I suspected that was your 'thinkin'g and that's EXACTLY why I wanted you (or anyone) to express it.
So that's it, is it? You claim the speed difference is everything, do you? And it therefore follows that tracks that have a SLOWER entry into the first corner will have less start line accidents will they/ DO THEY? And that's exactly what we find, is it? And a kart, already needing to brake for a corner is LESS vulnerable to shunts than those braking for a FASTER corner...?
I trust the sarcasm is obvious..... however, the TRUTH is that....:-
Tracks where the first corner and the approach is slower have EXACTLY the same number of accidents to those that have a FASTER entry. For example, Kimbolton's first corner is a medium-to-slow hair pin. Rye House's first corner is a fat-out 270 degree monster. I had LESS 1st corner shunts at Kim than I did at Rye. Your suggestion would imply that I would have suffered LESS accidents at Kim..... yeah....! Anyone who knows Rye will know that the MOST likely first lap incidents occurred into the SECOND corner.... which was is .....just like Kim.... a medium-slow hairpin.....
A kart that is entering a corner at ANY speed (where it has needed to BRAKE for the entry) is unstable.... The driver is taking the corner on the LIMIT in all cases and thus the kart is EXACTLY as unstable in a slow corner as a fast one!
The cure for too fast entry is simple:-
1) make the 'pre-start' speed lower (i.e., control the run up to the line to be a slower speed). The old rule was WALKING pace..... That went out the window 15 to 20 years ago!
2) And/or place the starter close to the first corner!
Standing starts are NOT the only answer to the problem of slower speeds into the first corner..... which is NOT the problem that you suggest in the FIRST place.
Finally that ONLY deals with the problem on the first lap. What about the REST of the race? What we REALLY need to do is to ENFORCE THE 'NO CONTACT RULES'! That would change the number of accidents throughout the WHOLE race and thus, improve the RACING!
Ian
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