Can you help me find this information?

[cpd]

Hi,

I'm looking for some information on the F1:

1. Diagrams of front and rear suspension
2. Torque curve of the BMW S70/2 engine
3. Aerodynamics, drag co-efficient, downforce, frontal area.

I'm currently searching for this information in order to be able to complete an accurate recreation of the car for a computer racing simulation. The project is going okay, but, being a simulation, the data used needs to be pretty accurate or it won't work right. And I want it to be really accurate.

Browsing the web, I've been able to find some useful information, and from that, work out other stuff that is not available using calculations and a bit of effort.

I do have one diagram of the suspension, but I believe it is the rear suspension, and that the front one might be different still. It's important that I can find diagrams of the suspension, because this can be modelled into the physics of the car. I've attached the diagram I have at the moment.

Also, I'm looking for some sound recordings of the Mclaren F1's S70/2 engine at running at idle from inside the cabin, or similar, and also of the engine running at low speeds (2000-3000rpm for instance). These are needed for the sound samples.

Thanks if you can assist.

[jkbon]

this diagram is the FRONT suspension !
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some sounds here :

http://enginesounds.free.fr/divers.php

[cpd]

Okay, good, thank you.

Now, what is the rear suspension like? Is anyone able to upload a diagram of that, if it is available? The car can not be properly simulated without having a diagram of the rear suspension to know how it works.

I've looked at a review of the car by Best Motoring, that does explain some things, but, the question of the rear suspension still remains unanswered.

I want to get this accurate, because I absolutely love the F1. I love this car more than any other, because it is so special and unique. I know of nothing else like it.

Thankyou.

[jkbon]

unfortunately these pictures are from GTRs, maybe some differences between GTR and road version

[cpd]

I think it might be the same.

I don't think the suspension was changed from road to race car.

Edit: Okay, it might be different. The car above is a GTR97, isn't it?

Here is what the official site reckons:

Road version:
FRONT
Double wishbones, Ground Plane Shear centre sub frames, light alloy dampers /co-axial coil springs, anti roll bar

REAR
Double wishbones, inclined Axis Shear mounting system, light alloy dampers/co-axial coil springs, toe-in/toe-out control links

F1 GTR97:
FRONT
Double wishbones, light alloy dampers /co-axial coil springs.

REAR
Double wishbones, light alloy dampers/co-axial coil springs

It makes no mention of different mounting systems.

[u31st]

I realise this is an old thread I'm bumping, but I am currently working on a simulated F1 road car for RACER (go to www.racer.nl to find out more).

It's easy to find out stuff like weight, power, gear ratios etc., 'cos its all over the web. BUT, the technical stuff to do with the suspension is not easily available. I've done the best I can filling in the blanks with educated guesses and calculations, but to be honest, my prototype is driving like poo at the minute. It replicates exact acceleration, quarter mile, top speed etc., pulls the right g's when cornering, but it just doesn't 'feel' right when on the limit.

What I need are the data for:

Exact spring rates, or preferably wheel rates, front and rear (I need this in lbs/in or N/m or similar, to confirm calculations I've made based on cycles-per-minute (CPM) data I already have),

Roll centre heights, front and rear,

Body centre of gravity height (I'm currently guessing .433 metres for this figure),

Anti-roll bar rates, front and rear,

Wheel camber, front and rear,

Wheel toe-in/out, front and rear.

Phew! If anybody has this data, please, please post it here. If you do, and you play RACER, then you may get the oppurtunity to drive as precise a simulation of the car as possible - which is, unfortunately, about as near as any of us will get to the real thing!!! ;-)

P.S. does 'Driving Ambition' have all this sort of data? if so, then I may fork out for a copy after all! But you can save me a few quid in the meanwhile by posting the data if you've got the book!

Thanks very much in advance!

[Mr. Bernoulli]

Most of the information you require is not in Driving Ambition.

There is a paper that was written a few years ago on the F1's suspension that could prove useful to you.

I do not have access to it at this time (and I'm a little busy atm) but I can try and dig it out for you.

Hope this helps.

[u31st]

Thank you, I look forward to it!

Anybody else got anything?

[amanichen]

Originally Posted by u31st

Thank you, I look forward to it!

Anybody else got anything?

I have a copy of an article which I think is the one that Mr. Bernoulli is referring to. It's in PDF format and I can host it so you can download it if you want. There's no mention of frequencies, but you could probably make some educated guesses based on the natural frequencies listed in the document.

[u31st]

I'm concerned that you chaps may be referring to Keith Howard's extract from the Autocar book, available at audiosignal.co.uk/McLarenF1.html. If so, I've already seen the extract, and it's only useful up to a point. I've already calculated the value of the wheel rates from the bounce frequencies given in the article, but I'm not happy with my results - thats why I'm seeking clarification from an indepedent source.

Unfortunately, I just missed out on a entire copy of the book on ebay - I forgot to check my watch list and missed putting a late bid in. :-(

The title of the book the article is from is 'F1 – McLaren’s Road Car. An Autocar & Motor Book', and came free with the 2nd March 1994 issue of 'Autocar' magazine.

But, if you guys have an article other than the one I've mentioned, I LOVE to get a butcher's at it!

Thanks again!

[Mr. Bernoulli]

No, the paper I am thinking of is part of (I think) the "Vehicle ride and handling : international conference, 15-17 November 1993".

It is a technical paper that was authored by one of the chief engineers of the F1 at the time. Can't remember his name off hand. It describes the operation of the suspension and it's design features.

The ISBN is 0852988613 but a quick google will show you that might not be the sort of thing you want to buy without knowing if it has the info you need in it.

When I get the chance, I will try and get hold of a copy to check it has the info you are after.

[jvcardesign]

hi i just joined this forum a couple of days ago....i have driven in Racer already, and i tried once to put in the simulator my Jaguar sport car Thesis Project last year, wich i modelled in 3D with Alias Auto Studio.
i was just wondering if you modelled the mclaren f1 o downoaded it from somewhere else?
thanks.