Why all the Pro stock wrecks???

[Toejam]

You used to never see Pro stocks having trouble getting down these tracks! Now it's every other race anymore? Are they making Too much Horsepower for those Chassis??? Someone explain this to me...

 

[yoda]

Remember all the spoiler that 70's floppers used to have? And they still danced around in the lights.... Same speeds, same E.T.s, different dance

Holy chit, Batman- have we finally gotten to Critical Mass, 60 years later??

 

[Pat]

Two areas of concern are lack of down force and tires. Essentially, the race tracks are prepped for the fuel cars, and they require less real bite because of the amount of down force that they are able to generate with their wing/spoiler package. P/S cars have very little of either because of the negative effect on performance. Fuel cars can generate about 10,000 lbs. of down force while a P/S can only generate about 500 lbs. Plus, due to the way that P/S has it's spoiler, some can actually generate lift. That is why P/S loves wind tunnel test time.

If you recall, a few years ago at E-Town, the race track was prepped in such a way that it favored the P/S cars, but the fuel cars were "chunking" tires because of too much bite. If I remember right, they called that race and we had to go back after the race track was "fixed". This battle continues today, tracks prepped for P/S are not good for fuel cars and vice versa.

Personally I think that it is time for Goodyear to come up with a new P/S tire that will work better with the way that race tracks are prepped. The present Goodyear tire has been around for over six years with little, or no, change. If you were in the tower, looking down the race track you will see that most every P/S car "black tracks" from the starting line to past the 1000' mark. That is a spinning tire, and it's the same sensation as driving on ice. Many different types of track prep have been tried, but IMO the only time it worked for all parties was when Chad Head called the shots.

One other thing that should be mentioned, is the quality of the track surface. Most of the older tracks just don't have a good enough surface for the P/S cars. Just about every track has some bumps and dips, but if the surface itself is good, the tires won't spin after they come out of the bump or dip. BTW, Firebird has one of the worst track surfaces

You can't take tire spin out of the equation because controlled spin is what makes cars fast . Out of control spin makes cars dangerous.

That's my $.02 worth.

Pat

 

[Dave]

Two areas of concern are lack of down force and tires. Essentially, the race tracks are prepped for the fuel cars, and they require less real bite because of the amount of down force that they are able to generate with their wing/spoiler package. P/S cars have very little of either because of the negative effect on performance. Fuel cars can generate about 10,000 lbs. of down force while a P/S can only generate about 500 lbs. Plus, due to the way that P/S has it's spoiler, some can actually generate lift. That is why P/S loves wind tunnel test time.

If you recall, a few years ago at E-Town, the race track was prepped in such a way that it favored the P/S cars, but the fuel cars were "chunking" tires because of too much bite. If I remember right, they called that race and we had to go back after the race track was "fixed". This battle continues today, tracks prepped for P/S are not good for fuel cars and vice versa.

Personally I think that it is time for Goodyear to come up with a new P/S tire that will work better with the way that race tracks are prepped. The present Goodyear tire has been around for over six years with little, or no, change. If you were in the tower, looking down the race track you will see that most every P/S car "black tracks" from the starting line to past the 1000' mark. That is a spinning tire, and it's the same sensation as driving on ice. Many different types of track prep have been tried, but IMO the only time it worked for all parties was when Chad Head called the shots.

One other thing that should be mentioned, is the quality of the track surface. Most of the older tracks just don't have a good enough surface for the P/S cars. Just about every track has some bumps and dips, but if the surface itself is good, the tires won't spin after they come out of the bump or dip. BTW, Firebird has one of the worst track surfaces

You can't take tire spin out of the equation because controlled spin is what makes cars fast . Out of control spin makes cars dangerous.

That's my $.02 worth.

Pat

I recall that englishtown race, it was in 2000. They also had extremely cold temps that weekend that I thought also contributed to the chunking problems and the quick PS times. They called the event and came back in October.

 

[Rajunz]

...........Personally I think that it is time for Goodyear to come up with a new P/S tire that will work better with the way that race tracks are prepped. The present Goodyear tire has been around for over six years with little, or no, change. If you were in the tower, looking down the race track you will see that most every P/S car "black tracks" from the starting line to past the 1000' mark. That is a spinning tire, and it's the same sensation as driving on ice............

Sure seems to me that making the Pro Stock cars run more downforce is a much cheaper solution than reinventing the wheel. Adding a whicker bill to the current rear spoilers would do it. It would add more drag, but it's equal across the entire class.

 

[vegasnitro]

I have always wondered why Pro Stock does not run an under-body tray with a venturi tunnel or 2. It would be easy to regulate, and would increase downforce by as much as 50%. It would be made of carbon fiber so it would not add much weight to the car.

 

[NYNitro86]

I recall that englishtown race, it was in 2000. They also had extremely cold temps that weekend that I thought also contributed to the chunking problems and the quick PS times. They called the event and came back in October.

I remember that, they ran the weekend after Indy in September, ran all elims on Saturday. That was the only time there was a Northeast Race Swing for National Events w/E-Town Completion and Reading the next weekend.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

Sure seems to me that making the Pro Stock cars run more downforce is a much cheaper solution than reinventing the wheel. Adding a whicker bill to the current rear spoilers would do it. It would add more drag, but it's equal across the entire class.

I tend to agree with Lance, here. What would be wrong with adding a wicker or raising the minimum angle? It would be the same for everyone and the cars should be much more stable at speed.

Sean D

 

[Paul]

I remember that, they ran the weekend after Indy in September, ran all elims on Saturday. That was the only time there was a Northeast Race Swing for National Events w/E-Town Completion and Reading the next weekend.

You are correct, Reading was the following weekend. If my memory is correct, Cruz won his first race as a team owner that weekend sponsored by Teller Quick.

 

[Dave]

You are correct, Reading was the following weekend. If my memory is correct, Cruz won his first race as a team owner that weekend sponsored by Teller Quick.

That's right, and ESPN2 broadcast an hour long highlights version of the race which I forgot to record and have been trying to find ever since. All I have is the qualifying show from May with the bad weather and Whit Bazemore blowing a tire.

 

[Butch]

Columbus had the same problem back around 02-03? I think it was Jason Line 1st and then next car down somebody else, then after Jeggie dam near lost it they stopped and redressed the track.

 

[Rajunz]

Columbus had the same problem back around 02-03? I think it was Jason Line 1st and then next car down somebody else, then after Jeggie dam near lost it they stopped and redressed the track.

Taylor Laster was the second one on his roof that day.