Vehicle Dynamics are two words that you tend to often see on websites and social media platforms dealing with driver training. It is my opinion that many providers take liberty with the definition of Vehicle Dynamics. This is not a criticism, but an observation.
The Computer Chip in Your Butt
A while back, an article in Racecar Engineering Magazine discussed the effects of “self-aligning torque” on the driving task. Self-Aligning Torque is the effort or force required to turn the steering wheel. It is measured in pounds and is the vehicle’s way of communicating to the driver that everything is cool, no worries, or that […]
Emergency Maneuver vs. Cornering
Many training programs teach an exercise called Lines and Apexes. The goal of the exercise is to train the student to maximize their speed through a corner; from a vehicle dynamics viewpoint, that is a different skill set than operating a vehicle in a sudden emergency scenario.
Passing Safety
Passing the vehicle in front of you is one of those things we often do but don’t give much thought. On an urban road, that slow driver in front of you may be problematic – BUT – once the decision has been made to pass a vehicle in an urban environment, realize and remember that […]
Understeer and Oversteer Explained
Understeer and Oversteer are terms used to explain vehicle characteristics, and they are important signals transmitted to you by the vehicle, it is how the vehicle communicates to you. It is the vehicles way of telling you what you should do next. In a nutshell, understeer and oversteer are the interrelationships of the front and rear ends of the car.