Corvette VS Heavier car
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Sarcasm. Just one of the many services I offer.
Corvette VS Heavier car
Ok, this may be a broad question....I notice alot of cars out there have similar horsepower or even more than my vet, but cannot win the stop light race, I'm assuming because the vet is so light. Is there a formula or a rule of thumb to gauge how much heavier another car with similar horsepower would need to be, in order to lose? Someone had stated in an earlier post that each 100lbs additional weight reduces by 10 HP?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
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From: Northern CA
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (ir0nmaiden420)
Divide the stoplight ready to race weight by the actual horsepower. The result is lbs/hp/ A smaller number is better.
10 lb/hp is only valid if you car has about 10lb/hp
10 lb/hp is only valid if you car has about 10lb/hp
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (ir0nmaiden420)
Our Corvettes enjoy several advantages over some higher-powered cars:
Good weight distribution; higher percentage of weight on the rear wheels.
A good limited-slip differential. Not all of your competition will have one.
Lots of tire. Not many cars have 275/285 rear tires.
What this means is that every Corvette will have the traction to make the most of its power off the line.
Larry
code5coupe
:seeya
Good weight distribution; higher percentage of weight on the rear wheels.
A good limited-slip differential. Not all of your competition will have one.
Lots of tire. Not many cars have 275/285 rear tires.
What this means is that every Corvette will have the traction to make the most of its power off the line.
Larry
code5coupe
:seeya
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (ir0nmaiden420)
A general rule of thumb for cars in our weight & HP range is that 10chp gain or 100lb reduction is worth 1 mph in the 1/4 mile; here's the formual:
MPH = (HP / weight)^1/3 * 234
where ^1/3 means the cube root.
Expected elapsed time is then given by:
ET = 1357 / mph, approximately
So, you can see that as HP goes up and/or weight goes down MPH increases and ET drops, i.e. the car is quicker and faster in the 1/4 mile.
Plug the above into Excel and you will see exactly how MPH & ET change with weight and CHP.
Of course power band, gears, tranny or converter are very important parameteres not included in the above equations and can make a big difference in results on the street and strip.
MPH = (HP / weight)^1/3 * 234
where ^1/3 means the cube root.
Expected elapsed time is then given by:
ET = 1357 / mph, approximately
So, you can see that as HP goes up and/or weight goes down MPH increases and ET drops, i.e. the car is quicker and faster in the 1/4 mile.
Plug the above into Excel and you will see exactly how MPH & ET change with weight and CHP.
Of course power band, gears, tranny or converter are very important parameteres not included in the above equations and can make a big difference in results on the street and strip.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
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From: Northern CA
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (Jim Sitton)
Stoplight to stoplight who cares about horsepower. Torque is where its at.
And why Harleys beat 600cc sport bikes.
.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: On a Wisconsin Death Trip
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (xs650)
Stoplight to stoplight who cares about horsepower. Torque is where its at.
That's why a Peterbuilt trucks beat Corvettes all the time.
And why Harleys beat 600cc sport bikes.
.
That's why a Peterbuilt trucks beat Corvettes all the time.
And why Harleys beat 600cc sport bikes.
.
[Modified by loiq, 2:01 PM 4/30/2004]
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Team Owner
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From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (loiq)
Stoplight to stoplight who cares about horsepower. Torque is where its at.
That's why a Peterbuilt trucks beat Corvettes all the time.
And why Harleys beat 600cc sport bikes.
.
Wow! Peterbuilts beating Corvettes? Harleys beating 600cc sportbikes? What town do you live in?:confused:
[Modified by loiq, 2:01 PM 4/30/2004]
That's why a Peterbuilt trucks beat Corvettes all the time.
And why Harleys beat 600cc sport bikes.
.
Wow! Peterbuilts beating Corvettes? Harleys beating 600cc sportbikes? What town do you live in?:confused:
[Modified by loiq, 2:01 PM 4/30/2004]
Well, Truck world! Where else? :p: :beatdeadhorse:
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
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Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (Jim Sitton)
Stoplight to stoplight who cares about horsepower. Torque is where its at.
So what you really mean is that PEAK horsepower doesn't matter. You are correct, the car with a higher torque at a given RPM will acclerate faster if everything else is held constant (gears, weight, etc.) BUT the increased torque at said RPM yields an increase in HP at said RPM, there is no way around it.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Ok
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (ir0nmaiden420)
I agree with xs650, its the "Power to Weight Ratio" that will give you a good idea of whats going to happen on the street. A 3000lb. race weight with 300hp is a 10 to 1 ratio. 10 hp pushing 1 pound. A 3800lb car would need to make 380hp to do the same thing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (loiq)
Stoplight to stoplight who cares about horsepower. Torque is where its at.
And why Harleys beat 600cc sport bikes.
.
Wow! Peterbuilts beating Corvettes? Harleys beating 600cc sportbikes? What town do you live in?:confused:
[Modified by xs650, 8:33 AM 4/30/2004]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,631
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From: Union City CA
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (85blkZ51)
A 3000lb. race weight with 300hp is a 10 to 1 ratio. 10 hp pushing 1 pound. A 3800lb car would need to make 380hp to do the same thing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (PUREC4)
Ok let's see if I've got this formula
Hp + Torque X $$ + <coficent of drag + $$$ = :party: CHICK'S DIG IT!! :party: :party: :auto: :seeya
Hp + Torque X $$ + <coficent of drag + $$$ = :party: CHICK'S DIG IT!! :party: :party: :auto: :seeya
Le Mans Master
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From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Corvette VS Heavier car (PUREC4)
Ok let's see if I've got this formula
Hp + Torque X $$ + <coficent of drag + $$$ = :party: CHICK'S DIG IT!! :party: :party: :auto: :seeya
Hp + Torque X $$ + <coficent of drag + $$$ = :party: CHICK'S DIG IT!! :party: :party: :auto: :seeya
:lolg: :lolg: :lolg: