F1 fan experience

[WilliamsF1]

A ride along experience in a NASCAR is priced at $100 to $150, while the same thing in an F1 car is about $500 in a 3 seater car. I guess this also not available at the GP track on race weekend.

Why is it that a driverless remotely operated F1 car without modification to the seats not used for fan experience, is it against the law as technically (probably as early as 1992) it is possible have a F1 car remotely controlled by a driver from the pits.

An old HP ad by Williams comes to mind, how cool will it be to take a ride in an actual race car. It is also sad that teams have so many of there cars from past seasons lying around that it would take only a small effort to provide a fan experience in an radio controlled f1 car at GP weekends.

[DaveKillens]

Honestly, would you get into a Formula One car capable of 300 kph and insane cornering speeds, with the knowledge that some guy back at the pits was controlling it by R/C?

And of course, the entire reason for that exercise was to eliminate the extra pilot's weight so that you could experience the full performance of the car, not be dogged down by that extra 100 kilos. Therefore, the R/C car would have to be driven flat out, maximum speed and cornering forces.

I don't want to feel 3.5 G's cornering force, I want to feel 4.

Are you aware that just a lag of 1/10th of a second could easily result in a fatal crash?

[NathanOlder]

Dont forget nearly all of an F1 drivers input comes from feel. Without an F1 driver IN the car, it would be alot slower, or a smear along a barrier. 2 seater or 3 seater F1 cars would be alot better experience! IMO

[Greg Locock]

I am reminded of an interview with (probably) Hunt. The star struck journo asked if he still got a thrill from driving fast. The reply was that if you get a thrill from a fast car you aren't a driver you are a good old cockney insult.

[Lycoming]

Dont forget nearly all of an F1 drivers input comes from feel. Without an F1 driver IN the car, it would be alot slower, or a smear along a barrier. 2 seater or 3 seater F1 cars would be alot better experience! IMO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9jA_Tntaac

looks like fun...

IMO... racecars are no fun to be in unless you're driving, because they're loud, hot and stiff. Not much fun to just tag along for the ride. But maybe thats just me.

[WilliamsF1]

Dont forget nearly all of an F1 drivers input comes from feel. Without an F1 driver IN the car, it would be alot slower, or a smear along a barrier. 2 seater or 3 seater F1 cars would be alot better experience! IMO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9jA_Tntaac

looks like fun...

IMO... racecars are no fun to be in unless you're driving, because they're loud, hot and stiff. Not much fun to just tag along for the ride. But maybe thats just me.

That seating position looks so uncomfortable when compared to the driver. It must be even more unpleasant to get tossed around and not able to see where you are going.

In case a race car is hooked to a radio control, what will be the delay in communication between pit and car?

[NathanOlder]

Better than the 2 seater for visability




Plus being in a car WITH an F1 driver will be better than in a car controlled by an RC specialist.

[strad]

CotA is offering ride arounds in a two seater at Austin...Sorry I didn't save the e-mail so I forget the details.

[NathanOlder]

And of course, the entire reason for that exercise was to eliminate the extra pilot's weight so that you could experience the full performance of the car, not be dogged down by that extra 100 kilos. Therefore, the R/C car would have to be driven flat out, maximum speed and cornering forces.

Im pretty sure i remember Brundle talking about the 2 seater Mclaren of 98, and saying the lap times he was putting in were as fast as the cars at the back of the grid (Tyrrell's & Minardi's). So "technically" if you were to have a go in one of these 2 seater top team cars from this year with an F1 driver, you could lap as fast as Pic, Glock, De La Rosa and faster than Karthikeyan

Sounds good enough to me