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"However this is an absolute no brainer. Wedge shape equals ramp, flat shape equals bumper/crumple zone."
Unfortunately it isn't necessarily a no-brainer, just as the apparent no-brainers of aerodynamic design are not always the solutions that work. Things like the Kamm tail for example.
It's quite possible that the design will not act as a wedge, because of the deforming nature of the nose, unless the nose is already under the other kart.
Strike a 'flat' nose cone more than about 1 inch from the ground and the nosecone deforms to create approximately the same wedge form.
I will agree that it looks obvious that should the wedge arrive under another kart, then it will lift it, but experiment may show that it is difficult to actually get that diving under effect in the first place, theat a flat nose doing the sme manoeuvre will lift another kart just as effectively.
In which case it may turn out that the real problem is the higher speed, or just the number of karts on the track or even the drivers. Every year after the winter lay off, the first couple of races in many classes are chaos on the early laps as people forget just what is entailed in getting round those corners. Mostly the seniors learn quickly to moderate their behaviour, but the same cannot always be said of cadets.
It's this uncertainty that means that some sort of testing should be done, and done by someone the drivers trust. After all, it is clear that you don't trust the MSA's study of the incident reports or any testing they may have done.
I spoke to a test engineer, and he suggested that the first tests can be conducted by putting the two karts into position and then applying a load (eg pulling on a big spring balance) to see what happens when. It would be a lot less hit and miss than throwing one kart at another.
Once the both karts level scenario has been tested, then you can lift one kart slightly to simulate the effect of road bumps etc.
Only if that doesn't produce good results should one move onto the rather more hit and miss speed tests.
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