[UshCha]

Bored, tired and its FRIDAY! Time for fun problems. How long should a pitstop take? To make it track length independent. How many laps should elalape between entering and leaving having taken on say a 90% fuel load? Would this change dependent on tht race type class being raced? There is no real answer but what do you think is should be and any logic behind your opinion. Should the number of laps in the race be a factor to consider?

I suppose in the same vane what about percentage power full to empty. We use 70% but on our track the time diffrence between 80% and 90% is minimal as the track is small and bendy with no mags. Our pit lane speed is 20% power as the cars are fairly efficent (Slot.it with scaley motors).

 

[MrFlippant]

Oohh, good question. I haven't gone into that much depth. I usually just make sure each car needs to refuel once or twice before race end. Whatever the time it takes, everyone will have to suffer it. For me, keeping it fair was more important than keeping it short/long. As I recall, though, on my short-ish track, other cars could easily get 2 or 3 laps on someone in the pits, depending on their speed.

As for fuel load, I like it to actually make a difference, so it wasn't uncommon for me to set the full load to 50% or less, especially if a car has a motor that runs well at low voltage.

With a slow car on a full tank, and a lengthy pit stop, fuel strategy makes a HUGE difference. For me, that adds a lot to the fun of a close finish.

 

[Minardi]

A good question indeed. I let It depend on the length of the race and type of cars. The longer the race, the longer a pitstop may take. If we have our 2 hrs races with GT/LMP cars, pitstop take longer than for shorter lap limited F1 or touring car races. Minimum will be around 1 lap, maximum for the endurance races will be about 5 laps (50-60 secs).

About fuel load, I prefer between a minimum of 80/85% power at full tank, just enough to make a difference, and not enough to get speed differences that are too big, although on a smaller track I can understand that 70% works well.

 

[Marty]

Thought provoking, just by chance and not good management in close racing on my track the car fuelling in the pits is always in danger of being lapped so always had the chance to risk taking on less than a full fuel load, and same as Greg each race was set so every car had to pit at least once or twice which meant the race could be won or list on fuel strategy! Great fun.

Now I ve upgraded to the APB and SSDC V5 I've noticed the fuel usage is way out and I'kk need to readjust it all again, DUH!

Nothing better close racing with changing leaders, interesting to hear others thoughts.

Marty

 

[UshCha]

In support of this thread I did some laps of my test trak. All that showed was I and a really bad diver. The following is based on a very short (3.7 sec lap circuit, bad riving and 18 laps to fuel out driving hard. Ran at 70%. 60% and 50% full fuel, 20% pi lane speed. The results are depressing. Not till 50% power and even then the lap times were very little slower. I knew that was the case at 80%. The reason is pretty obvious with lower power I tend not to brake and take the corners better, At high powers I drive too much. Feels fast but isnt. Question If I drop may power on the throttle setting do I get 50% of that at full tank or is it as I would guess just 50% power?

My thoughts are that too long a pit stop makes fuel economy too important. It needs to get the slower full load times to be different by about ( but not exactly) cancel outhe fast and furious driving with lots of pits. Clearly more work on my track to get loads set up (or learn to dive better ;-( ). fule burm for an "economic lap" is about half of a "demented chicken lap" even if i stay on. Shape the lap times are no better! Keep the ideas comming.