[simple simon]

CONCORD, N.C. -- Did you know NASCAR will pay for the rear wings used on the new Car of Tomorrow, then distribute them at the track and collect them after each race?


Did you know the COT, which is two inches taller and four inches wider than the current car, will fit inside the current haulers?


Did you know the inspection process at the track should be faster with the COT because of nine radio frequency IDs that will be installed on each chassis, allowing inspectors to verify its legitimacy electronically instead of manually?


Did you know the restrictor plate as we know it at Daytona and Talladega likely will become obsolete with the design of the COT engine package?


Did you know the COT looks more like the car on the street than the one currently on the track because the angles of the windows and headlights aren't nearly as severe?


If you listened to a lot of crew chiefs and drivers over the past few months, you probably didn't.


So many rumors have been started about the COT that Mike Fisher, the new managing director of NASCAR's Research and Development Center, came up with a name for them.


"Urban legends," he said on a recent tour of the inspection process.

ESPN.com - Newton: Carping about the Car of Tomorrow will subside

[simple simon]

i think the COT is a good thing

i spent years and years and years listening to Ford complain the Chevys had an unfair advantage, and vice versa.......now that should all be a thing of the past

i would think more fans would be happy about the change.....this should be more about driver ability then ever before

[Bob Tanner]

Re: Both of your post, Simon:

You, and a lot of others like the NA$CARmobile (I believe that, as of Jan 1st, the pseudonym "COT" is not longer accurate; I believe it's now the "CON;" "Car of Now.") Personally I, and I believe a lot of others don't. That's what makes a horserace. Intelligent people can always agree to disagree.

Whether the NA$CARmobile will reduce the aero problems everyone seems to hate and whether it will make racing more exciting is a matter of conjecture. The entire thing is still unproven and nothing will be clearly defined until they use it in competition multiple times.

I have nothing against the car itself; I'm a guy and I just kind of naturally like anything with wheels. Speaking only for myself, what I fine distasteful is the concept of a NA$CAR-designed car racing in a Series which was originally stock, NOT prototype. If I wanted to watch specially-designed technological marvels race, I'd watch F1.

Originally Posted by simple simon

CONCORD, N.C. -- Did you know NASCAR will pay for the rear wings used on the new Car of Tomorrow, then distribute them at the track and collect them after each race?

No, I didn't, but nopw that you mention it, NA$CAR already does this type of thing with four races. They call it restrictor plates.

Originally Posted by simple simon

Did you know the COT, which is two inches taller and four inches wider than the current car, will fit inside the current haulers?

I'd heard that. Well, this is a plus. Now they won't have to redesign the haulers, too. NA$CAR'd try to do that also buyt they're probably too busy trying to sell the idea of the NA$CARmobile

Originally Posted by simple simon

Did you know the inspection process at the track should be faster with the COT because of nine radio frequency IDs that will be installed on each chassis, allowing inspectors to verify its legitimacy electronically instead of manually?]

No, but I like the idea but doubt its validity. I'll plead ignorance on this one but will definately do some studying.

Originally Posted by simple simon

Did you know the restrictor plate as we know it at Daytona and Talladega likely will become obsolete with the design of the COT engine package?]

Nope but I believe that it's wishful thinking. I believe the key word above is "likely." However, IF the body is aerodynamically a brick and IF NA$CAR choses, they might rip out the plates and reduce air intake to the carb, as they do in the CTS, and not to the manifold, as they do in Cup and Cup Lite now. However, I'd have to see NA$CAR actually make the change before I'll beloieve it. The demographic they are trying to appeal to now loves the plate races because they regularly cause "The BIG One." The BIG one sells tickets, unfortunately

Originally Posted by simple simon

Did you know the COT looks more like the car on the street than the one currently on the track because the angles of the windows and headlights aren't nearly as severe?]

WOW!!! My wife, heretofore know as "She Who Must be Obeyed," looks more like Katherine Zeta Jones than I do but guess what? She just ain't Katherine Zeta. (Darn it!)

Originally Posted by simple simon

If you listened to a lot of crew chiefs and drivers over the past few months, you probably didn't.

I confess I've taken some (but not all) of my opinions on the NA$CARmobile from what I've heard various autosports writers, drivers and mechanics say. I can only reply here is that the one's whose response to this thing are people who I have a lot of respect for and I honestly think they know more about the subject than do I.

Originally Posted by simple simon

So many rumors have been started about the COT that Mike Fisher, the new managing director of NASCAR's Research and Development Center, came up with a name for them.
"Urban legends," he said on a recent tour of the inspection process.

It looks to me like the type of thing someone in NASCAR's employ and who is expected to say only nice things about the people who pay his salary, would say. I admire the man's loyalty. However, the entire article is obviously aimed at selling an idea to a skeptical puiblic. Plus, its written by an ESPN hack. Let's see... ESPN has signed to do NASCAR coverage...??? Hmmm...??? I wonder if they'd really want to publish something controversial about NASCAR?

Speaking only for myself, I firmly remain skeptical.

I like my idea of having the teams build bodies which meet a template of a stock vehicle; template supplied by the manufacturer, and verifed as stock by NASCAR. Use a stock 400 CFM 4 bbl carb and use a restrictor place on the air cleaner, not the intake manifold. Finally, have Goodyear, Goodrich, Hoosier, or whomever, supply a racing tire that is no wider than eight or ten inches (The width of a "cheater slick"). With a little bit of adaptation, methinks that'd work, and the cars would look almost exactly like STOCK cars!

[LSC9901]

I'll have to side with Bob on this one. No big surprise there. For me the "CON", AKA NA$CAR-Mobile, is just another IROC. Hopefully I'll be proven wrong but I doubt it. It seems to me that in effect NA$CAR is now saying that race results are now in the hands of the drivers and pit crew. Now that isn't bad but a Ford should be a Ford not a Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Toyota (Chefogea)

I'll save my "I told you so" for a few weeks into the season, but I honestly expect to be able to proudly pronounce it.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I'll have to side with Bob on this one. No big surprise there. For me the "CON", AKA NA$CAR-Mobile, is just another IROC. Hopefully I'll be proven wrong but I doubt it. It seems to me that in effect NA$CAR is now saying that race results are now in the hands of the drivers and pit crew. Now that isn't bad but a Ford should be a Ford not a Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Toyota (Chefogea)

I'll save my "I told you so" for a few weeks into the season, but I honestly expect to be able to proudly pronounce it.

It all started in ...? 1983 or 1985? (I've slept since then) when NASCAR redesigned the Chevie by modifying the sides and widen the rear deck. That went so well (UGH!) that NA$CAR now has a multi-million [re]Design and Research Center in Charlotte where they can tinker and tinker and tinker.

I honestly believe that IF John Deere, Catepillar or even Hoover came to NA$CAR with a design for a grill and rear deck lid and a butt-load of money, NA$CAR"d aloow them to put theior logo, not on the side but where the manufacturer's logo now goes.

But that's not all bad... Look how much enjoyment we'd get to see a Toyota get beat to the flag by a Catepillar!!! <G>

[LSC9901]

When the Yugo makes its way into the series, that may be the day when I call it quits.

[Quality88]

I will only like one and only one thing about the COT/CON/Na$carmobile.... if it happens. If it actually puts mainly back on the driver and not the damn car then I'll like that. We'll see who are good drivers and not some Pretty Boy sitting behind the wheel of a dream machine. If that doesn't happen then screw it.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Quality88

I will only like one and only one thing about the COT/CON/Na$carmobile.... if it happens. If it actually puts mainly back on the driver and not the damn car then I'll like that. We'll see who are good drivers and not some Pretty Boy sitting behind the wheel of a dream machine. If that doesn't happen then screw it.

Playing the Devil's Advocate, Q... Isn't that what the IROC Series does? How successful is that series? I've heard that if they don't come up with a series sponsor soon, they may go Tango Uniform?

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Playing the Devil's Advocate, Q... Isn't that what the IROC Series does? How successful is that series? I've heard that if they don't come up with a series sponsor soon, they may go Tango Uniform?

Touche Bob. On the other hand though... isn't the IROC suppost to be made up of the top drivers in racing where as the Nascar would have the rookies, veterans, legends, joker's and geriatrics?

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Quality88

If it actually puts mainly back on the driver and not the damn car then I'll like that. We'll see who are good drivers and not some Pretty Boy sitting behind the wheel of a dream machine.

see, thats what im hoping for.......i got so sick and tired of hearing the auto makers whine and complain about this one got a change and we didnt


as for my 1st post on this thread......it was all a quote from the link posted....not my personal observations

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by simple simon

see, thats what im hoping for.......i got so sick and tired of hearing the auto makers whine and complain about this one got a change and we didnt

I couldn't agree more, Simon. You play the cards that you're dealt. If you can't do that then get the Hell out of the game!

Originally Posted by simple simon

as for my 1st post on this thread......it was all a quote from the link posted....not my personal observations

Whew!!! <wiping brow> For a second there, old buddy, I thought you'd gone over to The Dark Side! <g>

[LSC9901]

I'm actually in agreement that the driver/team should be the determining factor for the win. What I don't like is how NA$CAR is leveling the playing field. As I said before a Ford should be a Ford. When you make them all the same except for the decal then why even bother with the decal. I know there was talk about spec engines also. When that happens you ultimately remove another piece of the "team" effort. When a team chooses to run a Chevy or Ford then they are taking on the manufactures design (or at least they used to). With the CON they are all the same. Why not just run the race by computer stats and live with the outcome.

GIGO

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I'm actually in agreement that the driver/team should be the determining factor for the win. What I don't like is how NA$CAR is leveling the playing field. As I said before a Ford should be a Ford.

now see i think we are all in agreement here......or atleast can find common ground

come up with a hard fast set of rules before the start of each season......then let the auto makers make their cars following those guidelines....after that you let the season go as it goes......no whining and moaning, no rules changes

if Ford (or whomever) makes a superior racecar by the letter of the law and wins every race then so be it........the rest better do better next year

yeah, i could live with that

[LSC9901]

Yes I agree. Run what ya brung !!!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by simple simon

now see i think we are all in agreement here......or atleast can find common ground

come up with a hard fast set of rules before the start of each season......then let the auto makers make their cars following those guidelines....after that you let the season go as it goes......no whining and moaning, no rules changes

if Ford (or whomever) makes a superior racecar by the letter of the law and wins every race then so be it........the rest better do better next year

yeah, i could live with that

As could I. Get NA$CAR out of the race car [re]design business and return igt to being a sanctioning body ONLY.