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WEIGHT TRANSFER
Weight transfer is the key to car handling. Consider that a car has a certain
amount of “weight” on various parts of the car and this weight is distributed
by a certain amount into each wheel. When the car corners, weight is
transferred to the outside tires, when it accelerates weight is transferred to
the rear, and when it brakes weight is transferred to the front. By transferring
weight to one side of the car (left or right) or one end of the car (front or
rear), the tires on that side (or at that end) will be forced onto the racing
surface more, resulting in more grip or traction.
The amount of weight transfer is affected by the car’s center-of-gravity
(CG), the distribution of the weight by the car’s setup, and by the way that
you drive. Before you start adjusting your car setup to maximize the car’s
performance and ease of handling, you should ensure that the car is in good
mechanical shape with no broken, binding, or loose parts, and that the car
has proper weight balance left/right.
WEIGHT BALANCE
You should always try to adjust the weight on your car so it is equal left-
to-right; this will help to ensure proper, consistent handling. You can use
balancing tools to check the weight distribution of your car, and ensure that
your ready-to-race car does not list to one side.
CENTER-OF-GRAVITY (CG)
The center-of-gravity (CG) of the car is the point on the car (in 3-dimensional
space) around which the car would be in total balance, if you could support it
at that very point. Center-of-gravity is affected by the physical weight of the
car, and the placement of all components on the car. If the car is not equally
balanced left/right, the car’s CG will not be centered. This will cause the car
to handle differently when it turns one direction as opposed to the other
direction.
Center-of-gravity is also the point at which all centrifugal and other forces of
inertia are applied while the car is in motion.
• When the car corners, centrifugal force causes weight to be transferred
to the outside wheels.
• When the car accelerates, the force pushes backward on the car’s CG
causing weight to be transferred to the rear wheels.
• When the car brakes, the force pushes forward on the car’s CG causing
the weight to be transferred to the front wheels.
It is always best to make the car’s CG as low as possible to minimize the
negative effects of weight transfer.
WEIGHT TRANSFER AND CAR SETUP
Car setup is always a matter of compromise, and every aspect of car setup
affects the way that weight transfers on the car. There is no one magical
setup change that will solve all the car’s handling problems. Car setup is a
complex interaction of the various components that make up the car, and all
of these aspects of setup will affect one another.