Too Fast of Track?

[skool]

 You can read MY opinion here http://www.frontstretch.com/jmeyer/5740/

What is yours?

[paulfan]

Hey Skool, going off topic for a sec.  How was Iowa Speedway?  Can we expect an article on the speedway?

[Chris]

Well... Being a long time race fan... I never thought I'd say this,...
But after MUCH careful consideration, and weighing both sides this is what I think...
(also posted on the web site)

hhuumm I used to would have agreed with you Skool ol buddy,...
but being a race fan for many MANY years,.. I'm inclined to disagree.
AFter seeing JD Mcduffie lose his life at Watkins Glen on the high speed back straight,.. and some cars, IRL, Lemans etc simply lift and fly off the track just because they hit a bump in the track or (on a road course) come over a rise in the road too fast,.. I think I'll have to disagree.
For those that are 'newbies' to Nascar racing,.. the back straight 'chicane' was put in JUST to slow the cars down so that accidents like the ones that killed JD would be avoided... SO I guess I think with the advent of technology, and faster and faster cars,.. the combination of better cars and better tracks; it CAN make tracks to fast.

[Busch Babe 899]

Part of me is of the "If you can't take the speeds, go home little boy/girl" leaning...another part thinks of HOW HARD these drivers hit the wall at these really fast tracks...I mean, I still shudder to think what would have happened had the SAFER barrier not been where Mark Martin hit the wall last week at Lowes...or had he hit at an angle that pushedt the engine through the firewall into the DRIVER'S side of the car, instead of the passenger side...

[Tyyrus]

Sorry Folks but I really believe Speed is relative...Man ! I mean 130 MPH @ Bristol is Flyin..Baby . Then again
200 MPH @ the Big "T" is rather Boring until you put Restrictor Plates on 43 Cars , that are forced to run side by side , like a freggin Run away Freight Train ! I agree with what Chris & I were mentioning a few days back , that Atlanta is probably the scariest track on the Circuit currently. Hopefully when they get the Bugs out of
the COT. Perhaps they will ponder removing the Dam Plates , and give the Divers back some Ponys Man !
The new Car should be much less aero dependant (neutral balance) , Larger Surface Area (Drag Coeficient)
with much better Driver Positioning within the Cockpit (Better Protection & Vision) . Having said this , if Nascar
stays on their collective toes as to promoting Safety Equiptment Improvements , as they have with Driver Restraints & Safer Barriers...etc ! Additional Raceway Speeds will be Tolerated. At some point Terminal Cornering Speeds will hit the Wall (No Pun Intended) and Overall Track Speeds will be determined by Straightaway Speeds . Of course Car Set Up (Handling) will always be very signifiicant also , due to overall Performance Requirements , Braking  , Acceleration (weight transfer) which we all recognize increases Tire Life (traction) which inhances Forward Bite...which increases the efficiency of all those aforementioned "Unrestricted Ponies"...Baby ! I really due believe that 1969-70 Super Birds with 2006 Tire Spec's would give current Aero Dependant & Restricted (Ashmatic) Cup cars a run for their collective Life.  Just think Nascar is using a "Bandage Solution" to reducing overall track speeds via current restrictor plates & tire specifications.... Just my thoughts...Ty !

[AfterShock]

Skool ---- et al,

***<This post was originally intended to appear directly below the actual article.
But, I got the "FORBIDDEN" screen.
Let's see if it slips under the radar here.

But, if it does, it won't make sense if y'all haven't read the replies which appeared prior to this intended addition.

Go read them first, I'll wait.>***

Now,

That's ANOTHER story my friend!

Don't get me smokin' here Skool!
Currently, I'm 'on the bottle'.
And, as I'm sure you're well aware,.........
that stuff is

FLAMABLE

or

IMFLAMABLE

However, they're both exactly the same.........
only different.

Just keep open flame away.

If y'all get my drift,........ or did I miss the turn........
again?
LoL

Dang roadway,.......Waaayyyy too smooth!
Gimmie bumps!   or,

A goose!
Bump(s)

That's what really good racin' gives me.
Others might agree.
Or, not.

NA$CAR!!!
Bring back my bumps to me, to me!
And y'all too.

If to choose betwixt "Entertainment" or EXCITEMENT ??
Hmmmmmm
I'll get right back to you with my final answer on that one.

Deal?
or
No Deal?

Take the door on the left?!
That's right!
No, NO!! The OTHER door!!

DoAH!!

(see what I told y'all? Gotta read the other posts first. Right or Left?)
Sorry, not available in Braille.
Those unable to speak, please do not mention whatcha read here to the deaf guy.

Oh, so what?!

LoL

[Dustcloud]

I think there's such a thing as too fast, but I don't think they've quite hit it yet. But eventually, advances in cars and surfaces and what not... we're gonna hit a point where wrecks will become dangerous at the native speeds of the track, regardless of safety equipment. you can make better and better safety equipment, but what that means is, if something goes wrong, the force which will be put on the driver will be that much more powerful than at lower speeds. Maybe even exponentially greater. And I think eventually we *will* get there.

[Chris]

well... let me throw a little 'factual' information out there...
Dale Earnhardt Sr hit the wall at Daytona... speed less than 160 mph..  result = death.
Adam Petty hit the wall at New Hampshire... speed less than 140 mph.. result = death
Kenny Irwin hit the wall at New Hampshire.. speed less than 140 mph.. result = death

Anyone see a pattern here.??
ANYONE see tracks running upwards of 190 and over today??
Anyone want to list more past (or future) drivers names..??

Yeah,.. safety innovations have some along, HANS, softwalls, etc... but no guarantees every time they say "gentleman start your engines"

[Tyyrus]

Huuuuum... Laudon bad ass Speedway..Man !   Correct me ifin I,am Wrong , did not Kyle & Kenny's Accidents Investigations indicate hung throttles ?? Gotta agree with ya Chris unless Cornering Speed can be
controlled throught technology or Driver Control , any Track can become a Loaded Gun. I still think that Speeds can be reduced satisfactorily , without Restrictor Plates . JUST CREATE MORE OVERALL FRONTAL
SURFACE AREA (DRAG COOEFFICIENT) ...Baby !!