Chuck, there is no question that conventional shocks will produce better performance. However I do not think we can control the costs as easily as you think. Even if you have a spec shock that is relatively low cost say, $250/shock, what is to prevent people from modifying the internals & dynoing to their hearts content.
If someone has a way to truly control the costs I am OK with the concept. The real question is how to make it happen. Perhaps Roger Penske will subsidize F500 with a $200 single adjustable shock. Thanks ... Jay Novak -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chuck Voboril Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 9:05 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [F500] RE: Beyond powerplants/trannys Actually, one need NOT also go to antiroll bars and coil springs if shocks are introduced. The latest DSR's like Stohr's do not have any antiroll bars at all. I happpen to think that coil springs would shorten up the tuning time for different tracks, but they don't have to be used. One can run real shocks with the current rubber springs. We can also keep the shock costs low with control to where they will would have no appreciable cost over the pressent setup with the cartefully concocted tefllon washers, etc. in the pivot points for damping. No more setting the drag tension on each corner before every session. Any rubber that has much inherent damping is probably not going to last forever, either. Chuck >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [F500] RE: Beyond powerplants/trannys >Date: Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:23:21 -0400 > ><<<One last time (really) >Shocks need not be expensive and they are one thing that would make F500 >more like a real formula car that ISN'T just perception. > >Restricting them to steel with one external adjustment might help. >Pulling apart the trophy position's shocks at Run-offs to see if the >insides have been altered would probably be sufficient. >>> > > >Chuck - >With all due respect, I couldn't disagree more. > >I came to F500 from FF/CF. Part of the reason was that I was tired of >spending money on shocks; in three years I had three different sets, and >never did have the bucks for any that were competitive. I also went >through three different spring ratios at each end of the car, only to >discover that without better shocks, I couldn't get the mechanical grip >right anyway. (To be fair, engine costs were also a big part of the >equation for me) > >Here's the real problem: When you go to shocks, you also go to springs and >ARBs. This introduces a bunch of new variables, all of which cost money >for different options, and cost track time (read $$$ in test days) to try >out and find the right combination for your car/driver. > >BTW, the idea that restricting to a shock design with less adjustability >lowers cost just doesn't fly. NASCAR does this, and the teams end up >carrying a bunch of different shocks and valving setups so that they can >change them out to suit diffferent situations. Unless you go to a spec, >sealed shock, it won't accomplish the goal you are aiming at. As for spec >shocks, as the FSCCA guys how that program is working out for them.... > ><<<One last thought: It may also be that road racing overall just isn't >very popular right now anyway. Gas prices ARE having an effect >>> > >Good point. My car is in the garage this year, but it's not because I have >decided to race something different - I just haven't been able to race, >period. > >Oh, well..... >________________________________________________________________________ >Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and >IM. All on demand. Always Free. > >________________________________ >FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500 >The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing >Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003 >_________________________________ > > > >_______________________________________________ >F500 mailing list - [email protected] >To unsubscribe or change options please visit: >http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 >*** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! *** ________________________________ FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500 The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003 _________________________________ _______________________________________________ F500 mailing list - [email protected] To unsubscribe or change options please visit: http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! *** ________________________________ FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500 The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003 _________________________________ _______________________________________________ F500 mailing list - [email protected] To unsubscribe or change options please visit: http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! ***
