By John Oreovicz
It?s fair to say that the 2012 Dallara DW12 Indy car has been a disappointment in every way so far.
Many fans were aghast when they first saw the car, with its bulbous sidepods that almost completely envelop the rear wheels.
The car has also failed to live up to expectations on oval tracks, where it has lacked stability and speed.
The problems are fundamental: an extreme rear weight bias and mysterious amounts of drag that aren?t showing up in computer modeling and 50-percent scale wind tunnel testing.
The DW12 was named after the late Dan Wheldon, who handled the initial shakedown tests of Italian racecar manufacturer Dallara Automobili?s first new Indy car design since 2003. But Wheldon was too diplomatic, too much of a party-line kind of guy, so he never played up the car?s obvious shortcomings.
On their first experience in the DW12, the car scared the likes of Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan while resolutely refusing to top 216 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Following another round of testing at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., Scott Dixon gave the most honest assessment of the car to date, calling it ?a bit of a pig? with an even more pronounced pendulum handling effect than the current Dallara IR03, which is already a tail-heavy car. The numbers don?t lie; the DW12 has a weight distribution of 41 percent front, 59 percent rear, as compared to the IR03?s 45/55.
The car?s handling got better during the most recent round of testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but the improvement came from an extreme measure: Placing 26 pounds of lead ballast in the nose of the car to balance out the weight distribution.
After initially blaming suppliers for suspension and gearbox components that didn?t meet target weight goals, Dallara is reacting to the crisis. Revised suspension geometry will help shift the weight forward, and a completely new oval track aero package (floor, sidepods, wings) is under development.
This update was not be available when the initial batch of cars were delivered to teams on December 15, but the pressure is not as great as it could be because the first oval activity of the 2012 season won?t happen until the month of May at Indianapolis. Still, the oval package will essentially be starting at ground zero when testing resumes in the spring.
This late redesign represents an opportunity for Dallara and INDYCAR to overcome the universally negative reaction to the DW12?s appearance. A poll of more than 6,000 fans at AutoRacing1.com resulted in 98 percent expressing dissatisfaction with the look of the car, especially the bulbous sidepods.
How could Dallara have gotten it so wrong? There are a number of factors. For starters, it?s been nine years since Dallara created a new Indy car chassis, and the IR03 was in many ways an update of the company?s 2000 car, albeit with a major change in front suspension philosophy. The key is that since 2003, development of the IR03 was almost exclusively handled by the teams, with little or no factory involvement. As such, Dallara was already somewhat out of touch with its own most recent design.
Dallara had an extremely tight box to work in, courtesy of the requirements made by INDYCAR?s ICONIC Committee. Most of those mandates were made in the interest of safety even before Wheldon?s death at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (in a Dallara IR03) on October 16, but it appears some of them - chiefly, the wider floor and sidepods that extend all the way to the outer edge of the rear tires and the rear bumper pods mounted behind the rear wheels - are contributing to the car?s greater than anticipated drag and high-speed instability on ovals.
INDYCAR 2012 car project director Will Phillips strongly defends the car, even when pressed about it?s awkward appearance. With so much of the DW12?s basic packaging dictated by safety, aesthetics clearly took a back seat.
It looks like one of those tank-like ?safety cars? from the ?70s.
?Everyone?s got an opinion,? Phillips said.
In fairness, Phillips inherited the DW12 project when it was too far down the line to dictate any significant changes. The thrust has been to prevent cars from getting up in the air - not only like at Las Vegas, where four cars took flight in the 15-car accident that killed Wheldon - but on at least half a dozen other occasions since 2003.
?Once it leaves the ground, it?s no longer a car - it?s no longer got its wheels in contact with the ground,? Phillips said. ?It?s a serious challenge to try and make it a car and an airplane. You just can?t do it. Anything we can do to prevent a vehicle from leaving the ground would be of benefit.?
The worrying thing is that INDYCAR quietly admits it doesn?t know why the DW12 is not working the way the computer simulations say it is supposed to. The 50-percent wind tunnel model was re-tested in a known tunnel, and the results backed up Dallara?s initial numbers. The next step is to take a full-size IR03 and a DW12 to a 100-percent tunnel and compare the results using real cars.
The good news is that the drivers have been generally positive about the DW12 in road racing trim and the car is reportedly already slightly faster than the outgoing car, which admittedly was originally designed exclusively for oval competition.
The Dallara DW12 is not the first bad Indy car, and it certainly won?t be the last. Off the top of my head, I can think of the 1972 Parnelli dihedral car, the ?86-87 Penske PC15 and PC16, the March 88C and the ?97 Lola. The Parnelli and the Lola were eventually turned into race winning designs.
Of course those cars were not being used by the full field in spec-car fashion?
It?s a bit disheartening that INDYCAR had nine years to come up with a new car and managed to legislate itself a dud, a car that?s both ugly and slow. But the DW12 can and will be fixed - even if it means running 25 pounds of lead weight in the nose.
John Oreovicz is a veteran writer and observer of Indy car racing, and his work can be seen on ESPN.com and other publications.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Rolex Series on the rise, Austin F1 race sinking fast.
On Tuesday I watched, with great interest and enthusiasm, the Grand-Am press conference introducing the new Corvette-ish bodywork for all the 2012 Chevy-Powered Daytona Prototypes in the Rolex Series.
I take back every doubt or slam ever uttered about sports car racing owned and operated by NASCAR. This car looks great. The manufacturer ?specific visual concept is going to work, just like it does in Cup, NNS and trucks to built interest and expand the fan base. I can?t wait to see what Ford reveals to clearly reference ? what? The Mustang? The Focus? (Naaah.) The Fusion? What will Ganassi or BMW come up with for their cars? Are there any Porsche-powered cars left now that Action has become a bow tie team?
That was Tuesday. It was the best of times.
On Wednesday I felt like the Dickens when I scanned the latest F1 headlines on SPEED: Ecclestone ? Austin Race Set To Be Called Off and US GP Now In Doubt, (Texas State Comptroller) Combs Letter Promised Advanced Payment for Austin Race.
For F1 fans, this is the worst of times.
I?ve been worried about the Austin F1 race at the new Circuit of the Americas ever since it was announced because I didn?t believe Uncle Sam?s international reputation, to say nothing of what we see when we look in the mirror, couldn?t take another hit after the USF1 Team fiasco.
Yet here we are again.
As I understand this, Tevo Helmund negotiated the deal as the race promoter which involved a money group headed by billionaire Rex McComb to help develop the property . The whole project was based on a $25 million dollar per year commitment from the Lone Star state, with the first payment promised by July 31 of this year.
The check didn?t arrive, payment deadlines were missed, the race date was bumped four months and suddenly there were reports of rancor between Helmund and the developers even as construction of the very expensive but clearly first class Herman Tilke ?designed track and facility complex had begun.
This threesome gone bad apparently still has a couple of weeks to get their act together before F1 officially toe tags the race. I don?t know what kind of arrangement misunderstandings have caused the rift between the promoter and the track developers but I?ll bet the fact that the $25 million, which was promised in writing, is now being withheld until after next year's hanging-by-a-thread race has a lot to do with it.
The race contract between Helmund?s Full Throttle Productions and Formula 1 has been cancelled and the track wants to renegotiate with Ecclestone, good luck with that, rather than accept a simple transfer of the agreement.
You?d think their existing investment in the new Circuit of the Americas track would be so great they really have no choice other than to make this work.
But I don't have a lot of optimism. So I will look forward to the first Grand-Am test session featuring the new DPs in January and the 50th running of the Rolex 24 a few weeks later and just wait and see what happens with the Austin deal.
Wait. And hope.
I take back every doubt or slam ever uttered about sports car racing owned and operated by NASCAR. This car looks great. The manufacturer ?specific visual concept is going to work, just like it does in Cup, NNS and trucks to built interest and expand the fan base. I can?t wait to see what Ford reveals to clearly reference ? what? The Mustang? The Focus? (Naaah.) The Fusion? What will Ganassi or BMW come up with for their cars? Are there any Porsche-powered cars left now that Action has become a bow tie team?
That was Tuesday. It was the best of times.
On Wednesday I felt like the Dickens when I scanned the latest F1 headlines on SPEED: Ecclestone ? Austin Race Set To Be Called Off and US GP Now In Doubt, (Texas State Comptroller) Combs Letter Promised Advanced Payment for Austin Race.
For F1 fans, this is the worst of times.
I?ve been worried about the Austin F1 race at the new Circuit of the Americas ever since it was announced because I didn?t believe Uncle Sam?s international reputation, to say nothing of what we see when we look in the mirror, couldn?t take another hit after the USF1 Team fiasco.
Yet here we are again.
As I understand this, Tevo Helmund negotiated the deal as the race promoter which involved a money group headed by billionaire Rex McComb to help develop the property . The whole project was based on a $25 million dollar per year commitment from the Lone Star state, with the first payment promised by July 31 of this year.
The check didn?t arrive, payment deadlines were missed, the race date was bumped four months and suddenly there were reports of rancor between Helmund and the developers even as construction of the very expensive but clearly first class Herman Tilke ?designed track and facility complex had begun.
This threesome gone bad apparently still has a couple of weeks to get their act together before F1 officially toe tags the race. I don?t know what kind of arrangement misunderstandings have caused the rift between the promoter and the track developers but I?ll bet the fact that the $25 million, which was promised in writing, is now being withheld until after next year's hanging-by-a-thread race has a lot to do with it.
The race contract between Helmund?s Full Throttle Productions and Formula 1 has been cancelled and the track wants to renegotiate with Ecclestone, good luck with that, rather than accept a simple transfer of the agreement.
You?d think their existing investment in the new Circuit of the Americas track would be so great they really have no choice other than to make this work.
But I don't have a lot of optimism. So I will look forward to the first Grand-Am test session featuring the new DPs in January and the 50th running of the Rolex 24 a few weeks later and just wait and see what happens with the Austin deal.
Wait. And hope.
Hendrick returns to N. Carolina after plane crash
NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick returned home Tuesday, a day after he broke a rib and shoulder when his plane ran off the runway in Key West, Fla. View full post on NBCSports.com: NASCAR / Motors addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Fhendrick-returns-to-n-carolina-after-plane-crash'; addthis_title = 'Hendrick+returns+to+N.+Carolina+after+plane+crash'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: after, carolina, crash, Hendrick, Plane, returns
Nick?s RB Powered S13
One of our loyal local customers RB powered S13 coupe. This car was about 2 years in the making and has come along so well. Its definitely one of our favorites!
Photo Credit: Nathan Wyatt
Photo Credit: Nathan Wyatt
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
DeltaWing Racer Two Steps Closer to Reality
By John Oreovicz
Tech-savvy racing fans have been eagerly following the progress of the DeltaWing project, which is set to make its competition debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June as the 56th entry reserved for new and unique automotive technologies.
Ben Bowlby?s radical design has the support of Highcroft Racing and the first car is under construction at Dan Gurney?s All American Racers in Santa Ana, California. Two more elements to the attack were unveiled recently: the tire manufacturer and the first driver.
Both are entering uncharted territory.
Marino Franchitti will quite literally be the Delta Wing?s ?test pilot? when the car rolls under its own power for the first time as the calendar turns to Spring. The DeltaWing is so different to accepted race car design that when Franchitti hits the track, he really will be reprising the role of aviation pioneers like Chuck Yeager.
The million dollar question: Can the DeltaWing, with its narrow front track and 4-inch-wide front tires, actually negotiate corners?
?I am so excited about getting the opportunity to drive the car,? said Franchitti, who is the younger brother of 4-time IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti. ?I have no doubt in my mind that it is going to turn, but I am really looking forward to finding out how it is going to feel and how it will work as a package.
?I have nothing to compare this against,? he added. ?Like the car itself, I will be going in with a clean sheet of paper and will start exploring the limits.?
DeltaWing has teamed with Michelin to develop the unusual 4-inch wide front tires that are so critical to the car?s small frontal area and low drag. The car will be able to utilize standard size rear tires.
?Michelin races to learn and races to win,? said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager and project leader for the Michelin DeltaWing.?? ?There is tremendous focus in the auto industry worldwide on making vehicles lighter without sacrificing performance, and we hope to learn a great deal from our collaboration with the DeltaWing program.?
Photo courtesy of Michelin
In February the car, on the new Michelin tires, will run in a full-scale wind tunnel to validate computer data.
?The time has come to bring the real car to life and the first step is to run the car at Windshear at full size on a moving ground plane wind tunnel,? said chief designer Bowlby. ?We?ll have the real Michelin tires, the real suspension, the real bodywork and cooling systems ? everything that you will see on the car at the race track.?? The plan is to ensure the simulations we have done meet reality.?
Of course, the crucial missing part of the DeltaWing package is the engine. Bowlby envisions a turbocharged, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower will be enough to propel the car to competitive speeds.
DeltaWing is also hoping to gain financial support from the engine manufacturer it partners with. But until they see how the car operates in the real world, manufacturers have been hesitant to commit a seven-figure budget to such an experimental effort.
?They?re going to have to run the car on a track to prove to the doubters that it actually works,? said one source affiliated with a manufacturer that has been courted by DeltaWing. ?It?s too big of a risk to devote that kind of money to something that is completely unproven, no matter how confident they are in their computer simulations.?
For his part, Franchitti is eager to begin his participation in the development of a machine that could prove to shake up race car design as we know it.
?It kind of feels like when the first rear engine Formula 1 car hit the track, or the first car with a wing, or the first ground-effects car,? Franchitti said. ?In recent times, we really haven?t seen major advances like this. Technological steps have been quite small and now it is very exciting to be a part of something this huge. I am really honored to be given this opportunity.
?Being somebody who loves the history of the sport, I am really looking forward to experiencing something that my heroes experienced,? he added. ?Those opportunities don?t come along every day. I?m looking forward to being that guy who can say, ?Yes, I turned the wheel and ?round the corner it went!??
John Oreovicz is a long-time motorsport writer who writes for a varity of publications, including ESPN.com.
Tech-savvy racing fans have been eagerly following the progress of the DeltaWing project, which is set to make its competition debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June as the 56th entry reserved for new and unique automotive technologies.
Ben Bowlby?s radical design has the support of Highcroft Racing and the first car is under construction at Dan Gurney?s All American Racers in Santa Ana, California. Two more elements to the attack were unveiled recently: the tire manufacturer and the first driver.
Both are entering uncharted territory.
Marino Franchitti will quite literally be the Delta Wing?s ?test pilot? when the car rolls under its own power for the first time as the calendar turns to Spring. The DeltaWing is so different to accepted race car design that when Franchitti hits the track, he really will be reprising the role of aviation pioneers like Chuck Yeager.
The million dollar question: Can the DeltaWing, with its narrow front track and 4-inch-wide front tires, actually negotiate corners?
?I am so excited about getting the opportunity to drive the car,? said Franchitti, who is the younger brother of 4-time IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti. ?I have no doubt in my mind that it is going to turn, but I am really looking forward to finding out how it is going to feel and how it will work as a package.
?I have nothing to compare this against,? he added. ?Like the car itself, I will be going in with a clean sheet of paper and will start exploring the limits.?
DeltaWing has teamed with Michelin to develop the unusual 4-inch wide front tires that are so critical to the car?s small frontal area and low drag. The car will be able to utilize standard size rear tires.
?Michelin races to learn and races to win,? said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager and project leader for the Michelin DeltaWing.?? ?There is tremendous focus in the auto industry worldwide on making vehicles lighter without sacrificing performance, and we hope to learn a great deal from our collaboration with the DeltaWing program.?
Photo courtesy of Michelin
In February the car, on the new Michelin tires, will run in a full-scale wind tunnel to validate computer data.
?The time has come to bring the real car to life and the first step is to run the car at Windshear at full size on a moving ground plane wind tunnel,? said chief designer Bowlby. ?We?ll have the real Michelin tires, the real suspension, the real bodywork and cooling systems ? everything that you will see on the car at the race track.?? The plan is to ensure the simulations we have done meet reality.?
Of course, the crucial missing part of the DeltaWing package is the engine. Bowlby envisions a turbocharged, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower will be enough to propel the car to competitive speeds.
DeltaWing is also hoping to gain financial support from the engine manufacturer it partners with. But until they see how the car operates in the real world, manufacturers have been hesitant to commit a seven-figure budget to such an experimental effort.
?They?re going to have to run the car on a track to prove to the doubters that it actually works,? said one source affiliated with a manufacturer that has been courted by DeltaWing. ?It?s too big of a risk to devote that kind of money to something that is completely unproven, no matter how confident they are in their computer simulations.?
For his part, Franchitti is eager to begin his participation in the development of a machine that could prove to shake up race car design as we know it.
?It kind of feels like when the first rear engine Formula 1 car hit the track, or the first car with a wing, or the first ground-effects car,? Franchitti said. ?In recent times, we really haven?t seen major advances like this. Technological steps have been quite small and now it is very exciting to be a part of something this huge. I am really honored to be given this opportunity.
?Being somebody who loves the history of the sport, I am really looking forward to experiencing something that my heroes experienced,? he added. ?Those opportunities don?t come along every day. I?m looking forward to being that guy who can say, ?Yes, I turned the wheel and ?round the corner it went!??
John Oreovicz is a long-time motorsport writer who writes for a varity of publications, including ESPN.com.
Resourceful Craigslist Post, or Just Lazy.
We swear we don’t just sit at the HOT ROD office and scour Craigslist and eBay for cars. We actually have RSS feds to do the work for us. One of the searches for ’60s and ’70s-vintage cars turned up this Craigslist ad for a ’71 Firebird. Yep, that’s a Google street view of the [...]
Monday, February 27, 2012
No, We Aren?t Dead
We’ve received some concerned tweets, emails, and comments about our whereabouts and I just wanted to drop in and ease your minds. No, we aren’t dead, haven’t been laid off, or been abducted by aliens. We are still deeply entrenched where we’ve always been. But after nearly four straight years of working on the blog [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Pryce launches 2012 season with success on Rallye Sunseeker
Welsh teen rally sensation and current British Fiesta Sport Champion, Osian Pryce of Aberangell near Dolgellau celebrated his birthday in style last weekend by winning his class and taking the Richard Burns Award at the opening round of the MSA British Rally Championship on Rallye Sunseeker International organised and hosted by the Southern Car Club. [...]
Pit Stop USA Announces New Retail Store and Catalog
Pit Stop USA, a leading online retailer to the circle market, will be opening a new retail showroom in March and also announced the release of their 2011 catalog.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
A Turbulent Start to the NASCAR Off-Season
We’re just a week into the NASCAR off-season and the changes are coming fast and heavy. Layoffs Around The shoe hasn’t dropped everywhere just yet, but so far Roush Fenway has undertaken a massive layoff that we’ve heard was as many as 125 employees. This included many long-time Roush employees. What’s loyalty worth in this [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
SATA Rallye Acores day three report
MIKKELSEN SETS NEW IRC RECORD WITH A�ORES VICTORY ?KODA celebrates one-two finish as Bouffier stars for Peugeot Support category wins for Moura and Maciel Andreas Mikkelsen has begun the defence of his Intercontinental Rally Challenge title in style by winning SATA Rallye A�ores, the opening round of IRC season six, which finished this afternoon (Saturday) [...]
GM?s Original Vette-hack
When Freiburger, Kinnan, and Finnegan went crazy on an ’85 Corvette with a reciprocating saw and some hammers, some readers weren’t too pleased, but the guys were quick to point out that Chevrolet had done something similar when the C2 Corvette debuted for the 1968 model year. OK, the Chevy version was a lot more [...]
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Richard Petty's Driver Search is On
If you are an aspiring racer looking to develop your skills and advance your career, Richard Petty’s Driver Search is the program for you.
Friday, February 24, 2012
DeltaWing Racer Two Steps Closer to Reality
By John Oreovicz
Tech-savvy racing fans have been eagerly following the progress of the DeltaWing project, which is set to make its competition debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June as the 56th entry reserved for new and unique automotive technologies.
Ben Bowlby?s radical design has the support of Highcroft Racing and the first car is under construction at Dan Gurney?s All American Racers in Santa Ana, California. Two more elements to the attack were unveiled recently: the tire manufacturer and the first driver.
Both are entering uncharted territory.
Marino Franchitti will quite literally be the Delta Wing?s ?test pilot? when the car rolls under its own power for the first time as the calendar turns to Spring. The DeltaWing is so different to accepted race car design that when Franchitti hits the track, he really will be reprising the role of aviation pioneers like Chuck Yeager.
The million dollar question: Can the DeltaWing, with its narrow front track and 4-inch-wide front tires, actually negotiate corners?
?I am so excited about getting the opportunity to drive the car,? said Franchitti, who is the younger brother of 4-time IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti. ?I have no doubt in my mind that it is going to turn, but I am really looking forward to finding out how it is going to feel and how it will work as a package.
?I have nothing to compare this against,? he added. ?Like the car itself, I will be going in with a clean sheet of paper and will start exploring the limits.?
DeltaWing has teamed with Michelin to develop the unusual 4-inch wide front tires that are so critical to the car?s small frontal area and low drag. The car will be able to utilize standard size rear tires.
?Michelin races to learn and races to win,? said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager and project leader for the Michelin DeltaWing.?? ?There is tremendous focus in the auto industry worldwide on making vehicles lighter without sacrificing performance, and we hope to learn a great deal from our collaboration with the DeltaWing program.?
Photo courtesy of Michelin
In February the car, on the new Michelin tires, will run in a full-scale wind tunnel to validate computer data.
?The time has come to bring the real car to life and the first step is to run the car at Windshear at full size on a moving ground plane wind tunnel,? said chief designer Bowlby. ?We?ll have the real Michelin tires, the real suspension, the real bodywork and cooling systems ? everything that you will see on the car at the race track.?? The plan is to ensure the simulations we have done meet reality.?
Of course, the crucial missing part of the DeltaWing package is the engine. Bowlby envisions a turbocharged, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower will be enough to propel the car to competitive speeds.
DeltaWing is also hoping to gain financial support from the engine manufacturer it partners with. But until they see how the car operates in the real world, manufacturers have been hesitant to commit a seven-figure budget to such an experimental effort.
?They?re going to have to run the car on a track to prove to the doubters that it actually works,? said one source affiliated with a manufacturer that has been courted by DeltaWing. ?It?s too big of a risk to devote that kind of money to something that is completely unproven, no matter how confident they are in their computer simulations.?
For his part, Franchitti is eager to begin his participation in the development of a machine that could prove to shake up race car design as we know it.
?It kind of feels like when the first rear engine Formula 1 car hit the track, or the first car with a wing, or the first ground-effects car,? Franchitti said. ?In recent times, we really haven?t seen major advances like this. Technological steps have been quite small and now it is very exciting to be a part of something this huge. I am really honored to be given this opportunity.
?Being somebody who loves the history of the sport, I am really looking forward to experiencing something that my heroes experienced,? he added. ?Those opportunities don?t come along every day. I?m looking forward to being that guy who can say, ?Yes, I turned the wheel and ?round the corner it went!??
John Oreovicz is a long-time motorsport writer who writes for a varity of publications, including ESPN.com.
Tech-savvy racing fans have been eagerly following the progress of the DeltaWing project, which is set to make its competition debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June as the 56th entry reserved for new and unique automotive technologies.
Ben Bowlby?s radical design has the support of Highcroft Racing and the first car is under construction at Dan Gurney?s All American Racers in Santa Ana, California. Two more elements to the attack were unveiled recently: the tire manufacturer and the first driver.
Both are entering uncharted territory.
Marino Franchitti will quite literally be the Delta Wing?s ?test pilot? when the car rolls under its own power for the first time as the calendar turns to Spring. The DeltaWing is so different to accepted race car design that when Franchitti hits the track, he really will be reprising the role of aviation pioneers like Chuck Yeager.
The million dollar question: Can the DeltaWing, with its narrow front track and 4-inch-wide front tires, actually negotiate corners?
?I am so excited about getting the opportunity to drive the car,? said Franchitti, who is the younger brother of 4-time IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti. ?I have no doubt in my mind that it is going to turn, but I am really looking forward to finding out how it is going to feel and how it will work as a package.
?I have nothing to compare this against,? he added. ?Like the car itself, I will be going in with a clean sheet of paper and will start exploring the limits.?
DeltaWing has teamed with Michelin to develop the unusual 4-inch wide front tires that are so critical to the car?s small frontal area and low drag. The car will be able to utilize standard size rear tires.
?Michelin races to learn and races to win,? said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager and project leader for the Michelin DeltaWing.?? ?There is tremendous focus in the auto industry worldwide on making vehicles lighter without sacrificing performance, and we hope to learn a great deal from our collaboration with the DeltaWing program.?
Photo courtesy of Michelin
In February the car, on the new Michelin tires, will run in a full-scale wind tunnel to validate computer data.
?The time has come to bring the real car to life and the first step is to run the car at Windshear at full size on a moving ground plane wind tunnel,? said chief designer Bowlby. ?We?ll have the real Michelin tires, the real suspension, the real bodywork and cooling systems ? everything that you will see on the car at the race track.?? The plan is to ensure the simulations we have done meet reality.?
Of course, the crucial missing part of the DeltaWing package is the engine. Bowlby envisions a turbocharged, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower will be enough to propel the car to competitive speeds.
DeltaWing is also hoping to gain financial support from the engine manufacturer it partners with. But until they see how the car operates in the real world, manufacturers have been hesitant to commit a seven-figure budget to such an experimental effort.
?They?re going to have to run the car on a track to prove to the doubters that it actually works,? said one source affiliated with a manufacturer that has been courted by DeltaWing. ?It?s too big of a risk to devote that kind of money to something that is completely unproven, no matter how confident they are in their computer simulations.?
For his part, Franchitti is eager to begin his participation in the development of a machine that could prove to shake up race car design as we know it.
?It kind of feels like when the first rear engine Formula 1 car hit the track, or the first car with a wing, or the first ground-effects car,? Franchitti said. ?In recent times, we really haven?t seen major advances like this. Technological steps have been quite small and now it is very exciting to be a part of something this huge. I am really honored to be given this opportunity.
?Being somebody who loves the history of the sport, I am really looking forward to experiencing something that my heroes experienced,? he added. ?Those opportunities don?t come along every day. I?m looking forward to being that guy who can say, ?Yes, I turned the wheel and ?round the corner it went!??
John Oreovicz is a long-time motorsport writer who writes for a varity of publications, including ESPN.com.
NASCAR?s 2008 ?Regular Season? Ends
Cross posted from Rev’ Jim’s RantsnRaves: NASCAR’s regular season for 2008 ended with a great shootout between two of the best drivers in the sport. The entire season had its share of similar exciting moments, as well as some huge disappointments. Dodge started out on a high note, with the Penske and Gillett-Evernham teams making [...]
A Turbulent Start to the NASCAR Off-Season
We’re just a week into the NASCAR off-season and the changes are coming fast and heavy. Layoffs Around The shoe hasn’t dropped everywhere just yet, but so far Roush Fenway has undertaken a massive layoff that we’ve heard was as many as 125 employees. This included many long-time Roush employees. What’s loyalty worth in this [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
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Speed City Cam ? An Ever Vigilant Eye on Circuit of The Americas
From the Austin American-Statesman / statesman.com: By Dave Doolittle | Thursday, January 26, 2012, 02:57 PM A couple of longtime Elroy residents who have been closely following work out at Circuit of the Americas have set up a live 24-hour webcam so others can peek in on construction, too. ?We want to show that it?s [...]
From Racedriven ? Win a $25 BP Gas card photography Contest.
I?m sure most of us have seen the every changing gas prices daily over the past several months including hitting $4 for a gallon for gasoline at one point this year, so thanks to M80 on behalf of BP, I am running an automotive photography contest with each winner receiving one $25 BP Gift Cards. [...]
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Miller to Unveil Revolutionary TIG Welder at 2008 SEMA Show
Get hands-on experience and expert demonstrations of MIG welding, TIG welding and plasma cutting. Test Miller TIG and MIG welders that make it easier to learn to weldperfect for enthusiast-level motorsports applications.
Voltage Regulators In Vehicles
The gears that regulate the steady voltage output are known as Voltage Regulators. Steady voltage outputs cannot be maintained by electronic gears as they are manufactured to recognize low maximum voltage and on giving high voltage they can be dented. Low voltage can also not be able to give sufficient power for the gears. This [...]
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
This Weekends Race?
I just got this email through NASCAR.com Due to inclement weather from Tropical Storm Hanna, tomorrow?s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway has been postponed until 1 p.m. Sunday. The Nationwide event will now be run at 7 p.m. Sunday.
The 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona is Shaping Up to be a Classic
By Larry Edsall
Later this month, they?ll stage the round-the-clock sports car race at Daytona International Speedway for the 50th* time. (I?ll explain the asterisk in a minute.)
Fifty years of anything is a significant milestone, and this event should be absolutely amazing, if not for the competition on the track but because the organizers are turning the race weekend into a reunion for former winning cars and their surviving drivers.
Last I heard (which was around the middle of December), only three former winning cars had yet to be found -- the Ferrari 312PB Mario Andretti ad Jacky Ickx drove in 1972, the Interscope Porsche that Hurley Haywood, Danny Ongais and Ted Field drove to victory in 1979, and the Ferrari 333SP in which Gianpiero Moretti, Arie Luyendyk, Mauro Baldi and Dider Theys won in 1998.
If you can?t wait or if you won?t be in Daytona for the race and reunion, you can see a photographic display of the winning cars on the speedway?s website:
http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Vanity-Pages/50th-Rolex-24/50-Years-of-Champions-Display.aspx
If you look at that pictorial display, you might be surprised to see that Dan Gurney won the first race in 1962 driving solo in a Lotus-Climax 19B. How could that be? It could be because the first race lasted only three hours. Back then, it was the Daytona Continental, not the Rolex 24, and Gurney, driving for Frank Arciero, was one of several soloists in the race. Others included Jim Hall, who finished third in his Chaparral, and Stirling Moss, who came fourth in a NART Ferrari 250 GT.
Top team making a driver change was another NART entry, a Dino 246SP driven by Phil Hill and Ricardo Rodriguez.
By the way, NASCAR star Fireball Roberts was 12th in yet another NART Ferrari. Indy star Rodger Ward was 27th in a Pontiac Tempest.
That?s right, a Pontiac Tempest, one of four entered in that inaugural event. Oh, and Ward?s performance was good for second place in the GT4 class, which was on by Walt Hansgen in Briggs Cunningham?s Jaguar XK-E.
In 1964, the Daytona race went from three hours to 2,000 kilometers -- a distance Hill and Rodriguez covered in 12 hours, 40 minutes, 24.8 seconds in a Ferrari 250 GTO.
It wasn?t until 1966 that the format expanded to 24 hours -- Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby leading a 1-2-3 sweep by Ford GT40 Mk IIs.
The format has remained 24 hours, well, except for 1972, when it was shortened to six hours because of the fuel crisis, and in 1974, when it was canceled for the same reason.
Sanctioning bodies and eligible vehicles -- production-based vs. made-for-racing prototypes -- have changed through the years. But the challenge of racing full bore for twenty four remains daunting, for the teams, the drivers, the cars, and, yes, even for the spectators.
Larry is a noted author, car enthusiast and editor. You can read more of him at www.izoom.com.
Check out footage of defending Grand Am Rolex Champion Scott Pruett doing a lap at Daytona:
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xlAF-xkjyzA
Later this month, they?ll stage the round-the-clock sports car race at Daytona International Speedway for the 50th* time. (I?ll explain the asterisk in a minute.)
Fifty years of anything is a significant milestone, and this event should be absolutely amazing, if not for the competition on the track but because the organizers are turning the race weekend into a reunion for former winning cars and their surviving drivers.
Last I heard (which was around the middle of December), only three former winning cars had yet to be found -- the Ferrari 312PB Mario Andretti ad Jacky Ickx drove in 1972, the Interscope Porsche that Hurley Haywood, Danny Ongais and Ted Field drove to victory in 1979, and the Ferrari 333SP in which Gianpiero Moretti, Arie Luyendyk, Mauro Baldi and Dider Theys won in 1998.
If you can?t wait or if you won?t be in Daytona for the race and reunion, you can see a photographic display of the winning cars on the speedway?s website:
http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Vanity-Pages/50th-Rolex-24/50-Years-of-Champions-Display.aspx
If you look at that pictorial display, you might be surprised to see that Dan Gurney won the first race in 1962 driving solo in a Lotus-Climax 19B. How could that be? It could be because the first race lasted only three hours. Back then, it was the Daytona Continental, not the Rolex 24, and Gurney, driving for Frank Arciero, was one of several soloists in the race. Others included Jim Hall, who finished third in his Chaparral, and Stirling Moss, who came fourth in a NART Ferrari 250 GT.
Top team making a driver change was another NART entry, a Dino 246SP driven by Phil Hill and Ricardo Rodriguez.
By the way, NASCAR star Fireball Roberts was 12th in yet another NART Ferrari. Indy star Rodger Ward was 27th in a Pontiac Tempest.
That?s right, a Pontiac Tempest, one of four entered in that inaugural event. Oh, and Ward?s performance was good for second place in the GT4 class, which was on by Walt Hansgen in Briggs Cunningham?s Jaguar XK-E.
In 1964, the Daytona race went from three hours to 2,000 kilometers -- a distance Hill and Rodriguez covered in 12 hours, 40 minutes, 24.8 seconds in a Ferrari 250 GTO.
It wasn?t until 1966 that the format expanded to 24 hours -- Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby leading a 1-2-3 sweep by Ford GT40 Mk IIs.
The format has remained 24 hours, well, except for 1972, when it was shortened to six hours because of the fuel crisis, and in 1974, when it was canceled for the same reason.
Sanctioning bodies and eligible vehicles -- production-based vs. made-for-racing prototypes -- have changed through the years. But the challenge of racing full bore for twenty four remains daunting, for the teams, the drivers, the cars, and, yes, even for the spectators.
Larry is a noted author, car enthusiast and editor. You can read more of him at www.izoom.com.
Check out footage of defending Grand Am Rolex Champion Scott Pruett doing a lap at Daytona:
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xlAF-xkjyzA
DMCC Round 2 >>> Travis Clark
DMCC Round Two. Stratotech Raceway, Fort Sask, Alberta.
July 31st 2011 was our round two competition out at Stratotech Raceway, I have always loved driving at this track and when I found out near the end of 2010 that we would be coming back I was pretty excited! I woke up that day [...]
July 31st 2011 was our round two competition out at Stratotech Raceway, I have always loved driving at this track and when I found out near the end of 2010 that we would be coming back I was pretty excited! I woke up that day [...]
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Address
Daytona International Speedway UPS Trackside Services 425 Fentress Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Dave Zackary?s Cadillac Eldorado Funny Car
Dave Zackary's experiment with a steel body, flip-top Cadillac funny car was great match-race draw, but ended in tragedy.
DMCC Round 2 >>> Travis Clark
DMCC Round Two. Stratotech Raceway, Fort Sask, Alberta.
July 31st 2011 was our round two competition out at Stratotech Raceway, I have always loved driving at this track and when I found out near the end of 2010 that we would be coming back I was pretty excited! I woke up that day [...]
July 31st 2011 was our round two competition out at Stratotech Raceway, I have always loved driving at this track and when I found out near the end of 2010 that we would be coming back I was pretty excited! I woke up that day [...]
Monday, February 20, 2012
LATVALA COMMENDS FIA WRC ACADEMY
Fresh from his victory at the 60th Rally Sweden earlier this month, Ford World Rally Team?s Jari-Matti Latvala has shown his support for the FIA WRC Academy and the skills it provides some of the world?s most talented young drivers as they work their way through the WRC ranks. In order to conquer the WRC, [...]
Vintage Photo of the Day: Supernationals Panorama
Jack Rankin captured this photo of the Supernationals in ’71 at Ontario Motor Speedway. Rear-engine dragsters were just starting to invade the scene, as 7 of the 32-car field were “back-motor” cars.
Take A Peek About The Functions Performed By PCM
The system that monitors power train gears (engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, etc) and make the gears to work together in order to keep vehicle moving efficiently is called Power Train Control Module, abbreviated as PCM. If all gears are working properly then you improve the car to better shape but if any one gear [...]
Dave Friedman Collection of Auto Racing Photos Now Available on Flckr
By Brian Wilson, Benson Ford Reseach Center, The Henry Ford
In 2009, The Henry Ford acquired the collection of well-known photographer Dave Friedman. The collection documents over 60 years of automobile races and racecars across a wide variety of race types including Formula 1, Sports cars, Trans-Am, Can-Am and stock cars.
Now, over 10,000 images from the collection are available for viewing on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thehenryford/collections/72157628488413505/
So far we have posted images from races at iconic tracks like Laguna Seca, Riverside, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Indianapolis and Bridgehampton. We also have some of the early races at Pomona, Nassau, and even Dodger Stadium.
All the cars that defined international automobile racing are here too: Cobra, Lola, Ferrari, Porsche, Corvette, McLaren, Ford GT, Mustang and more.
Be sure to visit the site and then check back often as we add more images from this great collection.
Courtesy of the Benson Ford Research Center, The Henry Ford
In 2009, The Henry Ford acquired the collection of well-known photographer Dave Friedman. The collection documents over 60 years of automobile races and racecars across a wide variety of race types including Formula 1, Sports cars, Trans-Am, Can-Am and stock cars.
Now, over 10,000 images from the collection are available for viewing on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thehenryford/collections/72157628488413505/
So far we have posted images from races at iconic tracks like Laguna Seca, Riverside, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Indianapolis and Bridgehampton. We also have some of the early races at Pomona, Nassau, and even Dodger Stadium.
All the cars that defined international automobile racing are here too: Cobra, Lola, Ferrari, Porsche, Corvette, McLaren, Ford GT, Mustang and more.
Be sure to visit the site and then check back often as we add more images from this great collection.
Courtesy of the Benson Ford Research Center, The Henry Ford
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Paul Stefansky?s Boss Hoss Mustang Funny Car
The Boss Hoss was Paul Stefansky's entry for the 1968 drag racing season. The rare notchback Mustang funny car relied on an injected
Ford SOHC for power.
Ford SOHC for power.
Hobart Brothers Welding Tips Poster
Hobart Brothers offers the cure to common stick welding troubles. The poster illustrates common weld defects, their causes and solutions and is available free of charge in Spanish and English.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
FORD JUNIOR TEAM FINLAND GOING TO SUCCEED IN BRC SERIES
The international rally season 2012 has already begun but the British Rally Championship series will not start until next weekend. Finnish drivers have always been successful in the British rallies and there is plenty of interest for the upcoming season too. A totally new rally team, Ford Junior Team Finland, is coming to BRC with [...]
Would Qualifying Heat Races Work For NASCAR?
It’s floating around the web today that IndyCar’s first year race director Beaux Barfield is planning on using qualifying heats to set the field at Iowa this season. The plan, revealed to the Associated Press, is to test the format for possible full time use in 2013. The proposed procedure will include three 30 lap [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Well Played Hendrick?
**I know I’m a couple of days late on this, but I wanted to weigh in with a little post-mortem on the deal. It was announced on Monday HendrickCars.com would provide various forms of sponsorship for three teams at the Daytona 500, one at the March race at Bristol and one for July’s Coke Zero [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
RIDETECH: Streetrod Design Contest Winner
First place goes to Gary Drayton The votes have been tallied and it turned out to be a close competition for this year’s Ridetech Streetrod Design Contest.� There were over a 1,000 votes in total! Even though all of the 60 designs were ridiculously good this year, only one person could win the $500 dollar [...]
Friday, February 17, 2012
The 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona is Shaping Up to be a Classic
By Larry Edsall
Later this month, they?ll stage the round-the-clock sports car race at Daytona International Speedway for the 50th* time. (I?ll explain the asterisk in a minute.)
Fifty years of anything is a significant milestone, and this event should be absolutely amazing, if not for the competition on the track but because the organizers are turning the race weekend into a reunion for former winning cars and their surviving drivers.
Last I heard (which was around the middle of December), only three former winning cars had yet to be found -- the Ferrari 312PB Mario Andretti ad Jacky Ickx drove in 1972, the Interscope Porsche that Hurley Haywood, Danny Ongais and Ted Field drove to victory in 1979, and the Ferrari 333SP in which Gianpiero Moretti, Arie Luyendyk, Mauro Baldi and Dider Theys won in 1998.
If you can?t wait or if you won?t be in Daytona for the race and reunion, you can see a photographic display of the winning cars on the speedway?s website:
http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Vanity-Pages/50th-Rolex-24/50-Years-of-Champions-Display.aspx
If you look at that pictorial display, you might be surprised to see that Dan Gurney won the first race in 1962 driving solo in a Lotus-Climax 19B. How could that be? It could be because the first race lasted only three hours. Back then, it was the Daytona Continental, not the Rolex 24, and Gurney, driving for Frank Arciero, was one of several soloists in the race. Others included Jim Hall, who finished third in his Chaparral, and Stirling Moss, who came fourth in a NART Ferrari 250 GT.
Top team making a driver change was another NART entry, a Dino 246SP driven by Phil Hill and Ricardo Rodriguez.
By the way, NASCAR star Fireball Roberts was 12th in yet another NART Ferrari. Indy star Rodger Ward was 27th in a Pontiac Tempest.
That?s right, a Pontiac Tempest, one of four entered in that inaugural event. Oh, and Ward?s performance was good for second place in the GT4 class, which was on by Walt Hansgen in Briggs Cunningham?s Jaguar XK-E.
In 1964, the Daytona race went from three hours to 2,000 kilometers -- a distance Hill and Rodriguez covered in 12 hours, 40 minutes, 24.8 seconds in a Ferrari 250 GTO.
It wasn?t until 1966 that the format expanded to 24 hours -- Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby leading a 1-2-3 sweep by Ford GT40 Mk IIs.
The format has remained 24 hours, well, except for 1972, when it was shortened to six hours because of the fuel crisis, and in 1974, when it was canceled for the same reason.
Sanctioning bodies and eligible vehicles -- production-based vs. made-for-racing prototypes -- have changed through the years. But the challenge of racing full bore for twenty four remains daunting, for the teams, the drivers, the cars, and, yes, even for the spectators.
Larry is a noted author, car enthusiast and editor. You can read more of him at www.izoom.com.
Check out footage of defending Grand Am Rolex Champion Scott Pruett doing a lap at Daytona:
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xlAF-xkjyzA
Later this month, they?ll stage the round-the-clock sports car race at Daytona International Speedway for the 50th* time. (I?ll explain the asterisk in a minute.)
Fifty years of anything is a significant milestone, and this event should be absolutely amazing, if not for the competition on the track but because the organizers are turning the race weekend into a reunion for former winning cars and their surviving drivers.
Last I heard (which was around the middle of December), only three former winning cars had yet to be found -- the Ferrari 312PB Mario Andretti ad Jacky Ickx drove in 1972, the Interscope Porsche that Hurley Haywood, Danny Ongais and Ted Field drove to victory in 1979, and the Ferrari 333SP in which Gianpiero Moretti, Arie Luyendyk, Mauro Baldi and Dider Theys won in 1998.
If you can?t wait or if you won?t be in Daytona for the race and reunion, you can see a photographic display of the winning cars on the speedway?s website:
http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Vanity-Pages/50th-Rolex-24/50-Years-of-Champions-Display.aspx
If you look at that pictorial display, you might be surprised to see that Dan Gurney won the first race in 1962 driving solo in a Lotus-Climax 19B. How could that be? It could be because the first race lasted only three hours. Back then, it was the Daytona Continental, not the Rolex 24, and Gurney, driving for Frank Arciero, was one of several soloists in the race. Others included Jim Hall, who finished third in his Chaparral, and Stirling Moss, who came fourth in a NART Ferrari 250 GT.
Top team making a driver change was another NART entry, a Dino 246SP driven by Phil Hill and Ricardo Rodriguez.
By the way, NASCAR star Fireball Roberts was 12th in yet another NART Ferrari. Indy star Rodger Ward was 27th in a Pontiac Tempest.
That?s right, a Pontiac Tempest, one of four entered in that inaugural event. Oh, and Ward?s performance was good for second place in the GT4 class, which was on by Walt Hansgen in Briggs Cunningham?s Jaguar XK-E.
In 1964, the Daytona race went from three hours to 2,000 kilometers -- a distance Hill and Rodriguez covered in 12 hours, 40 minutes, 24.8 seconds in a Ferrari 250 GTO.
It wasn?t until 1966 that the format expanded to 24 hours -- Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby leading a 1-2-3 sweep by Ford GT40 Mk IIs.
The format has remained 24 hours, well, except for 1972, when it was shortened to six hours because of the fuel crisis, and in 1974, when it was canceled for the same reason.
Sanctioning bodies and eligible vehicles -- production-based vs. made-for-racing prototypes -- have changed through the years. But the challenge of racing full bore for twenty four remains daunting, for the teams, the drivers, the cars, and, yes, even for the spectators.
Larry is a noted author, car enthusiast and editor. You can read more of him at www.izoom.com.
Check out footage of defending Grand Am Rolex Champion Scott Pruett doing a lap at Daytona:
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xlAF-xkjyzA
Richard Petty's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Hard to believe it's been 50 years since Richard Petty made his first start racing in NASCAR, in what was then the Grand National division (later to become Winston Cup)...
Thursday, February 16, 2012
F1 Drivers Anticipate Racing at Circuit of The Americas
Here are some actual impressions from current F1 drivers, anticipating the Austin USGP F1 race this coming November 18th, 2012.� It’s going to happen – in our back yard! Mark Webber: “The track looks awesome.� It is a little bit old school, which is good because there are some sharp turns.” Mexico’s Sergio Peres: “I’m [...]
Build Update >>> Travis Clark
ISIS Performance Canadian Driver, Travis Clark, had a successful DMCC Round 1 outing with his convertible S13. After qualifying 12th at DMCC Round 1 in Calgary, Alberta, Clark competed in Top 16 tandem at the first event of the season. Clark’s S13 is equipped with a variety of ISIS Performance products including:
ISIS Stainless Steel Downpipe
ISIS [...]
ISIS Stainless Steel Downpipe
ISIS [...]
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Engine Compression Check Made Easy
Keep tabs on your engine's compression ratio and performance with this cool new compression tester from Katech Performance...
Patrick Goodin Getting ready for Formula D Irwindale!
Prepping for Formula D Round 7 Pro-am All Star Event.
Patrick Goodin, Florida Native, has been on a long road to get to this point in his driving career. After 3 years of going through the ranks of the pro-am circuit he finally managed to grab a license.
Competing in, and winning the Streetwise Drift Pro-am Championship
Patrick Goodin, Florida Native, has been on a long road to get to this point in his driving career. After 3 years of going through the ranks of the pro-am circuit he finally managed to grab a license.
Competing in, and winning the Streetwise Drift Pro-am Championship
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Connie Kalitta?s SOHC Ford Bounty Hunter Top Fuel Dragster
Connie Kalitta had his Ford SOHC Top Fuel car on display at the 1968 Autorama. It’s amazing how simple this rig looks. Slingshot dragster chassis, with a minimum of body work and a huge Ford V-8 mounted in front of the driver. This isn’t some cut-away display car, it is the complete dragster, ready to [...]
Richard Petty's Driver Search is On
If you are an aspiring racer looking to develop your skills and advance your career, Richard Petty’s Driver Search is the program for you.
How To Inspire Motorsports Passion in Youth
Today on AutoWeek.com, I found this “feel good” video of a boy & his Dad BOTH enjoying the thrill of a Porsche 911′s acceleration.� I’d say that if you want your children to enjoy the rewards of driving cars as they were meant to be used (not as appliances), this type of sharing would be [...]
Cover of the Week: February 1972
It was 40 years ago this month that HOT ROD put John Wiebe, Don Prudhomme, Ed Donovan and Don Garlits on the cover to show off the new drag racing Hemi Donovan had designed to take the 392 Hemi architecture to new levels. The block featured cast, chrome-moly steel wet sleeves and a massive one-piece [...]
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Richard Petty's Driver Search is On
If you are an aspiring racer looking to develop your skills and advance your career, Richard Petty’s Driver Search is the program for you.
We Dig this Tool Cart from The Garage Journal
The Garage Journal, a sister site to the Jalopy Journal and the Jockey Journal, is a blog and forum all about, well, garages, and everything you might fill them with. It’s a great resource for information on both mechanic and woodworking tools, and this photo from their site was too cool not to share. We [...]
Voltage Regulators In Vehicles
The gears that regulate the steady voltage output are known as Voltage Regulators. Steady voltage outputs cannot be maintained by electronic gears as they are manufactured to recognize low maximum voltage and on giving high voltage they can be dented. Low voltage can also not be able to give sufficient power for the gears. This [...]
2012 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, based at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Florida, has announced this year’s inductees.� The Class of 2012 honorees include: Bob Brandt John Mazmanian* Don Moody Ray Motes Kuhl & Olson Ed Schartman (*) Deceased The popular West Coast race promoter/marketer, Bill Doner, will [...]
Saturday, February 11, 2012
A Brief About ECU
The electrical system is collection of different subsystems that help you automobile run more smoothly and efficiently. This system is also controlled by excellent device in your automobile, which also takes care of other systems in automobiles, known as engine control unit, or ECU. An ECU is a device that finds out amount of fuel, [...]
Pfaff teases ?Imperial Speedster? book
Featured in Hot Rod Magazine, Murray Pfaffs Imperial Speedster has been an smashing hit with journalists and automotive�aficionados from�all over the world. Now after all the work has been completed and the final chapter is written in its life Murray has completed the ultimate in�homage�to his greatest creation…to date. The publication date is still under [...]
Friday, February 10, 2012
New Backpack Cooler Keeps Cold-Ones Close By
An innovative backpack cooler from TrackPack chills and dispenses 20 beverage cans with the flick of a wrist, complies with most public venues and tracks and is easy for one person to carry. Drink up!
Video: OK Go & Chevrolet Sonic Team Up For Super Bowl Ad
Every time we post anything about a FWD car, we feel the need to justify the “why”. Well there are two reasons for posting this full version of Chevrolet’s latest Super Bowl commercial. First of all, we can’t even imagine how much work went into pulling this off and how many takes it took. Second, [...]
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Hagerty Puts Buick Regal GS on the ?2012 Hot List?
We found this release on Buick’s media site: “Hagerty Insurance, the classic car insurance firm, placed the Regal GS on its ?2012 Hot List? for mass-market vehicles with a suggested retail price below $100,000. The company thinks the Regal GS will be a future collectible. . . Following the announcement of the 2012 Hot List, [...]
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
What Was Your NASCAR Best and Worst from 2011?
It was a wild season that began with 20-year-old Trevor Bayne winning the Daytona 500 and ended with a wild race that made series veteran Tony Stewart the first Cup Series Champion not named Jimmie Johnson since 2005. In the mean time: we saw 19 different winners, including five different first time winners; Kyle Busch [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
We Dig this Tool Cart from The Garage Journal
The Garage Journal, a sister site to the Jalopy Journal and the Jockey Journal, is a blog and forum all about, well, garages, and everything you might fill them with. It’s a great resource for information on both mechanic and woodworking tools, and this photo from their site was too cool not to share. We [...]
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Merry Christmas To All
Cross Posted from Rev’Jim’s RantsnRaves Santa didn’t forget We almost let Christmas slip by without offering a wish list for some of our favorite drivers, teams, and NASCAR personalities. I’m not going to let that happen. Silly season never really ended. Bobby Labonte was released from Petty Enterprises even after avowing his loyalty to that [...]
"Racing Dreams": New PBS Documentary Film Highlights Three Young Racers
By Larry Edsall
?When you are 11 or 12, your whole life is filled with people telling you what to do,? says 11-year-old Annabeth Barnes. ?But when you?re racing you make your own decisions... You?re totally independent.?
Barnes races go-karts. She is one of three young racers featured in ?Racing Dreams,? a documentary film to be broadcast nationally February 23 on PBS?s POV (Point of View) series.
If you can?t catch that Thursday broadcast, the movie will be streamed from February 24-March 24 on the www.pbs.org/pov/racingdreams website.
?Racing Dreams? won the best documentary feature award at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City and director and producer Marshall Curry has been nominated for the documentary feature Oscar for ?If a Tree Falls,? which last year took honors at the Sundance Film Festival.
?Racing Dreams,? I?m told, has been described as ?Talladega Nights meets Catcher in the Rye? and it follows Barnes, Josh Hobson and Brandon Warren as they compete in the World Karting Association?s Pavement Series, racing an inch off the pavement at speeds up to 70 miles per hour, racing toward what they see as the ultimate dream -- NASCAR.
But they also are learning the line between dream and nightmare can be faint.
Barnes is from Hiddenite, North Carolina. She?s also from a family that?s been racing ?since back in the moonshine days,? she says. While she likes the independence she feels on the track, she admits the travel and time away from a ?regular? teenager?s life can be stressful.
Hobson, 12, is from Flint, Michigan. The film highlights not only his racing, but what it costs his family to keep those wheels beneath him.
Warren, 13, is from Creedmoor, North Carolina, and admits ?If I?m not racing, I?m not happy,? in part because of his parents? problems. Warren, who lives with his grandparents, also has problems, especially with his temper.
?As the tour unfolds,? the POV press release reads, ?the three young racers step from the sheltered world of childhood into adolescence -- discovering romance for the first time, questioning their relationships with their parents and glimpsing the serious obstacles that will threaten their ability to achieve their dreams.?
Curry says that while the move?s theme is motorsports, ?it?s really as much a story about adolescence and that amazing chapter of our lives as it is a story about going fast.?
This year marks the 25th anniversary for PBS?s POV series, which is American television?s longest-running independent documentary film series.
Read more of Larry at www.izoom.com.
?When you are 11 or 12, your whole life is filled with people telling you what to do,? says 11-year-old Annabeth Barnes. ?But when you?re racing you make your own decisions... You?re totally independent.?
Barnes races go-karts. She is one of three young racers featured in ?Racing Dreams,? a documentary film to be broadcast nationally February 23 on PBS?s POV (Point of View) series.
If you can?t catch that Thursday broadcast, the movie will be streamed from February 24-March 24 on the www.pbs.org/pov/racingdreams website.
?Racing Dreams? won the best documentary feature award at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City and director and producer Marshall Curry has been nominated for the documentary feature Oscar for ?If a Tree Falls,? which last year took honors at the Sundance Film Festival.
?Racing Dreams,? I?m told, has been described as ?Talladega Nights meets Catcher in the Rye? and it follows Barnes, Josh Hobson and Brandon Warren as they compete in the World Karting Association?s Pavement Series, racing an inch off the pavement at speeds up to 70 miles per hour, racing toward what they see as the ultimate dream -- NASCAR.
But they also are learning the line between dream and nightmare can be faint.
Barnes is from Hiddenite, North Carolina. She?s also from a family that?s been racing ?since back in the moonshine days,? she says. While she likes the independence she feels on the track, she admits the travel and time away from a ?regular? teenager?s life can be stressful.
Hobson, 12, is from Flint, Michigan. The film highlights not only his racing, but what it costs his family to keep those wheels beneath him.
Warren, 13, is from Creedmoor, North Carolina, and admits ?If I?m not racing, I?m not happy,? in part because of his parents? problems. Warren, who lives with his grandparents, also has problems, especially with his temper.
?As the tour unfolds,? the POV press release reads, ?the three young racers step from the sheltered world of childhood into adolescence -- discovering romance for the first time, questioning their relationships with their parents and glimpsing the serious obstacles that will threaten their ability to achieve their dreams.?
Curry says that while the move?s theme is motorsports, ?it?s really as much a story about adolescence and that amazing chapter of our lives as it is a story about going fast.?
This year marks the 25th anniversary for PBS?s POV series, which is American television?s longest-running independent documentary film series.
Read more of Larry at www.izoom.com.
The Ultimate Car Enthusiasts Driving Gift, Anytime!
I just saw this unique Groupon offer come through my Inbox.� It is based in Austin, TX, but would be worth driving some distance for this offer. Lone Star Exotic Rentals ? Multiple Locations Exotic-Car Outing or Test-Driving Experience (Half Off) In a Nutshell Flashy sports cars such as Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, Corvettes & [...]
Monday, February 6, 2012
A Turbulent Start to the NASCAR Off-Season
We’re just a week into the NASCAR off-season and the changes are coming fast and heavy. Layoffs Around The shoe hasn’t dropped everywhere just yet, but so far Roush Fenway has undertaken a massive layoff that we’ve heard was as many as 125 employees. This included many long-time Roush employees. What’s loyalty worth in this [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
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Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
HOT ROD Classifieds, Circa 1972
We found these ads in the back of the February 1972 issue of HOT ROD. You don’t have to be in the market for a classic cart to realize how cheap these prices look today. If you are shopping for a car, we warn you, these ads made us mopey for most of the afternoon.
HOT ROD Classifieds, Circa 1972
We found these ads in the back of the February 1972 issue of HOT ROD. You don’t have to be in the market for a classic cart to realize how cheap these prices look today. If you are shopping for a car, we warn you, these ads made us mopey for most of the afternoon.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Can't Compare Johnson's Three to Cale Yarborough's Three
So Jimmy Johnson won his third championship in a row yesterday. Good for him. But it can't be considered the same as when Yarborough did it in the '70s. Keep with me after the jump for more...
HRML: Shot in a million?or at least 2276
Because that’s how many shots I took with my new toy – that being a Nikon camera – and I finally�found this great shot buried in a sub-folder of one of my down and dirty card swaps and I thought to myself I have got to share these. The DIY Pavilion that housed Hot Rod [...]
Saturday, February 4, 2012
New HOT ROD iPad App Available
HOT ROD’s newest project is the Then & Now iPad app that includes a treasure trove of vintage photos including all of the covers of the magazine over the course of its 64 years in print. The app will be updated with archive photos, sneak peeks at future features, and video from Freiburger and Finnegan’s [...]
Tony Stewart Misses Out Again
Once again Mother Nature conspired to keep Tony Stewart out of victory lane...
Opportunities Abound For New Teams In 2012
The last several NASCAR offseasons have all shared an unsettling common theme: contraction. 2011 was no different. In the Cup Series alone, we lost both Red Bull cars, a team from both Childress and Roush Fenway, and the privateer TRG Motorsports. And there were several more losses from the Nationwide and Truck Series. For those [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Martinsville Qualifying Rained Out
Sorry if I havn’t been on here in a while, I’ve been a bust little kitten! Martinsville qualifying got rained out last Friday, so everyone at this point knows the drill after all that mess goes down. The starting grid goes in order by points. Surprise, surprise! Why don? we just serve Jimmie Johnson his [...]
Another Mustang Funny Car Mystery
Who built the notch-back Mustang funny car that appeared briefly at North Brother's Ford in 1967? What happened to it? Help solve a 44 year mystery.
Dallara?s Big Blunder?
By John Oreovicz
It?s fair to say that the 2012 Dallara DW12 Indy car has been a disappointment in every way so far.
Many fans were aghast when they first saw the car, with its bulbous sidepods that almost completely envelop the rear wheels.
The car has also failed to live up to expectations on oval tracks, where it has lacked stability and speed.
The problems are fundamental: an extreme rear weight bias and mysterious amounts of drag that aren?t showing up in computer modeling and 50-percent scale wind tunnel testing.
The DW12 was named after the late Dan Wheldon, who handled the initial shakedown tests of Italian racecar manufacturer Dallara Automobili?s first new Indy car design since 2003. But Wheldon was too diplomatic, too much of a party-line kind of guy, so he never played up the car?s obvious shortcomings.
On their first experience in the DW12, the car scared the likes of Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan while resolutely refusing to top 216 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Following another round of testing at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., Scott Dixon gave the most honest assessment of the car to date, calling it ?a bit of a pig? with an even more pronounced pendulum handling effect than the current Dallara IR03, which is already a tail-heavy car. The numbers don?t lie; the DW12 has a weight distribution of 41 percent front, 59 percent rear, as compared to the IR03?s 45/55.
The car?s handling got better during the most recent round of testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but the improvement came from an extreme measure: Placing 26 pounds of lead ballast in the nose of the car to balance out the weight distribution.
After initially blaming suppliers for suspension and gearbox components that didn?t meet target weight goals, Dallara is reacting to the crisis. Revised suspension geometry will help shift the weight forward, and a completely new oval track aero package (floor, sidepods, wings) is under development.
This update was not be available when the initial batch of cars were delivered to teams on December 15, but the pressure is not as great as it could be because the first oval activity of the 2012 season won?t happen until the month of May at Indianapolis. Still, the oval package will essentially be starting at ground zero when testing resumes in the spring.
This late redesign represents an opportunity for Dallara and INDYCAR to overcome the universally negative reaction to the DW12?s appearance. A poll of more than 6,000 fans at AutoRacing1.com resulted in 98 percent expressing dissatisfaction with the look of the car, especially the bulbous sidepods.
How could Dallara have gotten it so wrong? There are a number of factors. For starters, it?s been nine years since Dallara created a new Indy car chassis, and the IR03 was in many ways an update of the company?s 2000 car, albeit with a major change in front suspension philosophy. The key is that since 2003, development of the IR03 was almost exclusively handled by the teams, with little or no factory involvement. As such, Dallara was already somewhat out of touch with its own most recent design.
Dallara had an extremely tight box to work in, courtesy of the requirements made by INDYCAR?s ICONIC Committee. Most of those mandates were made in the interest of safety even before Wheldon?s death at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (in a Dallara IR03) on October 16, but it appears some of them - chiefly, the wider floor and sidepods that extend all the way to the outer edge of the rear tires and the rear bumper pods mounted behind the rear wheels - are contributing to the car?s greater than anticipated drag and high-speed instability on ovals.
INDYCAR 2012 car project director Will Phillips strongly defends the car, even when pressed about it?s awkward appearance. With so much of the DW12?s basic packaging dictated by safety, aesthetics clearly took a back seat.
It looks like one of those tank-like ?safety cars? from the ?70s.
?Everyone?s got an opinion,? Phillips said.
In fairness, Phillips inherited the DW12 project when it was too far down the line to dictate any significant changes. The thrust has been to prevent cars from getting up in the air - not only like at Las Vegas, where four cars took flight in the 15-car accident that killed Wheldon - but on at least half a dozen other occasions since 2003.
?Once it leaves the ground, it?s no longer a car - it?s no longer got its wheels in contact with the ground,? Phillips said. ?It?s a serious challenge to try and make it a car and an airplane. You just can?t do it. Anything we can do to prevent a vehicle from leaving the ground would be of benefit.?
The worrying thing is that INDYCAR quietly admits it doesn?t know why the DW12 is not working the way the computer simulations say it is supposed to. The 50-percent wind tunnel model was re-tested in a known tunnel, and the results backed up Dallara?s initial numbers. The next step is to take a full-size IR03 and a DW12 to a 100-percent tunnel and compare the results using real cars.
The good news is that the drivers have been generally positive about the DW12 in road racing trim and the car is reportedly already slightly faster than the outgoing car, which admittedly was originally designed exclusively for oval competition.
The Dallara DW12 is not the first bad Indy car, and it certainly won?t be the last. Off the top of my head, I can think of the 1972 Parnelli dihedral car, the ?86-87 Penske PC15 and PC16, the March 88C and the ?97 Lola. The Parnelli and the Lola were eventually turned into race winning designs.
Of course those cars were not being used by the full field in spec-car fashion?
It?s a bit disheartening that INDYCAR had nine years to come up with a new car and managed to legislate itself a dud, a car that?s both ugly and slow. But the DW12 can and will be fixed - even if it means running 25 pounds of lead weight in the nose.
John Oreovicz is a veteran writer and observer of Indy car racing, and his work can be seen on ESPN.com and other publications.
It?s fair to say that the 2012 Dallara DW12 Indy car has been a disappointment in every way so far.
Many fans were aghast when they first saw the car, with its bulbous sidepods that almost completely envelop the rear wheels.
The car has also failed to live up to expectations on oval tracks, where it has lacked stability and speed.
The problems are fundamental: an extreme rear weight bias and mysterious amounts of drag that aren?t showing up in computer modeling and 50-percent scale wind tunnel testing.
The DW12 was named after the late Dan Wheldon, who handled the initial shakedown tests of Italian racecar manufacturer Dallara Automobili?s first new Indy car design since 2003. But Wheldon was too diplomatic, too much of a party-line kind of guy, so he never played up the car?s obvious shortcomings.
On their first experience in the DW12, the car scared the likes of Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan while resolutely refusing to top 216 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Following another round of testing at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., Scott Dixon gave the most honest assessment of the car to date, calling it ?a bit of a pig? with an even more pronounced pendulum handling effect than the current Dallara IR03, which is already a tail-heavy car. The numbers don?t lie; the DW12 has a weight distribution of 41 percent front, 59 percent rear, as compared to the IR03?s 45/55.
The car?s handling got better during the most recent round of testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but the improvement came from an extreme measure: Placing 26 pounds of lead ballast in the nose of the car to balance out the weight distribution.
After initially blaming suppliers for suspension and gearbox components that didn?t meet target weight goals, Dallara is reacting to the crisis. Revised suspension geometry will help shift the weight forward, and a completely new oval track aero package (floor, sidepods, wings) is under development.
This update was not be available when the initial batch of cars were delivered to teams on December 15, but the pressure is not as great as it could be because the first oval activity of the 2012 season won?t happen until the month of May at Indianapolis. Still, the oval package will essentially be starting at ground zero when testing resumes in the spring.
This late redesign represents an opportunity for Dallara and INDYCAR to overcome the universally negative reaction to the DW12?s appearance. A poll of more than 6,000 fans at AutoRacing1.com resulted in 98 percent expressing dissatisfaction with the look of the car, especially the bulbous sidepods.
How could Dallara have gotten it so wrong? There are a number of factors. For starters, it?s been nine years since Dallara created a new Indy car chassis, and the IR03 was in many ways an update of the company?s 2000 car, albeit with a major change in front suspension philosophy. The key is that since 2003, development of the IR03 was almost exclusively handled by the teams, with little or no factory involvement. As such, Dallara was already somewhat out of touch with its own most recent design.
Dallara had an extremely tight box to work in, courtesy of the requirements made by INDYCAR?s ICONIC Committee. Most of those mandates were made in the interest of safety even before Wheldon?s death at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (in a Dallara IR03) on October 16, but it appears some of them - chiefly, the wider floor and sidepods that extend all the way to the outer edge of the rear tires and the rear bumper pods mounted behind the rear wheels - are contributing to the car?s greater than anticipated drag and high-speed instability on ovals.
INDYCAR 2012 car project director Will Phillips strongly defends the car, even when pressed about it?s awkward appearance. With so much of the DW12?s basic packaging dictated by safety, aesthetics clearly took a back seat.
It looks like one of those tank-like ?safety cars? from the ?70s.
?Everyone?s got an opinion,? Phillips said.
In fairness, Phillips inherited the DW12 project when it was too far down the line to dictate any significant changes. The thrust has been to prevent cars from getting up in the air - not only like at Las Vegas, where four cars took flight in the 15-car accident that killed Wheldon - but on at least half a dozen other occasions since 2003.
?Once it leaves the ground, it?s no longer a car - it?s no longer got its wheels in contact with the ground,? Phillips said. ?It?s a serious challenge to try and make it a car and an airplane. You just can?t do it. Anything we can do to prevent a vehicle from leaving the ground would be of benefit.?
The worrying thing is that INDYCAR quietly admits it doesn?t know why the DW12 is not working the way the computer simulations say it is supposed to. The 50-percent wind tunnel model was re-tested in a known tunnel, and the results backed up Dallara?s initial numbers. The next step is to take a full-size IR03 and a DW12 to a 100-percent tunnel and compare the results using real cars.
The good news is that the drivers have been generally positive about the DW12 in road racing trim and the car is reportedly already slightly faster than the outgoing car, which admittedly was originally designed exclusively for oval competition.
The Dallara DW12 is not the first bad Indy car, and it certainly won?t be the last. Off the top of my head, I can think of the 1972 Parnelli dihedral car, the ?86-87 Penske PC15 and PC16, the March 88C and the ?97 Lola. The Parnelli and the Lola were eventually turned into race winning designs.
Of course those cars were not being used by the full field in spec-car fashion?
It?s a bit disheartening that INDYCAR had nine years to come up with a new car and managed to legislate itself a dud, a car that?s both ugly and slow. But the DW12 can and will be fixed - even if it means running 25 pounds of lead weight in the nose.
John Oreovicz is a veteran writer and observer of Indy car racing, and his work can be seen on ESPN.com and other publications.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
New Hampshire Weekend Review
There is never any way, in the US at least, Formula One is going to steal NASCAR’s thunder. The racing world was amazed as 21 year old Sebastion Vettel became the youngest driver ever to win a points Grand Prix race in the history of that series. He did it at Monza in Italy, driving [...]
A Brief About ECU
The electrical system is collection of different subsystems that help you automobile run more smoothly and efficiently. This system is also controlled by excellent device in your automobile, which also takes care of other systems in automobiles, known as engine control unit, or ECU. An ECU is a device that finds out amount of fuel, [...]
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
NASCAR?s 2008 ?Regular Season? Ends
Cross posted from Rev’ Jim’s RantsnRaves: NASCAR’s regular season for 2008 ended with a great shootout between two of the best drivers in the sport. The entire season had its share of similar exciting moments, as well as some huge disappointments. Dodge started out on a high note, with the Penske and Gillett-Evernham teams making [...]
Video: Roadkill, HOT ROD?s New Web Show
Freiburger and Finnegan have been driving all across the country to film episodes of the new HOT ROD show that will be on Motor Trend’s Youtube channel. Check out the teaser below, and on February 17th, visit the Motor Trend channel for the first full episode. [Youtube _1wx80EIPqY]
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