Step 1: Find a road to test on
OK, this seems pretty obvious, but maybe not. The road surface that you test on is very important. Here are some things to look for:
- Safety is #1. A closed course is best. Avoid roads with entrances such as driveways, on-ramps, intersections, etc.
- Flat is best, but gently rolling, or gently slopped will do in a pinch.
- Pay attention to the surface conditions. Potholes and washboard are not your friends.
Step 2: Get a buddy
You need to drive - period. Fumbling with test equipment and driving is best left to professionals on a closed course.
Step 3: Be consistent with your launch
Your goal is to launch exactly the same way every time. If you have an automatic, brake-torque and step-off at the same RPM. If you have a manual, dump the clutch at the same RPM. The more variables that you can hold constant, the more accurate your results will be.
Step 4: Test notes are your friend
Test notes are saved with every run that you do. The more information you put in them, the better. Some examples are: the name of the road or course you tested on, the direction you were traveling, where you started, the temperature and humidity, what you had for lunch, the fuel gage level, etc. Forgot something? Just open up the test file and edit the notes - simple.
Step 5: Average, average, average
Yeah, I know. You popped-off the first run and it was brilliant - high fives and big grins! Are we done...? Not quite. Remember Step 1? Well I bet that road isn't as flat as you think. For consistency, you should do multiple runs in both directions on the road. So when you end the first run, turn around and do the second. Repeat until you have a good number of runs. We usually shoot for at least six when doing validation work.
Step 6: Data analysis
We'll cover this one in a separate post.
Comments