That g-tech meter works pretty good. I read good reviews in several magazines.
I don't use it much because of two reasons. Number 1, I'm constantly staring at the damn thing when it's in the car and I've almost stacked it several times. Something about driving flat-out and not looking at the road
Number 2, it's harder than it seems to find a flat, straight, +1/4 mile length if road to test on. You have to stop in the middle of the street, set the meter, then drive full blast and hope no one calls the cops.

Anyways, apparently you can also set this thing sideways on your dash and measure cornering g's.
ps- I have the first model g-tech not the new and improved.

Ahh..now I get it, and here was I thinking matt was just trying to be funny

Cloverleaf actually meant something.

We have a few freeway/highway on/off ramps that spiral down, the geelong rd freeway ramps onto kingsway are rippers in Melbourne. Also the on ramp to the metro ring road to hume hwy is actually a banked corner! - neither are going to meet my purposes I think.

A clover leaf is a freakin huge traffic exchange area on the freeway about .75 km x .75 km in area or less.....

Quote:

This is the US term for the shape that on/off ramps make as they link with a highway. They typically tighten further into their radius and are a good challenge to take at increasing speed!

when I did my motorcycle license lessons I had to ride around three islands in a boat launching parking bay.
The three islands were configured so I needed to do almost 180 degrees around them then head to the next one, fang around it then onto the next one. The little course was shaped like a 3 leaf clover only a bit oblong. It was used to teach riders how to shift their weight into corners and initiate the turn in. Maybe you could find a bank of islands to use as a mini test track

I guess by that matt - you mean test track = I'd be well lucky to find one.

Otherwise I'm too slow to get the joke.

I wonder if they would let me do it at the Calder off street drags? - long way for me to go for testing...I'll keep looking (for that cloverleaf).

Look for a nice cloverleaf.

Everywhere I go I'm looking for 'test tracks' - I'll have to check the legality too..if it is not a public road and instead is private property like a car park, who says I can drive around in circles madly?

I was thinking a lot about this testing last night, figure 8's, slaloms etc...but I think the steady state circle is the best approach.

Most circuit corners, particularly high speed ones are fairly steady state or constantly turning.

I also think you have to test the car turning left and turning right - as in some cars this is different. This should also show up any alignment/ loose bearing problems too.

If we come up with a standard too the result will be reasonably comparitive, so everyone can have a go. Surfaces, tire pressures, "track" temps, tire sizes etc...will vary as long as it is done in similar types of conditions the info should be comparable.

Glad to have some reassurance, as I can't think of a better way to test cornering that is repeatable and does not rely (much) on driver skill.

Oh - I have the XR6 (which will be replaced with an XR6T very soon) to benchmark against. I know a Falcon aint much of a benchmark....maybe I can get a Skyline or even an early series RX7 to have a crack.

It would be good to have another car as a benchmark to test at the same time. Something that you know is quick & handles. Anyone got a RX8??

This is the most sensible aproach that I have seen yet.
For cornering characteristics, see if you can find a carpark that is empty on Sundays, or some other large patch of pavement or concrete. I know it is a bit hard these days, but have a look around anyway.

Next, with a friend & a rope, mark out a 30m circle, or some other diameter that you like and can repeat.
Next, drive around the circle at a steadily increasing speed. It might be a good idea to have a friend behind you to watch the oil pressure and speed, and nothing else, particularly if you think that you can generate close to one G of lateral force.
This is a repeatable test and will show up some interesting traits with diferent tyres and suspension changes. Oversteer or understeer should show up nicely too.