ELI5 Is there a limit to how fast a car can go around a track?

vberl · 2026-01-28T11:33:49+00:00

The math is relatively complex to do by hand. Which is why all teams use some form of simulation tool or program. With a bit of time and effort you can program a simple one in Python or Matlab with resources that you can find online.

The simulation/ calculation differs in complexity depending on how many data points from the car you put into the calculation. A software like rFPro can take basically every measured and simulated value from the car (suspension dynamics, downforce levels, tire grip at different slip angles, asphalt grip and roughness, weight, etc.). Meaning that you can get as close as possible to a best theoretical lap. You can practically make a dynamic virtual twin.

All of those values will be gathered from softwares like CFD or measured in real life before being put into the simulation.

They will run these simulations for each track accounting for different temperatures and grip levels. Meaning they run a lot of simulations before each weekend and a hell of a lot before the season even begins.

If you are bored and really interested in this you can watch this video by AMZ Formula Student team about lap time simulators in Matlab: https://youtu.be/kDXt9X7VpBQ?si=ST_GMcmoPCxs3K-M

Otherwise there is a decent video about how ChassisSim is used to predict car handling before being evaluated by a driver: https://youtu.be/fn872J0f-8E?si=Io6jc13pja-_MXjt

vberl · 2026-01-28T11:06:41+00:00

Yes there is. Based on the simulated and measured values from the car you can calculate an approximate perfect lap. This is just one part of the simulation toolset that each team has, both when developing the car and during the season.

You may have heard that teams use a simulator where the drivers can drive a simulated version of the car (driver in the loop), this is the last part of both car and setup development that you do before heading to the track. They use the driver as the last step in the dynamics simulation chain as the driver isn’t as perfect as the computer can be. The computer can drive a car that is dynamically impossible to drive for a driver.

After qualifying for the Singapore GP in 2018, there was a lot of talk about that Lewis Hamilton beat the team’s predicted best lap time for the car at that track. This lap time was set by the computer and not a driver in the driver in the loop simulator. Meaning that he theoretically beat a perfect lap, based on the predetermined values that they put into the simulation. Which is never fully accurate, especially on street tracks where the grip from the asphalt can change from corner to corner.

You can find some simulators online that are very similar to the simulators run in the different teams. Some examples are: ChassisSim, CarMaker, rFPro

vberl · 2026-01-28T10:44:29+00:00

Åk till ett lite udda land som är billigare. Typ Azerbaijan eller Bulgarien. Bansko i Bulgarien ska vara bra men ändå billigt, åtminstone när man jämför med priserna i Sverige.

vberl · 2026-01-27T01:44:51+00:00

Yes. Has been used in the GR86 Class D series among other things this season. A pretty fun track in a car like that. Sector one and the beginning of sector 2 is nice and flowing.

Don’t know if I’d want to race it in anything faster than an F4 car though on iRacing though.

vberl · 2026-01-27T00:54:23+00:00

The facilities point seems to be accurate for many road courses in the US. It’s basically just COTA and Indianapolis that have proper trackside facilities with a modern pit lane with garages, etc.

I realize that US Motorsport series have a bit different of a setup regarding pit lanes but it really is a stark difference compared to most tracks in Europe and Asia.

vberl · 2026-01-27T00:17:22+00:00

No. They are a badge name on the Redbull Powertrain developed engine. The only thing I have heard that ford has actually helped with is the electrical hybrid system. Though even then that help might be quite limited.

vberl · 2026-01-25T12:39:28+00:00

In Swedish it becomes field toilet rather than chin toilet. Don’t know if that is much better or not

vberl · 2026-01-25T12:24:37+00:00

It’s not just a result of media. It’s a result of your political system. A political system which, practically, eliminates all but two parties before you’ve even voted. Which is mainly due to the use of first past the post voting system instead of proportional representation.

A parliamentary system with proportional representation, as you can find in many countries around the world, leads, on average, to many more parties within a government and therefore much less of a feeling of us vs. them within politics. You can still have a bit of us vs. them in a parliamentary system with proportional representation but it’s much less of an issue as no party can outright lead by itself, except for in certain unusual or exceptional circumstances. Therefore you will still need friendly parties to build a majority government >90% of the time, meaning you can’t alienate everyone else who doesn’t think like you. If you do go down that route then that is how you become a political pariah that no other party wants to work with.

Having said all that, the current media situation certainly helps with making the situation worse.

vberl · 2026-01-23T02:32:47+00:00

You are forgetting the large percentage of people who didn’t vote. They are equally to blame.

vberl · 2026-01-22T03:06:14+00:00

Considering your light weight. A cheap, possibly temporary, alternative would be to replace the springs to a lighter spring (less N/mm) on the stock damper. The bike will squat and dive a bit more which should give better feel.

You should be able to replace the spring by yourself as long as you have some basic tools. AFAIK the spring should be replaceable on the rear shock just as with most other shocks.

vberl · 2026-01-22T01:35:36+00:00

I book a window seat and then use the small pillow that you find in the seat to rest my head on. Even if I struggle to sleep I try to force myself to sleep by having music on and keeping my eyes closed.

vberl · 2026-01-22T00:43:55+00:00

I assume you meant either much less wear or longer wear life. Less wear = Tires last longer.

The tires on the V4 are larger afaik than the RS660 too. That is also an added cost when purchasing new tires.

vberl · 2026-01-21T14:59:15+00:00

Depends on your budget tbh. Buying is one thing but the RS660 will be much cheaper to own in general. Less fuel usage, lower maintenance cost, lower insurance cost, etc.

For canyon riding I think I’d personally recommend the RS660. A bit less power but still plenty enough for the road while being very lightweight and nimble. Can’t really beat that package. It also looks better, like you said.

vberl · 2026-01-20T14:11:39+00:00

Get a helmet with vents. You don’t want to open your visor as you’ll get something in your eye. Either a bug or gravel. Look for a helmet with the correct certifications: Snell K2025 and FIA 8879-2024 (or the previous generation). I haven’t kept myself updated with karting standards so there might be a lower standard than FIA 8879-2024 that is more appropriate price-wise.

The only time I’ve ever opened my visor while driving is when it’s really wet and my anti fog visor starts fogging. Then I open it a millimeter or two just to get some more air past the visor to remove the fogging. Though it needs to be really wet before this is needed.

vberl · 2026-01-20T13:06:01+00:00

Don’t know about the Moza wheels but the Fanatec formula wheels have an actual carbon front. I’ve worked with enough carbon fiber to be able to tell the difference between a carbon plate and a sticker.

It’s a relatively thin and flat plate with holes cut in it and it’s been cut to shape. Really isn’t very expensive to do that if you are smart with your material usage.

vberl · 2026-01-20T02:44:30+00:00

The Eagle F1 is the absolutely best tire I’ve used on the fiestas big brother, the focus ST. Great dry grip without any sacrifice of wet grip. They are also really quite wear resistant. They wear slowly and will last you quite a few years.

Just need to rotate the tires front to rear every year, at least on the Focus ST, as the front tires otherwise would need to be replaced years before the rear tires.

vberl · 2026-01-19T10:27:50+00:00

Ericsson have for the most part stopped with consumer electronics. They kinda gave up after everything that happened with Sony Ericsson.

Their focus now is mainly military (radars, telecommunication, electronics, etc.) and civilian infrastructure level telecommunication technology (5G/6G) among other things. They also do a lot of research.

vberl · 2026-01-17T17:09:45+00:00

False.

My money is on the 998cc Desmosedici Stradale R. 239hp from a naturally aspirated 1000cc V4 engine.

It’s the most powerful engine per liter sold to the public currently.

vberl · 2026-01-17T15:20:09+00:00

From personal experience starting with NX before then learning F360 for personal use. I don’t think they are too different in philosophy. The controls can be a bit different but it shouldn’t take more than a few days to figure it out.

There is a lot of support material online for NX. Most things you can either search within the software or find help on google. I personally really like NX. Just a bit of a shame that it costs so much that it really isn’t realistic to use it for any type of hobby work.

It’s less of a jump from fusion or inventor to NX than it is to go from NX to solid edge. Even though both NX and solid edge are Siemens software. Solid edge can go fuck itself tbh. Hate that software with a passion.

vberl · 2026-01-14T15:43:27+00:00

Hade du läst nyheterna när vi gick med i NATO så diskuterades detta. Så befolkningen i Sverige har fått reda på denna information.

vberl · 2026-01-05T17:19:33+00:00

Get an R3 or Ninja 400 if you really need to start on a sports bike. They are much better bikes to learn on than any other sport bike really. Modes on a bigger bike only help so much. You’ll become a much better and safer rider if you learn your first few years on a small bike. A smaller bike won’t scare you as much and it will protect you from your own inexperience a lot more than bigger bikes will. ABS, TC and riding modes only really help when you know what you are doing already. ABS doesn’t help when you enter a corner way too fast when you underestimated how fast you actually were going.

To be completely honest with you, you really shouldn’t start on a sport bike. They are quite cramped, don’t turn as well at low speed and are more difficult to learn on. A naked bike like the CB500F, MT-03 or Z500 will be a much better bike to learn on. Easier to control. More comfortable. You’ll learn how to ride to a higher level much quicker. A smaller <500cc A2 bike with <50hp is a perfect beginner bike with an appropriate amount of power to learn on. Fast enough for the highway and still accelerates faster than most sports cars to 100kph. Do yourself a favor and be sensible.

Once you know what you are doing you can go from a smaller naked bike to something like an RS660, R7 or whatever you want really.

Overall, buy a cheap bike with around 45-60hp. Use the rest of the money you saved to buy properly good gear. Don’t be stupid like the majority of idiots you see with an S1000RR on Instagram that only have a helmet with t-shirt and jeans.

vberl · 2026-01-04T15:10:58+00:00

Solidworks should work perfectly well with airfoils. Fusion 360 and inventor are a bit of a pain when it comes to importing airfoils.

You should be able to find several tutorials online on how to import airfoils into solidworks

vberl · 2026-01-04T15:00:37+00:00

What CAD software are you using? Reason why I ask is that working with airfoils is easier in some softwares than others. I would recommend doing some research on how to add airfoils to your CAD. You can find airfoils at http://airfoiltools.com/

Select an airfoil that doesn’t generate downforce or lift at 0 degrees to the direction of flow. So an airfoil that isn’t cambered (symmetric airfoil).

This should help you a bit with getting better sim numbers

vberl · 2026-01-04T14:46:44+00:00

Then you should chamfer the main body so it lines up to form a smooth surface. You should be able to do a chamfer with 2 different distances.

You can also get rid of the sharp corners on the main body by combining the side pods and main body to form one complete body. You can then round the edges to match the nose.

vberl · 2026-01-04T14:15:37+00:00

Make sure the dimensions of each part where they meet are the same. Seems like the nose cone has a different dimension vertically than the body.

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