I remember seeing NASCARs sliding toward the infield and then rolling UNDER!
Not the typical, dig in the leading tires, highside roll but a low side roll
underneath (has anyone witnessed this on the salt?) sometimes without the
top even touching the ground. Then they started requiring roof rails and
the panels that pop up when the airflow is backwards (these panels have
restraining cables to hold them at an angle to the airflow like an aircraft
dive brake). The roof rails probably create some aerodynamic stability for
straight ahead work, but are really an advantage in spoiling the crosswise
airflow (and lift) across the top of the roof while in a slide. Also if
you ran the tonneau on the truck from the top, front lip of the bed, to the
tailgate hinge area, wouldn't the slab sides of the bed become huge 'rails'.
Just a thought, no cheating out there, now.
Dave Seely
1141 XF/VOT
----- Original Message -----
From: "W S Potter" <wester6935@attbi.com>
To: "DrMayf" <drmayf@teknett.com>; "Dan Warner" <dwarner@electrorent.com>;
"land speed" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 11:06 PM
Subject: Re: Trucks & roof rails
> It was my understanding that the roof rails disturb the flow of air over
the
> top of the car and help to keep it upright in a spin or long sustained
> slide. Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the height required by
salt
> flats racing rules the same as NASCAR requires? In that case the
Craftsman
> Truck Series should give a reasonable look at what is needed for trucks.
>
> Just brainstorming ...
>
> Wes
>
>
> on 8/20/02 3:27 PM, DrMayf at drmayf@teknett.com wrote:
>
> > Hey, Dan. Great answers, but is there another thought here? If the bed
has a
> > rigid tonneau on it, doesn't that warrant rails just like the top would?
I
> > agree on the getting larger towards the back, I think a tongue in cheek
was
> > here, but the smaller safety rails seem like a good idea. Is this
something
> > that the safety committee should think about? And you guys run a class
act
> > at B'ville.
> >
> > mayf, the red necked ignorant desert rat in Pahrump
/// unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net or try
/// http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive/land-speed
/// what is needed. It isn't that difficult, folks.
|