1st Sign of Spring....

[JDostal]

I would have to a agree w/ you on that one

 

[Big-t-2538]

Let's talk more about why NASCAR can't finish the race on Monday..and why the hell do they have rtestrictor plates...I think they should do something to eliminate restrictor plates.

here's two options.

1. go to a smaller block.
2. lower the compression ratio limits for the super speedways

 

[Tractor Tom]

...and not necessarily in a good way. It seems like at the Daytona race, the entire race was run in a pack. I haven't been following racing much the last couple years and did sit and enjoy what passed for a race on Sunday. I mean, it did have its moments of truly good racing, but that thing about going around the track, three abreast at 170mph is really something! I have a hard time driving in cross-town traffic much of the time, but that 'pack racing' that takes place with the restrictor plates looks to me like a breeding ground for huge accidents at very high speed!

I guess I'll pay a little more attention to the racing this season and see what develops with that issue.

 

[Big-t-2538]

The same thing happens at Talladega three and four abreast...I mean yeah it's cool to see, but there has to be a better way of "restricing" the horsepower these guys produce. If they go with a different size engine or if the reduce the compression ratio, you limit the amount of horsepower, but you do it by making the car handle a lot differently. IF all you do is choke the engines potential down (restrictor plate) you're not using the full potential of the engine. Where as if you restrict compression ratio or block size...you give the ball back to the engine builders to make an engine within the specs....it would break up the pack...and you would see more of the sling-shootting that we used to see. Also you wouldn't have to have a "helper" to go to the front. IT would be much more in the driver's hands than it is now....much like a road course or a place like Pocono.

O.K...I can go on and on about this.

 

[Cherry]

Just a really dumb question but why do they have to restict anything at all. Now I will leave series that use Identical cars and measure driver to driver preformance alone here. But a series that is all balls to the walls racing is exciting. If it is saftey then why not invest in specific saftey issues like making massive crashes survivable. Whats wrong with faster and ever faster results with mega bucks spent on R&D that they can then pay for by selling us on the street the technology?

 

[Big-t-2538]

There are a number of reasons the cars are restrictred...the first and foremeost is safety. 14 years ago (1988) the last unrestricted race was run and then the fastest cars were reaching 212 mph around the track. At that speed, if for some reason they get turned around, they lift right off the track and just keep going sue the the aerodynamics of the car. To help prevent this, they have roof flaps and hood flaps to break up the airflow over the surfaces of the vehicle and keep it on the ground. However, this is not a perfect system as seen with the crash Ryan Newman was involved with Sunday.

Now I know Indy and F1 cars run well over 220 mph, and they stick to the ground. However, those cars have a toally different set of aerodynamics...and most importantly the "hole" they punch in the air isn't near as large as the one the winston cup cars punch. Also...there is no "stock" car in the world like those cars, and they are designed with the high speeds in mind. Conversly....your chevy Mote Carlo at the local dealership isn't designed with the 200mph speed in mind. The cars NASCAR races are supposed to be "stock"...or have body styles identical to that which you see at the local dealership.

That's the nutshell answer...there's more to it than that, but this is getting to be lengthy

O.K...anyone else have some questions

 

[Blue Space]

Big-t nailed it on the head. Although I really dont think with all the extra safety equipment thats implemented today that they would be at anymore risk without the restrictor plates. I agree with Rusty Wallace take the damn things off and let us race.

 

[Big-t-2538]

This one hardly ever hits the public eye....but if the company that insures NASCAR finds out that they are running at speeds greater than 200mph, they are no longer covered.

I agree the plates need to go, but they also have to keep it under 200mph...which can be done by limiting block size and or compression ratio...or a number of other things.

 

[Cherry]

Big T I dont know about stock cars but you hit on a huge issue right now insurance! Its scary we went out to 17 suppliers for our liability coverage on our Farm and only got 5 proposals. Most of those had huge increases over our past coverage and reduced coverage. And with all the war crap its getting worse. so I can see this is a real issue for the racers.

Cherry

 

[ScubaTexan]

IMO, the first sign of spring is pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training. Yes, sports fans, IT'S BASEBALL SEASON ONCE AGAIN!!!