NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow

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NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow

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NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow - 4/6/2008 4:26:51 AM

Sandhog

Posts: 771
Joined: 4/8/2006
Status: offline

I have to agree with most NASCAR fans that the COT is real ugly,and makes NASCAR more atuned to IROC.
I think I may have to adjust my thinking a bit.You gotta watch this video clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI96AKMswLM

Post #: 1

RE: NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow - 4/6/2008 8:58:41 AM

dhweber1

Posts: 36
Joined: 11/25/2006
Status: offline

I don't think the shape of the car had as much to do with the survival of the driver as much as the construction of the car and that flexible barrier did. I can see the frame and roll bar being made to a certain standard but I don't see why the bodies have to be identical. These aren't cars anymore. They are more like caricatures. NASCAR was more interesting when they used bodies from American production cars and the engines were basically production based. Now they are all the same so why root for your favorite brand. As far as Toyota is concerned, I do not have anything against them but they have never before produced a V8 pushrod engine similar to the one they are racing. You can tell me all day that they are made in this country but when all the bills are paid and there is any money left, it goes to Japan. That makes it a Japanese car and therefore the term NASCAR (National Association Of Stock Car Automobile Racing) no longer fits.

I also think that the above has been partially responsible for the drop off in popularity. The popularity will increas again as people realize that this is an athletic event more than a hot rodder's event. The engines, especially the Toyota engines, come pre-assembled. The cars are all the same so the fastest pit crew (athletes) will determine the outcome as much as the driver. I wonder if that has anything to do with the reduction in the size of the fuel cell. Maybe NASCAR wants their premier series to be a replacement for football in the summer. Us hot rod fans and custom bike fans will drift off to find a replacement for the hole that these next generation racers have left in our Sundays.

Hey, it stopped raining. I think it is time for a ride in the countryside.

P.S. If I am having a good day, the Gibbs Racing Toyotas and the Michael Waltrip Toyotas will crash out or blow up and a Ford or Chevrolet will win today (Preferably Carl Edwards so that they can take away a few more of his points which is another whole issue with me). I won't be watching of course, but I will check the results on Speed Vision tonight.

(in reply to Sandhog)

Post #: 2

RE: NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow - 4/6/2008 9:20:06 AM

Sandhog

Posts: 771
Joined: 4/8/2006
Status: offline

I think your wrong about the COT's safety features.
For example the drivers seat was moved 4 inches right to improve safety in a drivers side impact,the roll cage was moved 3 inches toward the rear.The COT is 2 inches taller and 4 inches wider to widen the greenhouse and allow for easier extraction of drivers from a crashed car.Larger crumple zones and impact absorbing foam was added betewwn the body panels and the roll cage to help disapate some of the impact forces.The car has more downforce and has a stronger and smaller fuel cell,and the exhaust is bettrer routed to cut down on the heat on the driver.
As far as differences between the makes goes,if Jack Roush wouldnt have whined all during the 1990's and into the 2000 season about being at a disadvantage every time a bowtie won,it would be a different beast.They wanted equality among brands and he got it.I knew it was the beginning of the end when the Taurus ( 4 door) was designed by NASCAR so Ford would have something to race.It snowballed from there.

(in reply to dhweber1)

Post #: 3

RE: NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow - 4/7/2008 9:12:41 AM

shortfatboy

habitual line stepper
Posts: 5339
Joined: 10/1/2006
From: Arkansas
Status: offline

the car is UGLY...
and plus one on crybaby Jack Rousch...what a whiner. Back when Gordon was winning a lot, Jack said they had to be cheating (Jack was probably cheating, and figured Gordon was too)...

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(in reply to Sandhog)

Post #: 4

RE: NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow - 4/7/2008 4:04:09 PM

Sandhog

Posts: 771
Joined: 4/8/2006
Status: offline

I agree Short,but with one difference....
Roush was all but identified as the sorce of the Gordon/Hendrick cheating story,although they werent named as the ones who were doing it,it was obvious as to the people involved.I got a real laugh when Edwards oil tank cover "blew" off and they got fined.
It used to be much in the way of grey area when the rules were concerned with the old car.The COT is alot more black or white as to the rules.
I do however think even as UGLY as they are,the COT races so far have been as good as any in the previous few years.It does make for some tight racing.The death's of Kenny Irwin and young Petty were bad enough,but didnt spark the fires as did the death of Earnhardt.That wreck took alot out of NASCAR.The last race I attended was right after Sept 11th 2001 at Dover Downs.
It just wasnt the same without the 3 car,so I quit going.Id much rather see ugly cars race than see dead drivers.

(in reply to shortfatboy)

Post #: 5

RE: NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow - 4/8/2008 6:31:59 AM

shortfatboy

habitual line stepper
Posts: 5339
Joined: 10/1/2006
From: Arkansas
Status: offline

hijack joke:
a race fan dies and goes to heaven, st peter takes him to a race...on the backstretch he sees one car, a black chevy number 3...the race fan says "Hey, that's..."
st. peter interrupts, and says, "no, that's God, he just thinks he's Earnhardt"...

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sig by HDWG

(in reply to Sandhog)

Post #: 6