Making BoP changes

Not guess work, but an engineering problem that follows the scientific method. Here’s how

- SCOTT RAYMOND

In the last article on Balance of Performance (BoP) in RE V30N11 we explored two key concepts: the physics of vehicle performance, and the options available for making changes to the balance of performance.

In this article we will examine the actual process of making BoP changes. It is important to keep in mind that the challenge of balancing disparate vehicles is an engineering physics problem, and the potential solutions can usually only be drawn from the list of available parameters to change.

But how can we know if a change in performance is required, or which vehicle parameter to modify to affect this change?

Despite what many pundits may believe, the process of making BoP changes is not black magic, nor based on a random number generator, it is truly an engineering problem that follows the scientific method. It begins by asking a question and ends by forming a conclusion.

With the BoP process, we must ask the following question prior to each event: ‘Will the expected performance of all vehicles competing at the upcoming event be balanced?’ The conclusion formed following each event is either; ‘yes, the performance of all vehicles competing at the event was balanced,’ or ‘no, the performance of all vehicles competing at the event was not balanced.’ Sometimes, it might even be ‘the expected performance of all vehicles was not demonstrated, so I have no idea if the vehicles were balanced or not!’