Cornering speeds now and in early 90´s

[rob]

I was watching TV coverage from year 1990 Mexico Gp and comentator was saying that cars were pulling 5 g ´s at fast corner taking at about 160 mph before start/finish line.
I mean 5g is level of todays F1 cars.
Could be that those cars in fast corners where aerodynamics comes in to the play were as fast as today cars?

[vis]

I was watching TV coverage from year 1990 Mexico Gp and comentator was saying that cars were pulling 5 g ´s at fast corner taking at about 160 mph before start/finish line.
I mean 5g is level of todays F1 cars.
Could be that those cars in fast corners where aerodynamics comes in to the play were as fast as today cars?

Aerodynamics in early 90´s was quite unrestricted, especially for upper body wings, while ground effect underbody was still banned.
So it seems possible to me such a cornering speed...

[manchild]

Try finding 1992-1993 data. They were blacking-out in corners due to heavy G-forces.

[RH1300S]

Perfectly feasible:

Big slicks
Wider track
Bigger underbody area
No stepped underside (introduced to restrict underbody effects)
Bigger diffusers
Bigger wings
Front wing much closer to the ground and (I think) running in ground effect - more front grip let them carry more rear wing

Modern F1 cars are highly impressive; despite all attempts to trim downforce they have hung onto loads of it.......

[flynfrog]

some karts can appraoch that now

[NickT]

From another thread

Heres one for you from a book I have been reading "current F1 cars generate significantly more down force today than those of the ground effect era"

Yeah I was surprised to when I read it but if you think about it the cars of today still pull 4.5G on a narrower chassis and grooved tyres.

Bring back slicks and cut the areo by 75% = overtaking

Source: The Chariot Makers: Assembling the Perfect Formula 1 Car by Steve Matchett

[ackzsel]

some karts can appraoch that now

5 G's in a kart? Without any downforce? That doesn't sound very realistic to me.

[Tom]

Actually a Supercart now holds the lap record for the Knockhill circuit in Fife, beating BTCC saloon cars, Formula BMW UKs and even Formula Renaults!!! I'm not sure if this record is inclusive of the bikes that race there but at 48secs I wouldn't be too surprised. Pulling 5Gs sounds extravagent but if you look at them, why not? They go 120mph!

[zac510]

5G is when a housewife that has never driven anything lighter than a Porsche Cayenne misses her braking point and whacks the back of your kart down at the local track

[Tom]

I'm not saying that it does 5G, just that I wouldn't be all that surprised.

[flynfrog]

i dont think they are quite 5 yet but 4 is not out of the question remeber they weigh next to nothing and have full wing packages some of the F1 guys use them to practice in the winter

[Jersey Tom]

I highly doubt that kart is going to pull 5G. Tires and aero, or lack thereof..

[RH1300S]

I doubt a kart will pull anywhere near that - probably roll over first - the drive is quite high up relative to the wheel diamter and track width.

No doubt they are fast 'though

[flynfrog]

http://www.bondurantsuperkarts.com/kartspecs.php

check out the middlle kart 2.5 g no areo