikeB (30 mph))(60min)(60s) = 90 seconds
StraightDistance * StraightSpeed = StraightTime
TrackLength (0.25mile) * (1/RiderBikeB (40 mph))(60min)(60s) = 22.5 seconds
TurnTime + StraightTime = LapTime
90 seconds + 22.5 seconds = 112.5 seconds (under two minutes)
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The moral of the story is that if your corner speeds are only slightly lower than someone else and 75% of the track is turns then even a big power advantage will not improve your lap time. |
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safe
Zone Moderator
Registered: 09/25/09
Posts: 119
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| | 04/19/10 at 09:35 AM | Reply with quote | #17 |
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Race A Success
Sounds like the race in Arizona went well. Gas bikes won over the electric with top speeds of 50 mph while the electric bike could only manage 35 mph. 8 lap Heats 12 lap Main ...looking forward to the continued growth of the sport. |
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safe
Zone Moderator
Registered: 09/25/09
Posts: 119
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safe
Zone Moderator
Registered: 09/25/09
Posts: 119
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| | 04/30/10 at 11:48 AM | Reply with quote | #19 |
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Get The Word Out
For next years event I'd like to get an actual 1hp (1000W) electric bicycle road racing class formed for the racing that takes place in Arizona. All that is needed is for 20-30 racers with "legal" power (1hp) in their mostly stock (but can be modified as much as you like except the power limit) ebikes to show up. We would then race against each other in a separate 10 lap main and have no heat races so that batteries are not a problem. So pass the word along... out of the entire country there has to be 20-30 ebikers with stock power ready and willing to race. Modified machines (those above 1hp) are bumped up into the same class as the gas powered bikes. (so don't come with a monster machine and expect to molest the legal powered ones... you have to face 6-8 hp gas bikes instead) Controllers would be: 48 volts - 20 amps 36 volts - 30 amps 24 volts - 40 amps ...any more than that and you get bumped up. |
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safe
Zone Moderator
Registered: 09/25/09
Posts: 119
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| | 06/15/10 at 09:37 AM | Reply with quote | #20 |
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A Case Study Dana White bought the UFC several years ago when the sport of MMA was very primitive. In the beginning the rules were mostly "unlimited" and the sport was more of a spectacle than a profession. Dana White (I think) wisely realized that in order for MMA to prosper you needed to guarantee the safety of the fighters and create an atmosphere of professionalism so that young talent could feel that it could be a career path for them. Those same ideas should be applied to EBRR (Electric Bicycle Road Racing) in that the rules need to be secure (1000 watts strictly limited input) and the sense that it's a professional activity should be encouraged. Much like professional cycling we expect that the sport will promote athletic achievement and wise race strategy over the technology of the bike itself. Racing should not be about the bike alone, but about an athlete that uses the technology to it's fullest. I think the lessons learned are: Need to create rules that are safe and fair. Need to create an atmosphere of professionalism. ...given the present state of affairs Electric Bicycle Road Racing is at the level of UFC 1. |
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safe
Zone Moderator
Registered: 09/25/09
Posts: 119
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| | 06/16/10 at 01:37 AM | Reply with quote | #21 |
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1000 Watt Ebike Race Cancelled
After careful consideration I've come to the conclusion that the Arizona race has too much history and inertia to change into anything resembling the kind of racing I want to promote.
So as far as I'm concerned the 1000 watt ebike race is cancelled.
The "Death Race" is NOT cancelled however and I fully expect that it will continue to grow without much change.
My apologies to anyone that might have begun to get interested in 1000 Watt racing, but I can assure you that I will continue to try to get something going on other tracks.
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