BMW: going downhill fast!

[lrz]

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/bm ... eam-111412

[Major Softie]

You'd think they'd be working on faster bobsleds for the German team.

Oh, except that the Germans don't need faster bobsleds - they're already the fast guys. Maybe they're already using BMW bobsleds.

[lrz]

Coulda been for the Jamaicans!

I'm not that far from Lake Placid, never been but maybe I should.

[Chuey]

If it's bumpy then therein lies the opportunity. I would think that soaking up the bumps would have a great effect on speed. Of course, aerodynamics would be important. Since it is downhill, it seems the advantage may not be much if any in a lighter sled. That said, a lighter sled may be easier on the suspension. (Do they have suspension?)

Chuey

[Major Softie]

If it's bumpy then therein lies the opportunity. I would think that soaking up the bumps would have a great effect on speed. Of course, aerodynamics would be important. Since it is downhill, it seems the advantage may not be much if any in a lighter sled. That said, a lighter sled may be easier on the suspension. (Do they have suspension?)

Chuey

I don't think they have suspension.

Bobsleds have a minimum weight for the sled and a maximum weight for sled + team, so the key is to build the sled at minimum weight and spend all the rest of your weight on pounds of muscle on your team. They spend a lot on carbon fairings to make the fairing super light - I presume this is so they can make the center of gravity as low as possible.