Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Is the car Jonathan won in last night at the Chili Bowl a former Swindell car or did it just have a squarish style tail tank ala the one the Swindell's use??  Thanks in advance for any info.

i dont think its a swindell car. It makes sence to me to run a square tank though. Instead of the air just grazing over traditional tanks, the square tank probably produces some side bite when the air hits it. if you notice Jonathon Beason car almost has a little spoiler at the very back of the tank.

Pure supposition on my part here, but it's possible that after the Swindell domination lately that people are imitating the style of their cars.

It used to be said that if Karl Kinser put a turd on his hood every car in the pits would have one at the next race.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

Somebody asked about this on the Hard 8 Racing facebook page and they replied that they were running the square tank simply because their owner liked the look of it.  

The car that Jonathan Beason won with last night was the same car that Donnie Ray Crawford drove a couple years ago. The team reworked the tail tank section.

http://www.dickdragonmotorsports.com/

of course thats what he said. but i guarantee you it affects handling of the car.

Congrats to Beason ! Also one helluva run for Meseraull ! Who is he? Not familiar with that name but gd job!!!

The rear bumber is moved in on the ugly square tank cars. Less chance of getting clipped from behind in the turns in my opinion. Now I realize this race is pretty much open rules but I'd very much like a rule stating "traditional shaped fuel cell/tank designs only." These cars look like some mutant bastard child of a modified and midget. 

Cheers!

I agree with Henry here, the cars are butt ugly.

That having been said I suspect that the advantage to the square tank has more to do with putting the fuel closer to or over the rear end for rear bite than it does with aerodynamics. That is just my 2 cents anyway. That is why you can purchase bladders that move the fuel forward for traditional tank shells.

Never hit stationary objects!

Some folks like red, some folks like blue....I think these cars look bad ass

Some folks love purple and notice that there aren't all that many purple ones

People have been misguided about this for quite some time. Whether it is for looks, personal preference, whatever it is not to get more weight over the rear axle. It boils down to a simple physics equation. Torque=Force x Lever Arm. To have more torque about a given point (ie: rear axle) you eithter have to increase the Force (weight) or the Lever Arm (Length the Weight is from the Axle). With that said shortenting the tank and moving the fuel forward will have less torque about the rear axle, and instead places more on all four corners. If you remember back to when the CRA sprinters used to run the older style larger tanks even though the newer style existed, that was in part to get more rotation about the rear axle and transfer the weight faster. This aquare tank is the exact opposite effect. My guess is they are either simply attempting to reduce the overall length of the car and reduce the risk of being in an accident, attempting to plant the entire car for this uniquely round and flat track, or just screwing with people because they can. Nobody is attempting to copy Murdocks Top Fueler car now, but I guarantee if he ripped of four Saturday night wins in a row they would! LOL Go Johnny!!!

My comment to the ppl around me was. I sure hope that car goes as good as it looks. And it did. Beason was on it from hot laps, through the heats, qualifiers and the main. Congrats and a job well done. And the locals had themselves pumped up as he is one of there own. 

We need more sprint car racing at our home track.

Yep, you are right, I had that wrong.

Here is the explaination that was posted for the use of a fuel forward tank design for mini-sprints:

 "Forward and lower is better, it keeps the diminishing weight of fuel closer to the center of gravity of the car reducing the polar moment of inertia. Also, as fuel sloshes around behind the rear axle it has a whipping effect on the car as it negotiates a turn, making the car looser. Moving the fuel load of 40 pounds for a little over 5 gallons front and down will translate to better handling of a properly balanced car. If the car needs a higher center of gravity to increase bite, the car or the driver can be raised. Keeping the fuel load down and front will keep handling consistent as the fuel load decreases as the race progresses."

My bad.

Never hit stationary objects!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV4Lc7hlUko

Long Live  20 Time  World Of Outlaws Champion Steve 
Kinser #11 

OK - What happened to grumpy old man?

The square tanks make the car # a little easier to see but otherwise I don't particularly care for them. I like the graphics on these Bolted Spine Designs cars. Takes me back to the days when Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's creations were all the rage. 

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.