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enlighten me

1079 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  CBR_Damon
I was just wondering why Formula 1 race cars are designed the way they are, with open wheels? They are beautiful cars, incredible race machines. It seems that open wheels are so dangerous. Imagine 140 mph and your front wheel contacts someone's rear wheel :eek:. Just wondering.

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i think it has to do with tradition. plus, i don't think they want f1 to have drivers 'rubbin'' like they do in nascar.

now if someone can explain to me why f1 is using nascar's dumb @$$ed pace car and pit lane speed limit rules...

i loved watching camera men running from 0-100 in under 2 second cars.

it was great.

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Tony

the views and opinions expressed by tony (cbrf2boy) are the ramblings of a total idiot. sbw.com, it's administrators, moderators, and members don't necessarily agree with and are not responsible for anything this idiot has to say.
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Tony,

It's because of Lawyers and Insurance Companies. ;)

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John

"If Harley made an airplane... would you fly in it?"
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RCjohn:
Tony,

It's because of Lawyers and Insurance Companies. ;)

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


i guess they knew they'd bring the usgp back, huh?


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Tony

the views and opinions expressed by tony (cbrf2boy) are the ramblings of a total idiot. sbw.com, it's administrators, moderators, and members don't necessarily agree with and are not responsible for anything this idiot has to say.
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Good question - now I am NOT an expert but I
do have insider information. My father makes
accelerometers. Devices that measure acceleration
(good stuff for me, I can measure the smallest
performances increase in almost any category).
Many Nascar, Formula, Indy etc guys are buying
his products and he speaks to them personally.
He loves racing and one of the things he told
me when I asked this question was brake cooling.
The open wheel also helps keep tire temperature
down. It's easy to overheat those kinds of brakes
and tires, escpecially the way those guys push
them. This was the original idea behind the
design along with less general weight. It
also help with center of gravity, roll centers
and other things that combined create a fantastic
handling car.


Hope that helps. Some of the best information
I have ever gotten about car design came from
a book that was written in the 70s. It's called
"How to Make you car Handle". GREAT book,
you won't believe the info the author (Forget
his name) gives you for 10 bucks. I almost
felt like a theif reading this thing. Though
I must say I have read it twice and some things
still elude me.

Chris :)

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I've got what it takes to take what you've got.

[This message has been edited by chris_y2k_r1 (edited July 26, 2000).]
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Chris thanks alot
That's everything I needed to know-makes sense too.

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You don't really believe that crap, do you. The real reason that the wheels are not enclosed is so they fly off and kill spectators and other drivers. They wanted this sport to be more interactive - the fans love that stuff. :D

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Ride Fast - Take Chances
I'm going with the dead spectators theory... not that crap about performance and stuff. :rolleyes: :D :p

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John

"If Harley made an airplane... would you fly in it?"
Yea, I got one lodged in my forehead...man I love that stuff.

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Rub those pegs raw!
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