One track wonder?

[Triple V]

The fastest gate almost to the wire effort I have seen live was Island Glow at HP. Can't remember the exact sectionals but they went 1:55 & a piece for the 2160m which was low flying back then on that track and got narrowly beaten by BPH and OSV. Island Glow absolutely blasted off the arm, left like a Bat out of Hell, and kept on rolling. Wicked high speed. Mouse trained/drove him that night. It was the Bohemia Crystal FFA.

[Toohard]

Have question. Son been asking questions bout how much extra ground u cover outside leader, 3 wide, etc. So got all we need to work it out (pythagorus theory, slide rule, etc) except for 1 thing. Question is, in racing formation, how far apart are the drivers? Say from the nose of the driver on fence to nose of driver sitting exactly alongside but 1 off the fence?

[broncobrad]

Have question. Son been asking questions bout how much extra ground u cover outside leader, 3 wide, etc. So got all we need to work it out (pythagorus theory, slide rule, etc) except for 1 thing. Question is, in racing formation, how far apart are the drivers? Say from the nose of the driver on fence to nose of driver sitting exactly alongside but 1 off the fence?

That Luke is an inquisitive little bugga Paul. Racebooks used to show how many metres the one, two and 3 wide spider lines used to cover extra each lap. Is that what you mean? It's all a bit too mathematically challenging for me to participate in this ongoing conversation.

[p plater]

Have question. Son been asking questions bout how much extra ground u cover outside leader, 3 wide, etc. So got all we need to work it out (pythagorus theory, slide rule, etc) except for 1 thing. Question is, in racing formation, how far apart are the drivers? Say from the nose of the driver on fence to nose of driver sitting exactly alongside but 1 off the fence?

Found this on the Regal Sulkies site


Length: 3.05 metres (10 feet)
Width: 1.2 metres (47 1/4 inches - Just under 4 feet)

Note: The width of Australasian sulkies is their maximum outside width at any point. By comparison, a US sulky's width is typically measured as the gap between the inside of the wheel axles. The difference between the two systems being in the order of 300mm (about one foot). In other words, a US sulky of the same nominal width as an Australian sulky would be 0.3 metres wider.



Assuming identical sulkies used then it would be the width of 1 sulky plus any space allowance between them, as they don't race exactly wheel on wheel, so maybe 6" or 150mm

[Danno]

Have question. Son been asking questions bout how much extra ground u cover outside leader, 3 wide, etc. So got all we need to work it out (pythagorus theory, slide rule, etc) except for 1 thing. Question is, in racing formation, how far apart are the drivers? Say from the nose of the driver on fence to nose of driver sitting exactly alongside but 1 off the fence?

G'day Paul,
bailey is on the money with his figures, one thing you and the young bloke will notice when doing your equations is that no matter what the circumference /diameter of each turn the horse on the outer loses exactly the same amount of ground per turn ie; Menangle approx 2.1 metres per turn/Parkes 2.1 metres per turn per gig width.

The bigger the track the less ground lost per mile per gig width due to the less turns negotiated.

cheers,
Dan

[Bandito]

For fastest sprinter (as in acceleration) as opposed to fastest (which has to be fastest MR) I remember one called Chandon who, at least in my memory, used to leave the others standing when he accelerated.

[Triple V]

He was wicked quick. I remember Fred Kersley tipping him out and letting him go and he would rip around them it seemed in a couple of strides and then draw off by a couple.
Another very quick horse I recall was Soky's Digit. Dennis Wilson had him here in Sydney. He was only around for a short while, never reached his potential...but geeze, he was so fast for a piece. Accelerated like a motorbike. He was from the same immediate family as Saab etc.

[Toohard]

G'day Paul,
bailey is on the money with his figures, one thing you and the young bloke will notice when doing your equations is that no matter what the circumference /diameter of each turn the horse on the outer loses exactly the same amount of ground per turn ie; Menangle approx 2.1 metres per turn/Parkes 2.1 metres per turn per gig width.

The bigger the track the less ground lost per mile per gig width due to the less turns negotiated.

cheers,
Dan

Gday Dan and Bailey and thanks for your help! Young bloke extermely inquisitive about all things harness racing. Usually about things like this I can't supply a quick answer too!

You're right Dan. Doesn't matter which track. The amount of ground is the same per lap per sulky width. But we are getting 8.5 metres per lap (4.25 per turn). What are we doing wrong?

Using Gloucester Park as example. Says radius of turns 82m's. Translates to circumference 515.2m. Assume width of sulky + distance between 1.35m. So do calc again based on radius 83.35 (82 + 1.35) gives me circumference 523.7m. So 8.5m further for 1 lap. Do again based on radius 84.7 (82 + 1.35 + 1.35) = 532.2m. Again + 8.5m for 1 lap.

Thanks again for your help
Cheers

[strong persuader]

Hi Paul, I think your maths is good. I did some calculations a few years back based on each horse being 1.5 metres wider than the one inside and came up with a figure of having to cover just shy of 9.5 metres per turn.

Isn't it grand trying to help the kids with Math when they have changed how they do all their calculations Recall being dismayed when the kids told me that they don't borrow or carry over any more, and for the life of me, I couldn't get my head around how they were taught to do subtraction and addition. But had the pleasure of helping one of the daughters last year with fractions, just began with, "I don't know how you are meant to work it out but this is how I was taught"

[strong persuader]

For fastest sprinter (as in acceleration) as opposed to fastest (which has to be fastest MR) I remember one called Chandon who, at least in my memory, used to leave the others standing when he accelerated.

Another in this category would be Thorate. I remember Keven Rivett telling me once that if you were turning for home, the last horse you wanted on your back was Thorate!