Unnecessarily Complicated Steering 

When he showed the arm restraints, I could only imagine how funny it would be if he had replaced them with fluffy pink hand cuffs hahaha

Technically escape velocity does require direction. Launching towards the center of the earth may not achieve desired results

Wait. Hold up a second. So you're telling me there's a sport that combines automotive fabrication, conspicuously overengineered bespoke mechanical systems, and bondage? Why am I not doing this right now...?

Never thought I'd see Matt discussing his bondage gear on the channel...

You know, with enough math we can figure out a function that describes “Matt time” and then we can successfully predict any ”Matt time” into the future! And when it inevitably fails us we’ll call those outliers and throw them out as bad samples.

Your design philosophy reminds me of one I used to ascribe to the German engineers, back when I was in tech: "Why use only one part, when two will do?"

Honestly, designing a mechanism with 0DOF and making it work because you count with the tolerance of the real world is kinda brilliant. I admire that.

“… and the salt turns pink with the ground up paste of what used to be your arms…” I literally can’t stop laughing!

Sidecar rider here (CBR1100XX hack, it's sweet, also uses front swingarm hubcentric steering). You'll find not countersteering is surprisingly natural. Your brain adjusts almost instantly when the bike/car/whatever doesn't respond the way it thinks it should and will instinctively steer in the direction it needs to.

As a current student in Aerospace Engineering with an Astronautical Focus, with orbital dynamics the direction you point your rocket is incredibly important! The speed value of your rocket's velocity is only a part of the problem. Depending on your direction of travel that speed may not be enough. For instance, if you fired straight up, your escape velocity would actually be HIGHER than if you fired into an orbit and then escaped from there. The reason being that when travelling tangent to the central body's (Earth) surface, you are taking advantage of what is called the Oberth Effect. Essentially the deeper you are in a gravity well, the less energy required to perform an ejection burn, and that burn is entirely a velocity vector and not a scalar speed. It would only work with a prograde (facing forward along your path of travel) vector. As for coming off the ground, if you travel with the rotation of the Earth, you actually expend less fuel to get to orbit compared to if you injected into a retrograde orbit. The reason being you would need to overcome the horizontal velocity of the Earth's surface and then also still get up to orbital velocity. I do agree it should be land velocity racing though. Absolutely 0 reason to call it land speed if it's all in one direction tsk tsk. This is all in good humor btw! I love your content!

I am pleased by the Spaceballs reference. There's also a way to add the 5 even without sponsorship; just name it after Lone Star's Winnebago, the Eagle 5. Eagle goes above the number, 5 goes after it.

I think your steering looks good. Remember to hold all of the rod ends with oversized washers. Stop by our pits in June. Old tradition was streamliners used 3 or 4 of the same number (111, 999, 8888, etc. ) Too bad someone took the "last word in LSR" - 9999

Remind me to change the combination on my luggage!

This is very similar to how aircraft flight controls work. You’ve basically built a rudder system lol.

We really need a SuperfastMatt and Bad Obsession Motorsports colab at some point. You both make amazing overcomplicated and absolutely beautiful mechanical stuff.

Matt - What about taking the chassis out to a long smooth hill and gravity drive it to test steering/brakes? Would reveal any large errors - and make for an entertaining video! 😎

Love your videos Matt, thank you for a comedic and hilarious but super intelligent and informative way of investigating and remedying sometimes perplexing and increasingly difficult design considerations and constraints to achieve greatness and satisfaction for the projects and adventures you embark on. You also have the unbelievable willingness and outright decency to invite us peasants, amateurs and lower forms of life along for the ride. I have an enormous respect for your work and Mad skills, developing, designing, manufacturing and implementing so please keep it forthcoming, Thank you. Brent

Adjustable wrenches are my favorite tool for rounding off nuts and bolts, and now they'll be my preferred tool the next time I need to add some rake angle to, well, anything really.

Trying to decide wether to make a comment about engineers watching your video who then have an overwhelming compulsion to ask you if you "want to know a better way to do that" or simply an all caps "TO THE MATTCAVE!". Probably just go with the engineer joke and an algorythim hail

a forward linkage is actually more common than you think. any linked solid front axle vehicle uses this configuration. it naturally gives antidive/ antilift. the way you use the rack is make an intermediate bar to go in between, then mount the joints at whichever point you want. You are right on point with the steering, all linkage systems have some compliance. also your model doesn't account for the steering inclination and castor of the steering, so maybe it binds even less or more than your flat drawing. dont get to invested in getting it perfect though, oem's dont even have perfect geometry. imagine if they had to have different racks and knuckles for every length of Tacoma.

The interesting thing to me about the steering set up was that someone this week mentioned how a certain fictional motorcycle turned. It was by changing the lengths of the struts that held the wheel and I hadn't realized until they said it. I thought that was a pretty interesting (if somewhat over engineered) design for a motorcycle, and this sounds very similar.

0:31 I'd argue the direction is also important. If we're talking about "escaping" gravity, then it doesn't matter how fast you're going if you're pointed at the earth, where all the gravity is. Then you won't be escaping anything except your future responsibilities.

Built lots of stuff and your steering looks fine. Just a few tips for my experience. Lubrication free ball-joints with a teflon lining start out without backlash so I prefer them for precision linkages. 2nd, the redundant steering links will let you preload the whole linkage to eliminate backlash from other sources. 3rd, what's the back-lash like it that u-joint shaft? Never had good luck getting low backlash with a cross-bolt, but clamp collars have always served me well. (weld a coupling nut on and slit the nut in half for a quick easy clamp-collar.) 4th, how much backlash do your suspension and steering spindles have? That's another source of bump-steer which will be no fun at >100mph.

you're really pumping out videos at an excellent rate lately, impressive

Wow that flip up steering is brilliant. I love the redundancy put into it too

I love the shoutout to Matt's Off Road Recovery 🤣

A build collab with Matts Off Road Recovery would be epic.

I’m on the crueler end of engineering theory and I would say the steering redundancy was how you dialled out any backlash? (Basically end load the steering rods via the track rod)

I don’t know if it’s relevant but in my trials sport it’s common to use a steering rack mounted longitudinally using the forward end as a push rod to an Ackerman cross linkage. It keeps everything out the road.

Maybe I'm captain obvious here but McMaster-Carr have free 3D models for most of their parts. It's awesome when doing mockups in CAD.

In order to get a landspeed record you have to do it in one direction, then turn around and get the same speed going the other direction. The opposite directions on the velocity vectors cancel and you're left with a simple speed not a velocity... or something 🤷‍♀️

Trophy trucks use a pretty trick rack set-up where the rack is mounted to the frame and tie rods are attached via a wishbone to the center of the rack so they can run the longer control arms with less bump steer. Similar idea might work with a dune buggy center steer rack

"Land speed" and "escape velocity" are both correct. Land speed records require two passes over the course in opposite directions. The vectors cancel out. Escape velocity requires a vector that doesn't intersect with the mass you are escaping from (ie. the Earth).

The lack of countersteering really messed with me when I went on a jet ski tour. 15 years of muscle memory screaming at me to do the opposite of what that ski wanted lol. Never really bothered me on a four wheeler though, I guess the jet ski was extra weird because it did lean, just the opposite direction of a motorcycle.

The 0DOF steering is brilliant. Also really impressed by the swing up bar setup.

I Love cars but find most car build vids extremely boring and formulaic. This is really entertaining and I feel compelled to watch the entire thing every time. Subbed.

you and bad obsession motorsport should get together and over-engineer a car. it will never get finished but i'll eagerly anticipate each installment

I'm an engineer and I say your steering is brilliant. Everything from eliminating a steering wheel to pivoting to get out of the vehicle.

Matt, with every video you post I be more sure that your channel is an instant success that took year to get ready.

The steering looks as technically confusing as it should. Congratulations your technical kudos has risen. I'm confident future Matt will be impressed.

There are several directions that if you travel them at escape velocity you will not leave the planet. Of those directions most will have you meeting the planet and being smeared across it.

Matt, thanks for the entertaining engineering class. This is how one of my physics teachers went about and the class was very successful. Keep up the great work!

Yet another hit to my under achiever complex. Excellent. More soon. Please. I'll wait

Having worked for big 5, I lean to the 5 guys hope 🤣

Hey, you've painted the frame! Nice work.

Matt, your discussion of the binding issue is brilliant. 🙂👍

One for the algorithm Matt. Thanks for the entertainment. You go quite some way in restoring my faith in the American population, after several questionable years. (as viewed from Australia).

I like your style of engineering, very much driven by what you can do and what you want to do rather than what is theoretically ideal. Great mix of pragmatism and creativity.

I can really appreciate this build. Looks to be coming together nicely!

That KISS explanation is the perfect example of your interesting and entertaining process. Good luck on the track friend.

I can't get enough of these videos man! They're soooo entertaining :D Please never stop.

You should use sticks dragging in the dirt to steer and then you can make the wheels fixed. If you want to go left just drag the left stick and if you want to go right just drag the right stick. If you want to go straight lift up the dragging sticks.

Yes. For the street: an alternative to a-arms for the front suspension utilizing linear bearings, center-hub steering and active camber adjustments based on body roll. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

I like that Matt Farahs' face in the nissan z thumbnail looks like he's happy to be featured at the end of this video. I love happy coincidences

Love the design! Looks really well thought out

The steering will feel strange.. as opposed to laying down in a square cigar tube peering just over your toes at 200 mph. Sure. The weird bit will be the steering.

I always look forward to your videos and they never disappoint!

Just discovered this channel and I love the comedy you built into the videos🤘🏻😂 Also I find your approach on engineering/ fabrication very intriguing.

Hey Matt! Love the pivoting steering arm design! That's a great idea in a small package. Cheers!

now I have a much better understanding of speed versus velocity. I thank you for that. Very cool design.

Always pleasant to watch and for me, keep learning stuff. Thanks

MORE VIDEOS!!! Great stuff Matt.

Still waiting on the “All hail the algorithm “ stickers

I love getting this deep-dive/high-level overview of how you're designing and building this. It's a fascinating project, and the complexity always amazes me. Also, Spaceballs references are always a win. :D

I have to say, I watch MORR a fair bit, and it's good mindless entertainment, and frustrating as shit when he welds with his eyes open etc, and I've actually met the smoking tyre and he's seen one of my builds and it blew his mind and got specifically mentioned in a later pod cast, especially the fact that I had race tyres on a truck and was bare foot :-D But I think the calibre of your videos is far above MORR and probably the smoking tyre, too. I really enjoy yours, you get a chuckle out of me nearly every time, and there's some great details - self deprecation earns bonus points. Keep up the good work :-)

thank you for finally addressing the Speed / Velocity grammatical issue. Saving some of us sticklers from our own idiosyncrasies. Also, I so appreciate the overengineering. if you can call it that. I just call it prudent. You rock.

I'm relieved to see that your arm restraints still allow for "Jazz hands!"

I'm sorry Matt the swing arms need to be gold. Start again... hail the algorithm

I think the Veritasium channel has an episode on how Matt Time is not a universal constant as it's influenced by Matt Energy which is like dark energy but funnier.

9:54 "So it's probably pretty straight forward" I see what you did there...😂

You know you already had my like. But with that Spaceballs reference, you now have my love.

Honestly this channel should just be called SuperComplicatedMatt

For what it's worth you are our favorite Matt Channel.

Turn your front assembly 180 º. Drag a single front wheel, don't push two wheels. Just like a shopping cart front wheel. The Citroën back wheel in the front.🙃 Another thing, instead off pushing rods to press on the driving bar, transform that into pulling rods. Hope that helps, I absolutely love the speed of your presentation!!!

That's not quite true about escape velocity, you ain't gonna get to space if you're pointing down.

Awesome. Persuading all those different assemblies to interact gracefully is about as complicated as cooking Crêpes Suzette in outer space.

9:35 my mind was blown by this simple visual example on how stable a motorbike can be

Keep up the good work! Love these videos!

You are a very entertaining man. I love this video, you have earned my sub. Looking forward to what else you might do.

That is wayyyyy over-engneered. I LOVE it!

the second the space balls clip played i was like YESSSSS but then you stoped a number short

I like your adjustable steering. When Don Garlitz built rear engine dragster, all of a sudden, steering control was insane, after many sessions, they changed steering gear box to half of the existing ratio. Bingo, dragsters steering fixed.

love your stuff man, incredible engineering

Steering wheel lift looks so satisfying 👌

Dat pivot doh!!!! Sick! Great work!

I assume 1337 was already taken! Your uploads are actually kinda eerily regular. I often can't complete anything in a month!

This is my favorite Matt channel.

Beautiful Work! Good job!

I love it!!!! So entertaining!!! Thanks!!!!!!! Ciao from Italy!!!!

My favorite Matt channel by far. Although MORR and TST are pretty good too.

Love that WAN show reference.

Great work! Can’t wait to see this run, I’ve built several streamliners over the years Radio controlled though and one uses very similar steer link system to this but on a rigid chassis and on paper it won’t work but in reality the small amount of play and and the angle of the drag link and the knuckle it works great! Good to see you added that 10 degrees are you using or thinking about a steer dampener?

This is surprisingly a nice, clean build.

Bloody marvelous, old chap.

Handle bar steering was common on a car in the UK ,designed by AC ... The Invacar. (look on YT for Hub nut,he has driven his all over the place) .On the invacar you push the handle bars down to work the brakes.

That sponsor joke was worth a good chuckle.

Generally there are two types of speed measurement. Pavement racing is generally a one mile of run up to speed from a standing start. Then speed is measured in the time it takes to cover a 132 feet trap. At Bonneville or Elmarage there is a one or two mile run up to speed. After traveling through the run up , you enter a measured mile. The “ speed “ is the time it takes to cover the measured mile. There can be numerous measured miles and as you get up to speed. Then the run must be backed up with in the opposite direction or the next day. Many rules depending on who is running the event. Be safe have fun and go fast.

The outro: You The last shot in the video: The guy she tells you not to worry about

I met a cool guy in the late 80’s who was pushing 300mph on the salt when it flipped over and ground his arms all the way to the elbo’s. I don’t think he had the restraints but he did have some of the first bionic arms that were super cool.

Awesome sauce Matt 🥳 I share your interest in how the handlebars will feed back but as you are the one testing, I'll just wait for the screams! (One way or the other!) Be fast, be safe 🙏 xo ❤