Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

[B3ND3R]

Aka, "Why horsepower isn't as important as you think it is"

Watch a "slow" Miata down on horsepower school much more powerful BMWs, Porsches, and other euro trash.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...-lap?fbfanpage

[onefitz]

The video above shows some skilled traffic reading, masterful car handling, and a brilliant combination of patience and opportunism

And this is why horsepower is important to the every day person.. Because they lack the skills required to be smooth.

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by onefitz

And this is why horsepower is important to the every day person.. Because they lack the skills required to be smooth.

That was fast, this topic is done.

[B3ND3R]

Originally Posted by onefitz

And this is why horsepower is important to the every day person.. Because they lack the skills required to be smooth.

It's easier to gain horsepower than it is to gain talent.

But ultimately it's not as much fun or rewarding.

Because on the street, it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by B3ND3R

It's easier to gain horsepower than it is to gain talent.

But ultimately it's not as much fun or rewarding.

Because on the street, it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

HP and handling are two different phenomenons,

You can have both, but for most "normal" people, you get either one.

There is no replacement for going around a corner fast.
Just as there is no replacement to running through 2nd gear with a lot of torque and HP.

I mean no offense, but most people simply cant afford or have the time to go to a track and practice all day. You can say autocross, but that has its limits as well.

[B3ND3R]

If they are different phenomena , then how is it an either/or proposition?

O_o

Hp isn't a substitute for technique, as the video clearly demonstrates. That was the point, if you will.

[Whitigir]

Lolll are you kidding ? In racing, there is no HP or Handling.

In the same class of vehicles, the best driver will win.

This MX-5 could have been modified to be in the same class as a stock M5. But the driver was extraordinary.

That was all there is to it. Just no point talking number (the way u do) in racing.

[dem00n]

Now you're getting technical, you know i wasn't going there with that.

I know what you meant, but it felt like you were dismissing higher HP cars, like many on this forum do.

[robwbright]

Skill kills power. In the motocross world a few years ago, a recently retired pro rider took on a "B" Intermediate rider in two lap races. The bikes used and results were:

"B" rider' bike first, Former pro's bike second

55hp 450cc vs. 55hp 450cc = pro wins by a mile.

55hp 450cc vs. 32hp 125cc = pro wins easily.

55hp 450cc vs. 22hp 85cc = pro wins pretty easily.

55hp 450cc vs. 12hp 125cc trail bike = pro barely wins

55hp 450cc vs. bicycle = "B" rider wins.

Anyone can go fast in a straight line. Throw in corners and the game completely changes.

[fatoni]

its weird how people always treat power different from other every metric of performance. double the power should equal double the speed in a similar way that double the treadwear doesnt equal double the cornering grip. that looks more like an impact from a driver rather than evidence to the insignificance of power.

[whataboutbob]

Shameless plug. Here's my fastest run from last weekend. If you watch closely there are 2 places where the rear end gets loose. The rest of the run I'm pretty sure I'm ahead on the course, and smooth.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExBU1m8qDds"]SDR SCCA SCAT Championship - 3.16.2014 - YouTube[/ame]

[suaveflooder]

Originally Posted by whataboutbob

Shameless plug. Here's my fastest run from last weekend. If you watch closely there are 2 places where the rear end gets loose. The rest of the run I'm pretty sure I'm ahead on the course, and smooth.

Always love watching you, good sir!

[EAGLE5]

Slow is smooth. Smooth is hairless. Hairless is Chihuahua. Chihuahua is yo quiero taco bell. Taco bell is diarrhea. Diarrhea is the runs. The runs are fast.

[DarkSunrise]

People prefer HP because it's accessible. You can use it in straight-line daily driving and it doesn't take a lot of skill to apply.

Handling requires both:

1) a track (or set of curves), and
2) the skill to utilize it

For people who simply use their cars to commute, HP is the much more appealing route.

This is also the reason people prefer low-rpm torque to high-rpm torque. Low-rpm torque is just a shove of the pedal away, whereas high-rpm torque requires a downshift or three.