Starting Ramps...Shorter, Steeper, Longer?
I'm in the process of constructing a new track, and for my current starting ramp (7.7 feet) I was wondering would a longer ramp give me more speed? I've been working on some setups and it seems that the longer ramp provides the cars with a smoother transition to the flat part of the track, but not really sure if it would give me faster times. If both ramps are at the same height,( 4 ft) and one ramp is 7.7 ft in total length, and the other is 11 ft but has less angle of descent...which would be faster? Just eye balling it doesn't seem like a big difference...what do you think?
Preacher
Discussion
I've grown to really appreciate longer 'kicker ramps' since joining RLD. My home ramp is ~50in high and 9ft long(4.5ft of 45deg drop smoothly transitioning to 4.5ft of 25deg drop before it hits floor level). The finishing speeds on my typical 30ft road coarses has greatly improved.
I've grown to really appreciate longer 'kicker ramps' since joining RLD.
Yes, I think my downhill is about 13 feet long now, about half my current track length. 4 feet high start. It's a bomber track!
Actually two ramps at the same height, one is shorter and steeper will produce greater speed than the longer ramp. Last night I did some timings of both setups. One ramp is 7.7 ft long and gave me a time of 1.68-1.78 from start to finish. The longer ramp (11 ft ) gave me times from 2-2.11 seconds for the same distance. Check this out:...
http://www.ehow.com/list_6816481_effect ... -cars.html
Also this one too...
http://www.ehow.com/about_6313077_effec ... y-car.html
Hope this helps,
Preacher
When I started making my tracking I found the steeper the hill the harder it was for cars to stay on the track at the transition, which is why I migrated to the "kicker" style after seeing Jobe have success with it. Even on my modest 20-foot track it made a huge difference. If I was to rebuild and had more room, I'd go with a longer hill but at a less angle. I'm sure there is some "golden ratio" of hill-to-straight but I don't have the skills (or patience) to figure that out...doesn't really matter...it's whatever works for you. If you see cars having trouble then make changes...trial and error
gravity = horsepower... the cars pick up speed quickly... i'll go with steep !