A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Originally Posted by zOOmz
I just want to add my two cents about the ICE MODE thing. My MR2 gets that same problem and has scared the crap out of me. If I am going down a hill and hit a rock or small chuck hole, and I apply the brake, I slide like on ice. But it always involves some deviation in the surface of the road. I have re-applied the brake and nothing! Could it have something to do with middle weight distribution? (As in Mid-engined)? It has happened too often to be my imagination. I don't like it. It scares me.
Happened to me as well in the Elise at least twice and maybe three times and in the same sort of scenario - going over ridges in the road or similar and then having to brake... I was commuting each time and not driving like I was at an AutoX... so as far as I am concerned its real...
A:
Is there some sort of list of people who have had ice mode problems, so that we can explain to Lotus how large this problem is? In Colorado we have 2 locations for events, and I've never had ice mode problems on our grippy concrete surface. I have mowed down more than one cone wall after having absolutely *NO* brakes on our asphalt surface. I think it only takes one experience with ice mode to be convinced that it's real, and I've had a lot more than one experience with it!
A:
Originally Posted by doma
We had an aero eng. team at WVU flying an airplane which had its wings coated in many tiny little holes - air was forced out the holes by a pump during flight. It make the aircraft more slipery and reduced drag. I've often wondered if something similar could be used for cars.
Didn't they try that on one of the X planes? IIRC they decided that it was too complicated.
Edit: They did a similar mod to an F-16XL test bed in the early 90s.
A:
Thanks guys, it's nice to hear about other folks having the ABS problem too.
We had not experienced it since going to the stiffer springs, so we thought perhaps that had solved the problem. Unfortunately, it reared it's ugly head again on the slippery Topeka surface, and cost me a podium spot, if not the Championship.
I'd like to thank Fred for inviting me to drive his blindingly quick car. Sorry I couldn't bring you home a jacket.
Oh and for those of you that doubt the wing's efficacy, I was grabbing 3rd gear as I drove past the last slalom cone on the west course. I don't think any other Elises were doing that! Fred's car handles transitions better than any other car I've ever driven.