65 Goatboy
Nitro Member
David Grubnic calls them air deflectors.When did canards become "mudflaps"? Next we will call struts "poles"?
David Grubnic calls them air deflectors.When did canards become "mudflaps"? Next we will call struts "poles"?
They're not really canards to begin with but rather kick-out panels that in my opinion serve as little billboards for sponsor names more than any real advantage they might provide. And there's nicknames for just about every part on a race car anyway. Tires are referred to as 'hoops'; frame rails as 'pipe', nitro as 'juice' or 'sauce', blowers as 'huffers', injector hats as 'bird catchers', 'buzzard catchers' or 'big uglies', pistons as 'slugs' and so on. Besides, those panels do resemble a mud flap, do they not? Hence the nick.When did canards become "mudflaps"? Next we will call struts "poles"?
being from the trucking world I'd call them 1/4 fenders.They're not really canards to begin with but rather kick-out panels that in my opinion serve as little billboards for sponsor names more than any real advantage they might provide. And there's nicknames for just about every part on a race car anyway. Tires are referred to as 'hoops'; frame rails as 'pipe', nitro as 'juice' or 'sauce', blowers as 'huffers', injector hats as 'bird catchers', 'buzzard catchers' or 'big uglies', pistons as 'slugs' and so on. Besides, those panels do resemble a mud flap, do they not? Hence the nick.![]()
Yes, but not racing each other, although that would be pretty coolare not landspeed cars going over 500 mph, just saying
Watching the race now... When does the field pick up the remaining 100 m.p.h.?341 > 200ish I think I just became a Tasca fan. He also might be a little sore that NHRA didn't give him the recognition he rightly deserves.
Hi Cliff,I remember when canard "wings" came out on the old front motor cars, around 1970??? Anyhoo, after Garlits came out with his back motor car, we started seeing the back motor cars from 1972, more or less & all had rear wings, front wings and canard wings. Sometimes it looked kinda strange, but I think that is where all the wings of today came from. Back motor cars anyway. Garlits had a wing over the front motor car1963 Winternats.
Oh, there was a time that funny cars had canard wings, early '70's I think. Didn't last too long.
LOL!David Grubnic calls them air deflectors.
Not the only thing MT experimented with on his funny cars....he equipped one of them with a compressed air supercharged Boss429 but the "bottle baby" turned out to be too complex and inconsistent. I doubt NHRA would have allowed it for long anyway. That engine was a beast when it was working properly.Hi Cliff,
Yeah, '71-'73 had several carnard winged FC including the Blue Max, Drag-On Vega, Revellution...just to name a few. The '73 Custom Body "Challenger" (a disguised Cuda) and red Stardust Cuda had the winglets mounted on the rear pillars. I recall reading how the low mounted canards made for a wider car, in terms of avoiding the guardrails---and that wasn't a good thing!
Do you remember the unique photos of the '69 M/T-Ongais Mach 1 at the same year AHRA Spring Nationals--Bristol? M/T experimented w/ FULL WIDTH wings mounted over the front fenders and roof. But by race day the giant wings were removed. Still, you could see the 4 body holes for the wing supports in race day photos. Even if the giant wings helped they completely flew (pun?) in the face of the FC concept, to be a generally stock appearing racecar on nitro.
AND WHEN YOU HIT YOUR LOWER LEG, THEY'RE CALLED f****** THINGSLOL!
John Collins calls them "useless" !
Yes and during the same period M/T tested a monocoque chassis design for one of his '70 Mach 1's. The M/T-Pulde '71 Pinto, w/ a titanium chassis, was probably M/T's last deviation from the standard FC construction of the day. Gene Snow also tested compressed air in late '69. All noble attempts that ultimately didn't catch on. And I'm glad because the tube chassis/flip-top FC became such a trademark for the class. The added plus for fans was being able to ID the next pair of cars--even from a long distance! And the roots style blower is a signature for drag racing in general.Not the only thing MT experimented with on his funny cars....he equipped one of them with a compressed air supercharged Boss429 but the "bottle baby" turned out to be too complex and inconsistent. I doubt NHRA would have allowed it for long anyway. That engine was a beast when it was working properly.
Just when you think you can’t reinvent the wheel, that’s is amazing and what a cost saving way to make boost, be interesting to see were this goes, thanks for the heads up AlanModern day compressed air racecar, technology is a beautiful thing.....
Alan
Now, THAT is freaking cool! At first, I thought it was going to be a car that was running totally on compressed air with no engine, but this is equally cool in another way.Modern day compressed air racecar, technology is a beautiful thing.....
Alan
And so it beginsNow, THAT is freaking cool! At first, I thought it was going to be a car that was running totally on compressed air with no engine, but this is equally cool in another way.
Hmmmm, one can imagine having a battery operated compressor and a tank to pressurize a system to drive around on the street, hmmmmmm.