I'm taking part in the Formula Student class 2 entry at uni and we're hoping to do a bit of research into what people actually want from a single seater track day car. So I've made a quick survey (takes less than 5 mins to do) and hopefully some of you guys can do me a big favour and fill it in.

 

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X7LQVMV

 

If you think there's anything major that you'd want from a car like this which isn't mentioned in the survey then feel free to post it here, it'd be really helpful.

 

Cheers,

Jim

Done

And done.

that was quick:biggrin:

D

o

n

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Done.

 

You mention ease of driving, but that isn't the same as driver involvement. My mates caterham is actually quite hard to drive (tiny gear stick and heavy steering, pedals very close together etc), but the rewards are fantastic. Does it make it any less fun? Not really, more challenging defo - but more rewarding when you nail a really sweet downshift, corner or lap. Ideally a car should be easy to drive, but it isn't nearly as important as driver involvement. On a similar vein, cornering ability suggests you're referring to the outright speed at which corners can be taken. But on a trackday, only sad fools worry about who got the fastest lap (timing is usually banned and severely punished), normally the same people who worry about who has got the largest motorhome... Again, this isn't nearly as important as having a car which is easily adjustable on the throttle (and therefor catchable if you exceed the limits of grip - which normally does happen at some point).

 

On another note, you don't specify driver preferences such as 'do you want: Fwd, Rwd, 4wd, mid-engined, rear-engined?' etc, etc. As each format has different characteristics should this not be given consideration? Or is it a traditional approach with a MR layout? Think I've probably answered my own question there..

 

Anyhow, sounds like a really cool project - good luck with it, keep us informed with what happens!

Done :thumbup1:

done - id second leos comments tho, a slightly more mobile bmw is way more fun than a tuned impreza, even though the impreza may be faster.

 

RWD, not AWD or FWD, nice short snappy gear change, close gearing, decent noise would be my choice! Oh and lightweight! easier on tyres, brakes, suspension, and corners and accelerates better.

 

Keep us updated!

Cheers to everyone who's done the survey so far, it's really helpful!

 

As for engine layout it's pretty much a given that the car is MR/RR due to the size of the vehicle etc (google formula student if you want a better idea).

 

As for the driver involvement you have a good point there and that's part of what I was getting at by separating ease of driving from cornering ability etc. (I would add in an extra section about involvement but I've got the maximum number of free questions....).

 

I'll put up anything interesting that happens with the project as it progresses.

Done, and good to see a fellow engineering student in the FS program.

 

Im also involved with my University. We are enteried into class 2, but with plans to have a Class 1 ready car finished for the event - in preperation for next years development.

 

Im head of the 'suspension, steering and braking' Team. This is our first actual developed car, and the research and development time is getting pretty immense. Spent a lot of today working on the Wishbone upright design.

I answered(3)top speed knowing few vehicles hit top speed on a track due to length of straights.- I think "its not the destination , it's the journey getting there." is good advice to apply to just about anything.