Restrictor Plate Racing

[teckmaster]

After yesterdays Talladega race, everybody that was caught up in the last lap accident were fuming over how tight together the cars run. What if they took off the restrictor plates and used smaller engines. With the technology out there today these cars with the engines they use now could probably hit about 240mph which NASCAR knows about and don't want them going that fast. I say just use a smaller engine and take off the plates.

 

[brxndxn]

The restrictor plates are the stupidest things... They don't accomplish what they're meant to do; instead they make the races unsafe. It's a race! Let them tweak the cars as much as possible. Then they wouldn't be sitting on top of each other throughout the race.

 

[RegaPlanet]

I've heard with the plates at dega the engines are making around 400-450hp. Using restrictor plates is about the only safe way to do it. If you let the drivers run around that track with 800+ hp its just gonna make it worse. Everyone is still gonna be running right with each other cause of the significane of the draft at any superspeedway, especially dega. Using smaller engines would just complicate things more and why bother when you can just restrict hp anyway

 

[teckmaster]

The thing with the restrictor plate is that it cuts everyones hp down to all being within a few hp of each other. Between all the engine makers out there, there could be a significant hp range without the plate. Using a smaller engine would make the hp lower without making them all the same relatively.

 

[MichaelD]

Professional Racing of any kind = Take life into own hands.

They all know this when they sign up. I say let'em rip wide open. 800+ horsepower, professionally built, professionally driven, under controlled conditions (i.e. spectator safety) is a beautiful thing.

 

[Windogg]

Restrictor plate racing is like having the world's top sprinter racing the 100 meter dash with a 10lb dumbell tied to each testicle.

Windogg

 

[RegaPlanet]

If you havn't noticed that's what they're trying to achieve... Having all cars close to equal. Each manufacturer has different rules for their cars aerodynamic, engine and suspension wise to make things closer in performance. If you've ever been to a race in person at say dega or Daytona and seen the cars going around at 190-200mph 20ft from you I think you'd agree it's more than fast enough. The cars don't even look like they're on the track; almost look like they're just floating around they're going around so damn fast. It's all about wind resistance at superspeedways. No matter how much hp you give them they'll still all run in a pack cause of the draft and the faster you let them go around the harder it will actually be to pass. Every time you double your speed the wind resistance something like quadruples... can't remember the exact ratio at the moment

 

[tm37]

<< Restrictor plate racing is like having the world's top sprinter racing the 100 meter dash with a 10lb dumbell tied to each testicle.

Windogg >>



I agree!

 

[brxndxn]

Restrictor plate racing is like having the world's top sprinter racing the 100 meter dash with a 10lb dumbell tied to each testicle.

LOL

 

[Pyxis]

<< Restrictor plate racing is like having the world's top sprinter racing the 100 meter dash with a 10lb dumbell tied to each testicle.

Windogg >>



Ouch!!

 

[LAUST]

How about SCCA's BS rules? They see a full body mustang with a Supercharger on it and they throw you in a class with open wheel cars. Least with restrictor plate's you still race cars of your own type :disgust:

 

[yakko]

<< How about SCCA's BS rules? They see a full body mustang with a Supercharger on it and they throw you in a class with open wheel cars. Least with restrictor plate's you still race cars of your own type :disgust: >>

How about the fact that a Gen 3 RX7 is forced to use carburators instead of the stock feul injection.

 

[yakko]

<< Restrictor plate racing is like having the world's top sprinter racing the 100 meter dash with a 10lb dumbell tied to each testicle.

Windogg >>

I use 20 pound dumbells.

 

[trmiv]

Restrictor plate racing needs to go. They either need to remove the restrictor plates, and let them run wide open, or do away with Daytona and Talladega (or redesign them). Those tracks are dinosuars from another age of racing. It IS possible to race on a superspeedway without the draft playing the massive role it does at those two tracks, and have great racing. Witness Charlotte, Texas, Michigan, huge tracks, no restrictor plates, but the banking is such that the cars aren't insanely fast.

BTW: Cue NFS4 post bashing NASCAR.

 

[Pastore]

riiiiight... and running around the track at 220 mph is safer... yeah... right...

 

[trmiv]

<< riiiiight... and running around the track at 220 mph is safer... yeah... right... >>



Believe it or not, it would be. The cars would not be packed together as much as they are now, because horsepower would allow them to get apart. Now its like running a pace lap at 195mph, the cars are too close. The real solution though is to change the tracks so the plates aren't needed. Those two tracks weren't not designed for today's race cars.

 

[teckmaster]

well Bill Elliot set the track record of 212mph. now they are running laps of 195mph

 

[daveman]

I would say take the plates off. But the problem I see is fan safety. The faster those cars go the more chance it is for those things to go into the grandstands.



<< Those tracks are dinosuars from another age of racing. It IS possible to race on a superspeedway without the draft playing the massive role it does at those two tracks, and have great racing. Witness Charlotte, Texas, Michigan, huge tracks, no restrictor plates, but the banking is such that the cars aren't insanely fast. >>



For this thought I'm tired of seeing those 1.5 mile track. I see your point but they all look the same. I say let's build some more half mile tracks.

 

[MichaelD]

There is no such thing as "safe racing." It's one of the most dangerous things/sports you can do. And I love it!!! Nothing like flying around a fast sweeper at about 110-115, knee almost on the ground, rear tire getting squirrely, seat foam firmly clenched between the cheeks.....you either see God from the rush, or you see God, period. Long live racing! Ban restrictor plates! Give Yakko 25-pound dumbells to irrefutably prove his manliness!

 

[daveman]

<< well Bill Elliot set the track record of 212mph. now they are running laps of 195mph >>



Would be courious to see what that would be now if they cut them loose.

 

[teckmaster]

In my original post I put 240mph but I don't think they would go quite that fast. The Indy cars were getting 230mph last year at Texas and they can go faster than a stock car. I'd probably say about 225mph for stock cars.

 

[RegaPlanet]

<< Restrictor plate racing needs to go. They either need to remove the restrictor plates, and let them run wide open, or do away with Daytona and Talladega (or redesign them). Those tracks are dinosuars from another age of racing >>



Dinosuars from another age...??? Daytona is the the most important race to every driver in winston cup and Nascars premiere track. Talladega is the fastest superspeedway in North America... get a clue.

Then you go on to say...




<< Believe it or not, it would be. The cars would not be packed together as much as they are now, because horsepower would allow them to get apart. Now its like running a pace lap at 195mph, the cars are too close. The real solution though is to change the tracks so the plates aren't needed. Those two tracks weren't not designed for today's race cars. >>



You obviously have no clue about racing or car or PHYSICS for god sakes.

The faster you go the more wind resistance there is and there comes a point where no matter how much hp you have you cannot go any faster(speaking realistically). The ratio of wind resistance vs speed is won by wind resistance. Double your speed and quadruple the amount of wind resistance. More horsepower just means all the cars go faster therefore all the cars are running against more wind resistance so when they come out of the draft they're faced with an even higher ratio of speed vs wind resistance to make the pass. MAKING THE PASS EVEN HARDER AND SLOWER.

trmiv, dont speak about something you have no clue about. You dont design a race track for a car. You design and setup a car for a racetrack.

 

[Zenmervolt]

<<The faster you go the more wind resistance there is and there comes a point where no matter how much hp you have you cannot go any faster(speaking realistically). >>

Unfortunately for your argument, the point you speak of exceeds the speeds at which the cars would run without restrictor plates. Restrictor plates are a good example of the reason I see NASCAR (and IRL) as the low end of racing. By disallowing actual inventiveness and legislating all the cars down to equals much of the technical aspect of racing is denied. NASCAR could be great if only they would stop legislating and start allowing racing. Now F1 and the ALMS, those are interesting series. Too bad they don't get much coverage in the US.

Zenmervolt

 

[Ladies Man]

hows about actually racing a STOCK CAR
of course add roll bar and safety stuff

that way its the best of the best right off the lot that any joe can actually have

gives company motivation to have better products and will help out the comsumers with better quality

 

[RegaPlanet]

that's actually how nascar started out