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Meeting	ACGS Committee Meeting 96 - Hilton Head - October 2005
Agenda Location	8 SUBCOMMITTEE A - AERONAUTIC AND SURFACE VEHICLES 8.4 Racing Car Dynamics
Title	Racing Car Dynamics
Presenter	Jeffrey Chrstos
Affiliation	STI
Available Downloads*	presentation
	Downloads are available to members who are logged in and either Active* or attended this meeting.
Abstract	This presentation covers basic racing vehicle dynamics and draws parallels with the study of flight vehicles. The cars and series are compared between NASCAR, Formula 1, IRL, and Champ Car, and basic design considerations of passenger vehicles and racing vehicles are contrasted. Tires provide essentially all of the maneuvering force for ground vehicles. Tire testing is described, and the characteristics of tires are shown and compared with aircraft aerodynamic lift characteristics. Most racing series allow body shapes that generate significant aerodynamic downforce. This downforce increases vehicle horizontal performance and changes the characteristics and study of these vehicles when compared to passenger vehicles. Aerodynamics influence on racing vehicle performance is discussed. The presentation concludes with a discussion of driver/vehicle interaction and first order handling design considerations.