| Formula Vee racing is one of the most popular forms of amateur racing in the United States. One of the biggest challenges in any automotive racing is the proper setup of the car. For this class of vehicle, there are only a few tire types allowed by the sanctioning body's rules. Regardless of its popularity, there is no published manufacturer's data for any of the available tires. The lack of tire data can make choosing the correct type a matter of trial and error. To compound the problem each vehicle's suspension can have different setups which can change the dynamic balance of the vehicle and effect the forces on each tire. This also means that setting up a car the same as a competitor is not the best way to be competitive because every driver is different as well.The base line of a vehicle can be determined experimentally. This publication outlines the principles involved in analyzing the Formula Vee race vehicle. Areas covered include suspension analysis, derivation of tire properties, and a look at the classic vehicle roll model and its application specifically to the Formula Vee chassis. |
