[Bob Tanner]

Does anyone have any recollection of how many times this season there has been an incident where a splitter car a competitor's tire? I have no notes if it but it seems like it is a fairly common occurrence. Possibly it has happened in 75% of the 23 races held?

I admit to not being the brightest light in the harbor but this seems to me like a design problem with the new race car? It kind of reminds me of the chariot race in the movie Ben Hur, if anyone remembers that one.

Couldn't the end edge of the splitter be shortened, or moved inboard 4-5 inches or so? It appears to me as though this is almost becoming a safety issue.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this matter? Other than the talking heads in the booth I have heard no one mention it.

[Quality88]

I was thinkin it happened atleast once a race.

[BooDrow]

There was some talk of putting the valve stems on the inside of the wheels to avoid this. Makes sense to me...but somebody shot it down, said they need to get to them to change tire pressure or some such phooey, they can change the whole tire quicker, and the pressure is always adjusted behind the wall???
I have never seen them add or release pressure on a pit stop.

Has to be something wrong with my thinking..it's just too simple.

[moon]

I've always contended it would be a problem.


COT stands for Cut Off Tires....but they call it a safer car.

[Robertdjr]

Tim Brewer showed what's been happening today on one of his segments during the race. He said one of the problems is a combination of the outer valve stem on the wheel being cut by the sharp edge of the splitter that wraps around the front side of the car, which causes the tire to go flat in a hurry. Seems like they'd find a way to move that valve stem or take the sharp edge off the splitter. But what do I know. I'm just a fan.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by BooDrow

There was some talk of putting the valve stems on the inside of the wheels to avoid this. Makes sense to me...but somebody shot it down, said they need to get to them to change tire pressure or some such phooey, they can change the whole tire quicker, and the pressure is always adjusted behind the wall???
I have never seen them add or release pressure on a pit stop.

Has to be something wrong with my thinking..it's just too simple.

Boo you have truly found a home here with us .... you're cynical just like the rest of us race fans !!!! WELCOME

[nascaraddict]

As soon as I saw the dreaded CoT, I knew that the Splitter... a.k.a., cow catcher was going to be nothing but a pain for the teams. It was going to catch tires, and debris. And Lord forbid if the thing ever got damaged in any way. Because NA_CAR would make you come in and fix the stupid thing. Or worse yet, it could end your day if the damage happened at the end of a race.

[BooDrow]

Don'tcha kinda like the way it removes the sod from the infield? There is a market for that stuff ya' know. I like the little turnbuckles that have to be adjusted "just right" and then when it leaves the track it is a clean sweep.
Too bad they don't race in Michigan in the winter, it could be a snow plow.

[nascaraddict]

Originally Posted by BooDrow

Don'tcha kinda like the way it removes the sod from the infield? There is a market for that stuff ya' know. I like the little turnbuckles that have to be adjusted "just right" and then when it leaves the track it is a clean sweep.
Too bad they don't race in Michigan in the winter, it could be a snow plow.

I bow to you in your humorous truth. It's sad. But it's truth, none the less.

[OregonSHRFan]

Originally Posted by BooDrow

Don'tcha kinda like the way it removes the sod from the infield?

My personal favorite is how it plows up the kitty litter at Watkins Glen and puts it on the track for everyone else to run through!!

[BooDrow]

Good Eve Lou! Hope you had a good day. Moon is depressed....

[moon]

Originally Posted by BooDrow

Good Eve Lou! Hope you had a good day. Moon is depressed....

Opressed...maybe but no depression

[nascaraddict]

One thing that I have never for the life of me have understood; was how the C.O.T.'s "wing thing" keeps the rear of the car from comming around. I've always wanted to see wind tunnel tests on that. But then again, I'm a NA_CAR nerd.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by nascaraddict

One thing that I have never for the life of me have understood; was how the C.O.T.'s "wing thing" keeps the rear of the car from comming around. I've always wanted to see wind tunnel tests on that. But then again, I'm a NA_CAR nerd.

I'm no aeronautical engineer and am only going on a great big SWAG but...

My guess would be that when the new car turns around, even though the wing give the car some lift, enough goes between the wing and the deck to offer some stability. With a spoiler the rear of the car offers a solid front when going in reverse, possibly driving more air UNDER the car, causing it to lift and become airborne?

But, all this is only supposition and is probably unsound thinking. My majors were in History and Psych, not Engineering.

[moon]

Originally Posted by nascaraddict

One thing that I have never for the life of me have understood; was how the C.O.T.'s "wing thing" keeps the rear of the car from comming around. I've always wanted to see wind tunnel tests on that. But then again, I'm a NA_CAR nerd.

The wing has side pods or flat plates on each end that helps with "side force" to prevent the car from coming around.

In the tunnel you can see it when the turn plate puts the car in yaw.