Postby WildcatOne » Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:29 am
Rock just talked about something that I have also thought about...a chassis that flexes without welds but will still retain structural unity under power...and his description would be a possible solution to this problem. Over the last 10 years, there hasn't been one single Top Fuel run that I've witnessed, either live, on TV or on audiocast, that I haven't held my breath and hoped to God that those cars would come through the run safely with the drivers in one piece at the other end. Ever since the Blaine Johnson tragedy at Indy in '96. Not all of them made it. It wasn't all to do with the chassis; some of the crashes were from various malfunctions...tire failure, engine explosions, stuff getting tangled, air getting under the front wings resulting in blowovers, the track being uneven in spots, etc. But as sickening as that crash was Friday night, some ideas are now being brought out that could help such as Rock's suggestion. The cars that broke apart under power recently have mostly had it happen at the point between the cockpit and the engine, which is where the most stress on the chassis occurs during a run. Last year the Sarge's car broke at that point and I have a lot of pictures of that same thing happening over the years of TF cars that break in the middle. Darrell Gwynn at Santa Pod. Jack Ostrander, Jim Head, and so on. If they could try one that has something at that point that would allow the chassis to flex out but not break at the breaking point and come back down...great point, Rock. WC1
Life Is Good!
http://www.peeweebowenband.com
Support Live Music!