This is a developing trend thats been going on the past few years...
People just need to face it -- Racing isn't the redneck sport you always thought it was...
Now, I know there are some NASCAR Fans and Drivers who look like they came straight out of the trailer park, which they probably did, but just because they live in a trailer doesn't automatically like racing, same thing applies vice-versa, if you like racing, you don't have to live in a trailer...
These guys are out on the track every weekend, risking their lives to make a living and put on a show for the fans... They deserve more respect than they get... Its not the easiest thing making a 3400 pound car handle a 2 mile track at 200 miles per hour... Not only that, but at tracks like Talledega and Daytona, when you get 20-40 cars in a single pack, every driver not only has to depend on his own abilities to handle his own car, but everyone else in around him... One little bobble, and it can wipe the whole pack out...
I just wish people would realize all the time, money, and effort that goes into maintaining one of these teams...
They spend endless hours in R&D (research & development) to come up with maybe a quarter inch modification that will give them 1 and a half mile per hour more in the corner... but, that could be the difference between finishing 1st or finishing 30th, that 1 and a half mile more...
You don't have to like the sport, you don't have to respect what their doing, but don't act like its the easiest thing that a person can do, until you can do it without lifting a finger...
People just need to face it -- Racing isn't the redneck sport you always thought it was...
Now, I know there are some NASCAR Fans and Drivers who look like they came straight out of the trailer park, which they probably did, but just because they live in a trailer doesn't automatically like racing, same thing applies vice-versa, if you like racing, you don't have to live in a trailer...
These guys are out on the track every weekend, risking their lives to make a living and put on a show for the fans... They deserve more respect than they get... Its not the easiest thing making a 3400 pound car handle a 2 mile track at 200 miles per hour... Not only that, but at tracks like Talledega and Daytona, when you get 20-40 cars in a single pack, every driver not only has to depend on his own abilities to handle his own car, but everyone else in around him... One little bobble, and it can wipe the whole pack out...
I just wish people would realize all the time, money, and effort that goes into maintaining one of these teams...
They spend endless hours in R&D (research & development) to come up with maybe a quarter inch modification that will give them 1 and a half mile per hour more in the corner... but, that could be the difference between finishing 1st or finishing 30th, that 1 and a half mile more...
You don't have to like the sport, you don't have to respect what their doing, but don't act like its the easiest thing that a person can do, until you can do it without lifting a finger...
Siddhartha
Lifer
- Oct 17, 1999
- 12,505
- 3
- 81
It is not a physical impossibility for NASCAR to race in the rain in relative safety. If they wanted to run in the rain they could change to tires designed specifically for driving in the rain and slow down. I am only guessing, maybe they do not want to slow down.
Originally posted by: LS20
at 100+ mph i dont think the raindrops can stay still on the eyeshield
I was thinking about that.... But there has to be some points on the track where they are going slower and the rain drops would stay...
and I seem to recall looking through cameras on the cars during the rain, and the rain drops stayed on those...
It isn't impossible... But, what would happen, if they were to slow down, is they would just speed back up to unsafe speeds... Say they go less than 100 mph, well, the drivers are going to go as fast as they can without breaking that 100 mph speed limit... Than, they would more htan likely find the shortest line around the track, so they would all run the bottom... Therefore, theoretically, it would turn into a large parade, where a driver depends on fuel conservation to win the race...
Racing inthe rain isn't impossible, its just not a good idea...
And you would have them slow down to what speed? If they slow down, because it's raining, or the speed is governed by NASCAR, then it ceases to be a race, doesn't it? The very idea of a race is to go as fast as you can and beat the other competitors. Also, as previously stated, treaded tires would heat up very quickly and fail if the rain stopped and the track dried enough. Yes, they could pit and change tires, but teams already have to go through 10-15 different sets of tires per race. How many more tires would you like them to have laying about?
It's just not gonna happen. Just deal with that fact and move on.
Agreed... the only things i don't like about NASCAR is some of their unbearably long races... i love it when they are at Watkins Glen and Searspoint though... it looks funny with those heavy ass cars running around in a road course... the othere reason is how those cars have nothing to do with a Monte Carlo, a Taurus, or an Intrepid.
they've been experimenting the feasability of running in the rain with different tires for the past few seasons now... and so far it hasn't happened and i honestly don't think it ever will. maybe when they go to the road courses... but they only have two so i don't think it's worth the effort.
I don't even prefer NASCAR as my source of racing, its too long and boring... should be called NAPCAR, but anyways...
My type of racing is 410 Winged Sprint Cars... These things are beasts...
410 cui engine, 850 hp, 1200 pound car... They threw some dirt down on Bristol Motor Speedway were Winston Cup runs, and the Outlaw Sprints were over 2 seconds faster than the Cup Cars... Thats huge on a small track like Bristol...
Maybe its because I live in Iowa, home to the Mecca of Sprintcar Racing, the Knoxville Nationals...
most people who have never even watched a race have still heard of the Knoxville Nationals... The 5,000 people town swells to over 40,000 for the best 4 nights of sprint car racing one can find...
The weight to horsepower ratio in these things is amazing, if you have a chance to check them out, I recommend you do... especially if you live in California, Iowa, Ohio, or Pennsylvania... Also in the south, you can find some good 360 racing (not as fast as 410s, but more cost efficient for the driver and still put on a hell of a show)...
but, its time for bed... it was great talking racing on a computer forum, i rarely get to talk some racing...
My type of racing is 410 Winged Sprint Cars... These things are beasts...
410 cui engine, 850 hp, 1200 pound car... They threw some dirt down on Bristol Motor Speedway were Winston Cup runs, and the Outlaw Sprints were over 2 seconds faster than the Cup Cars... Thats huge on a small track like Bristol...
Maybe its because I live in Iowa, home to the Mecca of Sprintcar Racing, the Knoxville Nationals...
most people who have never even watched a race have still heard of the Knoxville Nationals... The 5,000 people town swells to over 40,000 for the best 4 nights of sprint car racing one can find...
The weight to horsepower ratio in these things is amazing, if you have a chance to check them out, I recommend you do... especially if you live in California, Iowa, Ohio, or Pennsylvania... Also in the south, you can find some good 360 racing (not as fast as 410s, but more cost efficient for the driver and still put on a hell of a show)...
but, its time for bed... it was great talking racing on a computer forum, i rarely get to talk some racing...
Here's why:
At such insane speeds, treaded tires are no wear near as good as the racing slicks. The slicks are slick for a reason. They provide a larger surface area for the point of contact and because of technological advancements, as they heat up they literally get a better hold(stick to)pavement.
The problem with the treaded tires is that they don't have that necessary surface area, the gaps (treads) they lose heat quicker, and finally, a lot of stress is put on the actually treads at that speed. Although they are well-made and don't fail, driving becomes very wobbly at that speed. Smoothness is out the door.
They don't do it because they can't but because it sucks.
And in the end, this is a race isn't it? If it hampers speed, no matter how good it is, it's out the door.
At such insane speeds, treaded tires are no wear near as good as the racing slicks. The slicks are slick for a reason. They provide a larger surface area for the point of contact and because of technological advancements, as they heat up they literally get a better hold(stick to)pavement.
The problem with the treaded tires is that they don't have that necessary surface area, the gaps (treads) they lose heat quicker, and finally, a lot of stress is put on the actually treads at that speed. Although they are well-made and don't fail, driving becomes very wobbly at that speed. Smoothness is out the door.
They don't do it because they can't but because it sucks.
And in the end, this is a race isn't it? If it hampers speed, no matter how good it is, it's out the door.
as for f1 drivers, you'll notice they change back to slicks asoon as possible because the tread makes high-speed driving a mess.
f1 doesnt have slicks anymore, they were forbidden a few years ago, now they have "almost slicks"
reason for the rule was to slow the cars down so there would be more overlapping, a year or two later they were already beating previous lap records
Hayabusa Rider
Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
- Jan 26, 2000
- 50,879
- 4,268
- 126
<Flame suit on>
If they were real men, they would be racing on a wet track like motorcyclists do.
<flame suit off>
If they were real men, they would be racing on a wet track like motorcyclists do.
<flame suit off>
I said hillbilly redneck. (In the loose terms, its fairly American in its history)
I did NOT say dumb hillbilly redneck.
I did NTO say unskilled hillbilly redneck.
As for Its so hard, strap me in ANY day. I'll put 1000 bucks the car you point at I'll follow after 1 hour of time in the car to get familiar with it. Period.
I dont have many skills I'll admit, but one skill i do have is I can DRIVE.
And lets be real. You wanna talk abuse to the driver? Compare your round n round Nascar to our Rally racer.
^^ You now know what racin I like....
I did NOT say dumb hillbilly redneck.
I did NTO say unskilled hillbilly redneck.
As for Its so hard, strap me in ANY day. I'll put 1000 bucks the car you point at I'll follow after 1 hour of time in the car to get familiar with it. Period.
I dont have many skills I'll admit, but one skill i do have is I can DRIVE.
And lets be real. You wanna talk abuse to the driver? Compare your round n round Nascar to our Rally racer.
^^ You now know what racin I like....
Good drivers CAN race and Win with rain
driving with rain is ALWAYS possible even with slick tires, a good driver can feel if the speed is too much or is safe.
Rain tyres give a great improvment with hevvy rain, with a light rain middle tyre give a better performance.
Rain tyre need to be cooled down, so if is not raining any more you have to drive on the side of the track where there is some water left.
If the asphalt is hot and rain is very little, is better to stay with slick.
driving with rain is ALWAYS possible even with slick tires, a good driver can feel if the speed is too much or is safe.
Rain tyres give a great improvment with hevvy rain, with a light rain middle tyre give a better performance.
Rain tyre need to be cooled down, so if is not raining any more you have to drive on the side of the track where there is some water left.
If the asphalt is hot and rain is very little, is better to stay with slick.
http://www.autoracing1.com/GoodBoys/000817raintires.htm
Will Goodyear's Eagles fly in the rain?
By Frank Ryan
August 17, 2000
"Last weekend showers and bad weather cancelled or delayed nearly every scheduled event at Watkins Glen. But mixed among the moans and groans of the fans as they scurried for cover from the rain were the smiles on the faces of the Goodyear engineers. Mixed among the trailer loads of tires they had brought for the Global Crossing @ the Glen were the Goodyear All-Weather racing tires, and it was prime weather for testing for testing these puppies under racing conditions. "
"The prospect of running road course races in the rain could be on the horizon, but a distant one. The Goodyear rain tire in its current design is only good for damp conditions. Running on too wet a surface causes the tire to hydroplane, and when you have 43 cars racing down the front straightaway hoping to out brake their neighbor, it is a recipe for disaster. On the other end of the weather spectrum, the rain tires cannot be used once the track starts to dry out. As the tire heats up, it is feared that pieces of the tread will tear away under acceleration, braking or cornering. So for right now, the rain tire looks awfully wicked mounted on rims, sitting in the pits, but it probably will not make it to a race event anytime soon. "
Will Goodyear's Eagles fly in the rain?
By Frank Ryan
August 17, 2000
"Last weekend showers and bad weather cancelled or delayed nearly every scheduled event at Watkins Glen. But mixed among the moans and groans of the fans as they scurried for cover from the rain were the smiles on the faces of the Goodyear engineers. Mixed among the trailer loads of tires they had brought for the Global Crossing @ the Glen were the Goodyear All-Weather racing tires, and it was prime weather for testing for testing these puppies under racing conditions. "
"The prospect of running road course races in the rain could be on the horizon, but a distant one. The Goodyear rain tire in its current design is only good for damp conditions. Running on too wet a surface causes the tire to hydroplane, and when you have 43 cars racing down the front straightaway hoping to out brake their neighbor, it is a recipe for disaster. On the other end of the weather spectrum, the rain tires cannot be used once the track starts to dry out. As the tire heats up, it is feared that pieces of the tread will tear away under acceleration, braking or cornering. So for right now, the rain tire looks awfully wicked mounted on rims, sitting in the pits, but it probably will not make it to a race event anytime soon. "
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