Friday 28th July 2006

Virtual drag racing hits the street

Competition without weather worries

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If you've ever wondered whether your car is faster than your friend's, there's a new (kind-of) virtual reality drag racing system at work.

You use your own vehicle, but it never moves. Instead, it sits tied down to a dyno, and you 'drive' it using a virtual reality system that translates your inputs such as steering to the car via a computer, while the system projects a simulation of the race onto a screen.

The advantages? According to Drag Tag, which came up with the wheeze, you don't have to:

• Worry about weather conditions
• Wait for what seems like hours for the next drag race because a car lunched its engine and left a messy 200 metre oil slick
• Wait in long queues
• Wear a helmet or race suit
• Equip an 11-second or faster car with a roll cage

Trouble is, it's in Melbourne, Australia -- which is a bit of a trek for most people just for a drag race.

But if it works there, who knows? We might see it in the UK soon...

• Drag Tag

[mat205125]

How is that meant to work realistically?

What about weight transfer? Would it accurately simuate the advantages of rear wheel drive over front? 911's, for example, can launch really quickly due to rear drive and high rear weight bias.

Towards the end of a run, aerodynamic drag plays a large part in the continued acceleration of a car. How is that supposed to be simulated?

Having my car on the rollers for a power run in one gear was painful enough on the ears, let alone a full throttle launch from standstill. Won't be putting mine anywhere near one that's for sure!

M

[F.M]

VR gone mad..a step in the wrong direction..

[HAB]

Only one minor problem - You're not actually moving.

[iaint]

Bugger all cooling too... would be very bad for decently powerwed cars!

[4WD]

I'd love to see my girls face with that lot in the lounge.