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Topic: When did down tubes become mandated? Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
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WRAracerXX
September 24, 2018 at 07:36:38 PM
Joined: 09/24/2018
Posts: 1
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If my memory serves me correctly, there was a crash in the late 90s that made most Sprint car sanctioning bodies to require down tubes on the cars?  What crash was that, or did I dream it?




BaylandsRP
September 24, 2018 at 10:48:52 PM
Joined: 01/09/2013
Posts: 196
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Reply to:
Posted By: WRAracerXX on September 24 2018 at 07:36:38 PM

If my memory serves me correctly, there was a crash in the late 90s that made most Sprint car sanctioning bodies to require down tubes on the cars?  What crash was that, or did I dream it?



Down tubes are not required in any rule book.  New non down tube cars are available today.  Sanctioning bodies usually specify 1984 or newer chassis in their rule book.  That's the era when cars became pretty standardized.  The Maxim, XXX, etc. chassis you order today is very close in dimension to an early 80's Stanton or Trostle.



linbob
September 25, 2018 at 03:25:11 PM
Joined: 03/12/2011
Posts: 1649
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Reply to:
Posted By: BaylandsRP on September 24 2018 at 10:48:52 PM

Down tubes are not required in any rule book.  New non down tube cars are available today.  Sanctioning bodies usually specify 1984 or newer chassis in their rule book.  That's the era when cars became pretty standardized.  The Maxim, XXX, etc. chassis you order today is very close in dimension to an early 80's Stanton or Trostle.



Sammy Swindell   felt that down tubes might have saved his life.  He was in time trials, enters corner and there was a pick up truck on track.  He hit it at full speed and as I remember broke both his arms.  Without down tubes his car front end would have gone under pickup and role cage might have been sheared off.  Either way he was very lucky.  When down tube cars first came out alot of drivers did not like them as they handled different.  They figured that out and most all drivers feel they are alot safer.




beezr2002
September 25, 2018 at 04:16:00 PM
Joined: 04/21/2017
Posts: 1116
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If you are refering to the wreck at Lernerville, I think he only sprained his wrist(s) and broke a finger or thumb.



rolldog
MyWebsite
September 25, 2018 at 04:58:47 PM
Joined: 08/01/2013
Posts: 431
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SARVER, PA (July 25, 2001) -- Three-time Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series champion Sammy Swindell hoped to defend his Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup championship at Lernerville Speedway Tuesday. Crashing into a push truck between his qualifying laps dashed his dream, however.

Swindell's #1 CHANNELLOCK Stealth collided with a push truck on the front straightaway after completing his first qualifying lap. He suffered a fractured right ring finger, a cracked kneecap, contusions and broken bones in his left hand and contusions to his head and groin area. Swindell was treated, held overnight for observation and released from Butler Memorial Hospital in Butler, PA, Wednesday. Swindell had a cast on his right hand and a brace on his left leg when he and his family headed home to Cordova, TN.

"The car did its job," Sammy said. "The down tubes saved my life."

Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series Founder and President Ted Johnson wished Swindell a speedy recover.

"Sammy has been with us since the series started and we hope he can be back racing with us soon," Johnson said.

See the link below for pictures.  The video is still on youtube.

http://www.jimmyjeep.com/swindell.html



blazer00
September 25, 2018 at 05:21:22 PM
Joined: 06/10/2015
Posts: 2420
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That was a damn hard friggin hit!   I remember he was sore for a while afer that one.




Methanol
September 25, 2018 at 06:17:18 PM
Joined: 12/01/2004
Posts: 45
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He has wrecked about every other racers car on the trak so he might as well hit a push truck. 



SAF92
September 26, 2018 at 07:33:53 AM
Joined: 01/24/2018
Posts: 386
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Reply to:
Posted By: WRAracerXX on September 24 2018 at 07:36:38 PM

If my memory serves me correctly, there was a crash in the late 90s that made most Sprint car sanctioning bodies to require down tubes on the cars?  What crash was that, or did I dream it?



Rich Vogler was killed in a terrible wreck in a car without down tubes... maybe you're thinking of him.



Paintboss
MyWebsite
September 26, 2018 at 08:06:24 AM
Joined: 12/02/2004
Posts: 2098
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As I recall the car Keith Hutton was driving when he crashed at Oskaloosa did not have down tubes




Paintboss
MyWebsite
September 26, 2018 at 08:08:29 AM
Joined: 12/02/2004
Posts: 2098
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I personally love the looks of the old sprintcars with out down tubes but also think they definately add to the safety of the car. 



ThePurple73
September 26, 2018 at 02:55:13 PM
Joined: 08/04/2010
Posts: 275
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Many USAC silver crown (dirt champ) cars had downtubes of sorts for years before you started to see them on sprint cars.



Johnny Utah
September 26, 2018 at 05:29:41 PM
Joined: 07/15/2014
Posts: 1221
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Posted By: ThePurple73 on September 26 2018 at 02:55:13 PM

Many USAC silver crown (dirt champ) cars had downtubes of sorts for years before you started to see them on sprint cars.



When did people start running them? I was watching some old Eldora highlights from 73 or 74 and saw a guy or two with downtubes.




Johnny Utah
September 26, 2018 at 05:41:15 PM
Joined: 07/15/2014
Posts: 1221
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Posted By: Johnny Utah on September 26 2018 at 05:29:41 PM

When did people start running them? I was watching some old Eldora highlights from 73 or 74 and saw a guy or two with downtubes.



If you type in USAC Sprints Eldora 1974, you should see the video. George Snider is running a car with downtubes, but he gets beat by Jan Opperman. Its one of them old Bud Lindeman videoes.  

Fun stuff.



egras
September 26, 2018 at 05:59:19 PM
Joined: 08/16/2009
Posts: 3913
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Posted By: Methanol on September 25 2018 at 06:17:18 PM

He has wrecked about every other racers car on the trak so he might as well hit a push truck. 



I'm worried you may not be getting enough rest..................you know, since you were up all night coming up with that one.



linbob
September 26, 2018 at 06:16:44 PM
Joined: 03/12/2011
Posts: 1649
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Posted By: ThePurple73 on September 26 2018 at 02:55:13 PM

Many USAC silver crown (dirt champ) cars had downtubes of sorts for years before you started to see them on sprint cars.



these I saw were not really down tubes.  They were like tie rods with heims on each end.  I do not know if they were chassis adjustment or what.  They could be loosened or tightened up.  Anyone know for sure?




alum.427
September 27, 2018 at 07:27:56 AM
Joined: 03/16/2017
Posts: 1599
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Guys were playing with down tubes through out the 70's. Be glad they didn't have the speeds of today's cars. They made the front ends so rigid, either the front ends got ripped of or the cages were getting bent. Sammy had a downtube car at lernerville, had it not been and many felt it would have been disaster.  

Methanol, you're a a**. 

Old chassis technology was you wanted a stiff chassis. Today's cars are all about flex. 

Baylands, the early cars. Gambler, we're a Trostle copy. The Maxim was a copy of a Stanton.  

Chassis today are pretty much the same. The differences, which are a big deal. Crank centerline, bar splits, bar heights, rear shock mts. birdcage and watts links. Yea, not such a small deal. 



frenchy
MyWebsite
September 29, 2018 at 12:15:13 PM
Joined: 05/31/2007
Posts: 239
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Posted By: Paintboss on September 26 2018 at 08:06:24 AM

As I recall the car Keith Hutton was driving when he crashed at Oskaloosa did not have down tubes



That was a terrible wreck and the worst night at the races I ever experienced. RIP keith.



StanM
MyResults MyPressRelease
September 29, 2018 at 07:26:04 PM
Joined: 11/07/2006
Posts: 5548
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Downtubes were used on some of the old early 60's home built Supermodifieds so the original idea has been around for a long time.  It would be difficult to pin a date on their actual origin but it has it's roots in the old home built cars.


Stan Meissner



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