Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Tips on Quick Trips[NFC] - by request

[ken rentiers (rentiers]

On May 18, 2008, at 11:16 PM, Mike wrote:

> I think what Ken is referring to is the RCS (radar cross section),
> headlights facing forward on a car look like a billboard to most radar
> systems and reflect laser back pretty well also, they have chrome  
> parabolic
> reflectors in the headlight assemblies any radar ahead of you will  
> bounce
> straight ahead and slightly to the left (same as your  
> headlights)...  And
> provide an excellent return signal.

Thx Ken,
    When you say, "Tape the Headlights" - does that mean to leave  
slits open
for light to escape?  Or ?  Does having the headlights lit make the  
radar
more effective?

From: "LarryT"

You could anything you wanted too the the headlights
The radar could care less

Clyde


The purpose of taping the headlights is to block LIDAR, not radar.  
The two primary targets for the infrared laser gun operator are  
reflective license plates and headlight reflectors. I just put some  
black tape over the lights as if you were on a track. Of course if  
you have a Ferrari with retractable headlights this solves the  
problem! Also lose the front plate if you run one, a dull black stone  
bra is a nice absorbent touch as well.

LIDAR is stationary, they have to aim it like a rifle. LIDAR will be  
on the overpass or beside the road. With a white or red car that is  
clean they can get a return signal out around 1200 feet. If your  
detector goes off it's too late, you are are already toast. With a  
black car with no front plate and tape on the lights you have a  
chance of getting close enough to spot the trap before they get a  
usable return signal from your car.

If the guy in the next lane suddenly hits his brakes you may have  
time to slow before they can track you as well. Of course you have to  
take the tape off the lites at night. I don't like to run fast at  
night because you cannot see what is out there plus there are too  
many critters on the road. And as the evening wears on you get the  
drunks.

"Why have you got your headlights taped son?"

"To protect against stones ossifer, so they don't break. I take the  
tape off at night".


As far as radar it will pick up the big metal V8 block in a Corvette.  
One way to "hide" from radar - if you are near a large object like an  
18 wheeler the radar will pick up the stronger doppler signal to  
record speed. This is true even if you are a short distance in front  
of the truck.

Look at a picture of a stealth fighter  - all sharp angles. Now look  
at a picture of a 308. Even the windshield has a very sharp angle -  
the more angular nosed Ferraris  are pretty good at bouncing radar  
away without a strong return signal. Just keep your headlights down!  
And no front plate!

In the drawing below the Ferrari is pretty much immune to oncoming  
radar (blue) as it "hides"in the R hand lane behind a speeding SUV.  
You can clock many rapid miles like this by just tucking in a bit  
behind and to the right of local hotfoots. If the radar operator is  
off to your R behind an obstruction the signal will still strike the  
SUV first.

Recently a lot of the divided Interstate here has been getting  
fencing down the median to prevent head-on crossover collisions. This  
also prevents oncoming radar units from driving across the median.  
Some of the newer high-tech radar is more selective about picking out  
individual cars in a group, but you can't change physics. A shotgun  
with a choke is still a shotgun not a pistol.


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