Joe Amato Ground Effects car.

[Just Paul]

I came across these pics from 1991 today. Pretty rare photos in my opinion. Along with this mini wing, he ran with a full wing, and with no wing at all for one pass.

 

[cantdrive55]

nice finds, what track is this from? Pretty sure he tried the no wing version at Houston, or maybe the Motorplex

 

[DrRocket]

I find it ironic the racer who pretty much introduced the tall wing to the sport was looking for a way to do away with it.

Great pics, thanks for posting them.

 

[Nunz]

Nothing's forever David. That's the whole idea of experimentation. (Or it used to be, not so much anymore in the fuel classes)

 

[DrRocket]

I see that in addition to the package in front of the slicks, there's also a "tunnel" in back between the slicks. I wonder how the airflow from that affected the chutes when deployed???

 

[.]

nice finds, what track is this from?

Pomona? The San Gabriel mountains in the background and the crackled fairplex asphalt.

Is that Jimmy Walsh or Phil Shuler in the pic? just kidding

Nice pics Paul! Thanx for that.

 

[rckymtn3]

I find it ironic the racer who pretty much introduced the tall wing to the sport was looking for a way to do away with it.

Great pics, thanks for posting them.

Richards and Amato had Eldon Rasmussen's (Indy car) help with that tall wing

Anyone remember multi-element wings from the 70's, or Beck's low-rider wing that was maybe a foot off the rear tires if not less?

Head followed ormsby in his huge body for the dragsters but had more of a funny car rear wing than a discrete element above the body work....

or the Arrivett Bros attempt?

streamlining was always attempted, but never seemed to help (lower CD) versus added mass....always seems that less was more

Just another reason why I like drag racing....some crafty ingenious mf'ers in this sport

 

[e]

.....Speaking of G.O., is that him standing there checking the car out in the 1st photo ???..................................e

 

[wilbur]

Yes it is Eric. And the king of COOL, in the second pic. The snake.

 

[mike]

Great finds Paul. I've only ever seen photos of it on the track. If you come across anymore post them up

Thanks for posting.

Mike

 

[mike]

I believe this car also ran a 5.04. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I'm just going off memory from a report that I haven't read for years. Will have to dig it up.

 

[Just Paul]

I believe this car also ran a 5.04. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I'm just going off memory from a report that I haven't read for years. Will have to dig it up.

My memory bank says 5.08 is what he ran with no wing, I'm not sure what the best ET was with a full wing or small wing.

 

[mike]

My memory bank says 5.08 is what he ran with no wing, I'm not sure what the best ET was with a full wing or small wing.

Thanks Paul, ill have to find the magazine, you're most likely right though. I do know it was in the 5.0's. Once again thanks for the cool photos, I've been staring at them all evening. The small wing looks so damn cool!!

 

[Rajunz]

I see that in addition to the package in front of the slicks, there's also a "tunnel" in back between the slicks. I wonder how the airflow from that affected the chutes when deployed???

The premise of that thing was it was supposed to suck the car down like a vacuum cleaner.............

.....Speaking of G.O., is that him standing there checking the car out in the 1st photo ???..................................e

That sure is.....and Snake looking on in the second picture.

 

[mick]

someone.... a little help with the gordon padgett car - don't remember specifics
on that one?......is g.p. from the drag boat world?

amato car: remember that car well, but i think he ran it @ BIR with ground effects only, no rear wing?? qual. only? or on sunday too?

 

[Just Paul]

someone.... a little help with the gordon padgett car - don't remember specifics
on that one?......is g.p. from the drag boat world?

amato car: remember that car well, but i think he ran it @ BIR with ground effects only, no rear wing?? qual. only? or on sunday too?

I don't think he ran it that far into the season, and not at BIR. He was fresh off sweeping the western swing and going for 4 races in a row at BIR.. Lost on a holeshot to KB in the finals...

He only made 1 pass with no wing early in the season, and when it ran it with a wing, it worked "too good too soon" from what I remember.

 

[mike]

Besides Pomona the only other track I recall it running at was Houston. Kenny Bernstien also tried something similar too, also with a smaller wing, but not as small as Amato's set up.

 

[mick]

thanks paul - must be just the photos i remember.
thanks for those - great to look at again.

 

[Just Paul]

Besides Pomona the only other track I recall it running at was Houston. Kenny Bernstien also tried something similar too, also with a smaller wing, but not as small as Amato's set up.

That sounds right.

Gary Beck drove the car in pre-season testing with this set up while Amato recovered from shoulder surgery too.

 

[mick]

definitely gone are the days when a guy/gal could show up with an
innovation such as this and it's effectiveness would rule whether or
not the piece stayed on the car.