rdorman:
I believe you are entering into the zone where you're getting bump steer and Ackerman cornfused. The best thing to do to get this sorted out is read HPBooks "How to Make Your Car Handle". Fred Puhn (yes, that is his real name) explains it very nicely in about a billion words.
But what you're describing about things getting exciting is probably caused by bump steer, or the tires steering as the suspension moves up and down while the steering wheel is held steady. This is not good and can be dangerous. Most cars are set up with some toe out in bump at the front and toe in at the rear for transient understeer. The reverse is bad, very bad. Any bump steer in a performance car should be avoided, thus the undesirable transients.
As for Ackerman being good, I don't like it at all. Just imagine what Ackerman really is: It assumes the turn the front wheels are steering about lies on a line that's projected off the rear-wheel center. This is only the case is the vehicle is not developing any grip, and thus a slip angle. But when speed goes up and slip angles increase, that point moves forward, requiring the front wheel to be steered at the same angle. Of course, this changes depending on whether the car oversteers or understeers. Bottom line when it comes to Ackerman is don't concentrate on it if you're setting up a car. It's best to work at getting rid of bump steer at both ends, particularly at the rear.
Formula Ford, eh. I used to race one, and a Super Vee, late model stock car, CanAm car . . . Hey, they all work the same, except for the Class 7 desert truck and the supermodified on dirt. That's a different world, but it's exciting none the less.
This is a good excercise!
