[PenelopePitStop]

Ok ... help the seemingly only blonde female member of this forum ...

I haven't done my research on the COT ... I admit that. I get the "splitter" and that wacky spoiler on the backend, but what' up with this "foam"?

From the little I understand, this "foam" is inside the door of the left side of the car to protect the driver. True? Supposedly inflammable. True? Yet, Harvick's car was smoking today, and I guess there was a similar incident last week.

The roof flaps and the Hans device have made racing much safer. "Soft walls" as well. But I'm wondering what all of you experts, who I have come to respect, think of this "foam"?

[Racer Duck]

part of the "safer" design is a 6 inch thick piece of foam between the door skin and the roll cage on both sides of the COT. NA$CAR has the foam spec'd so you can't use any old foam, but only one particular foam.

I agree with DW (heaven help me!), that black smoke that was so prevalent in this race was probably that foam burning!!! wouldn't be the first time a NA$CAR rule was broken (the foam don't care what NA$CAR says, it gets hot - it burns!) only this time it was the spec'd part that was breaking the rules!!!

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

part of the "safer" design is a 6 inch thick piece of foam between the door skin and the roll cage on both sides of the COT. NA$CAR has the foam spec'd so you can't use any old foam, but only one particular foam.

I agree with DW (heaven help me!), that black smoke that was so prevalent in this race was probably that foam burning!!! wouldn't be the first time a NA$CAR rule was broken (the foam don't care what NA$CAR says, it gets hot - it burns!) only this time it was the spec'd part that was breaking the rules!!!

Thanks, RD--

I'm all for safety, no matter what! Fire. Now that's scary.

There are so many changes this year ... it's hard to keep up ...

Do you think NASCAR should take a second look at this foam?

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Thanks, RD--

I'm all for safety, no matter what! Fire. Now that's scary.

There are so many changes this year ... it's hard to keep up ...

Do you think NASCAR should take a second look at this foam?

I think they had it in hand before anybody left the track...

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

part of the "safer" design is a 6 inch thick piece of foam between the door skin and the roll cage on both sides of the COT. NA$CAR has the foam spec'd so you can't use any old foam, but only one particular foam.

I agree with DW (heaven help me!), that black smoke that was so prevalent in this race was probably that foam burning!!! wouldn't be the first time a NA$CAR rule was broken (the foam don't care what NA$CAR says, it gets hot - it burns!) only this time it was the spec'd part that was breaking the rules!!!

Another instance of NA$CAR did not do enough research and development on the mandatory foam. The foam should have been tested with ovens and even torches to see how much heat it could actually stand without having a fire occur.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I think they had it in hand before anybody left the track...

If that's the case, why the trouble since the COT hit the track?

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Tuck4Bama

Another instance of NA$CAR did not do enough research and development on the mandatory foam. The foam should have been tested with ovens and even torches to see how much heat it could actually stand without having a fire occur.

Agreed. Lives are at risk here!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

If that's the case, why the trouble since the COT hit the track?

sorry, should have used more words...

what I meant to convey, and did a miserable job of, was that NA$CAR had the offending foam in their hot, sweaty hands before all the cars stopped rolling and were on their way to verify it was indeed a spec'd part, then find someone to blame for the fire proof claim not being true.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

sorry, should have used more words...

what I meant to convey, and did a miserable job of, was that NA$CAR had the offending foam in their hot, sweaty hands before all the cars stopped rolling and were on their way to verify it was indeed a spec'd part, then find someone to blame for the fire proof claim not being true.

Got it! The "old blame game". They can't go messing with driver's lives like this!

[Racer Duck]

Just saw this on Nascar.com NASCAR.COM - NASCAR's concern over safety foam still burns - Apr 1, 2007

It answers some questions, but .. it's like peeling an onion...

[Pink Nascar Lady]

Here is a burnette racing member to try and help.
According to inside info from a major team owner, the foam being used was not tested at the speeds/rpm/time and distance to determine the melting point. When all of these paramaters were put together, wow there is a major problem with the foam melting.
The temps of the exhaust is a primary cause. When you put hot air in a metal pipe and touch it to another metal pipe it is going to transfer and conduct heat and melt anything that is touching the metal.

They are testing a product as we speak to help fix this problem, before we get to a SuperSpeedway like Talladega where the rpms run much higher for longer periods of time and the temps will be drastically increased.

We sure do not want our drivers health and safety at risk.

Lets go racing!!!

[Bob Tanner]

To add another twist to this matter, the unleaded gas which they now run burns hotter. This, in turn, raised heat in the entire exhaust system. Apparently the new configuration for the exhaust system in the new race car gives the system a higher tendency to crack, which migh allow not only the right door area, but the entire floor to become a rolling toaster oven.

This is the Reader's Digest version of an interveiw I heard this morning with former crew chief Tim Brewer.

Oh well, they've always said that the new race car is a "Work in Progress."

You are correct about the fuel running hotter. I did forget that piece of info as to why the increased temp. in the exhaust. Thanks for adding that.

As you said a work in progress. They will get if fixed, its NASCAR right!

MK

(Posted by Pink NASCAR Lady)

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

As you said a work in progress. They will get if fixed, its NASCAR right!

MK

(Posted by Pink NASCAR Lady)

I'm going to assume that you meant to put a comma between "NASCAR" and "right." Otherwise it looks as thought you might have meant to say "NASCAR's right." Ugh.

As far as them getting it fixed because they're NASCAR... In many cases (not in all) NASCAR reminds me of our government; it never saw a problem it couldn't make worse.

[Donno]

Testing and validation.... I work in the Biotech industry that is highly regulated to the point of strangulation!! That is appropriate, as it is design to protect the public. Yet here we see NASCAR intending to protect the driver, with teams on budgets I could develop therapeutics for common diseases to help mankind!

Who is running their R&D department, I'll tell you now, they would not get employment with me.... there is no such thing as 'simulation' in Biotech, you test to destruction for maximum risk. NASCAR cars hit walls, burst into flames, fly through the air. This should have been pre-empted.... how did they get the exhaust thing so wrong....?

I'm sure they could have got 43 LMSC drivers from the lower ranks to run Bristol behind closed doors just for the fun of it....

testing, testing, testing.... dont mean 'sh*t' unless you add the human factor and the stresses that those drivers place on the cars.

Believe me, I've used computer models that have been very, very wrong!

Does NASCAR have the ' R&D professionals' in charge, or are they believing the crap written on the tin from a vendor that wants to make money...?

Oh boy... in R&D trust nothing but your own in-house validated data!!!

7 years and still have these 'unexpected problems' is totally unacceptable!!

Heads should Roll!