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

Is it me or am I just not seeing it. I don't understand why they have all thE body panels around the driver. One of the prettiest photo's of a sprint car is when you can see the form of the tail tank. The flowing lines are not there anymore. Everybody wants and thinks those side panels help with aero. No longer can you see the driver with his elbows up fighting the steering wheel to get the car around the track. You may say it could be for safety reasons but I couldn't disagree more. It's never going to go back to traditional looks so I guess it is what it is.

It's never going to go back to $2 gas either. The panels are for better aerodynamics. You don't have to believe it

You know what is this form coming to? People get on here and ask questions or say things. And people like Ford or Murphy. Get on here and rip their ass for Just for saying something. You know, if you don't have anything better to do, then. Rip people just for asking something or saying something. Do something else. If you're that damn depressed, you've got a pretty sad life. That all you can do is go around and rip people just cause they ask a question or say something. Go talk to a doctor about your problem. What in the hell is this world coming to? People can't even say anything anymore. Really sad. And yes, I know I just ripped them, but Christ, all the guy did was ask. Was asked a question. I did it earlier. I said something about Jackson Motorplex and what they were doing, and Ford ripped money and Murphy ripped me.  Glen Murra

And what about them damn Roll-Cages! You cant see their hemets any more, The driver cannot reach up and give a good wave during the parade lap! WTH!!!!   (Sarc.)

I'm with Murphy and Ford on this. I really see no issue with the way they look today and really would not characterize the panels around the driver as a massive change. I think you might be letting something bother you that you really shouldn't let bother you. 

Sorrly Alum, just kidding around! You are right though, I love being able to see the driver in the cockpit working the wheel. Some cars you still can see to a certain degree but for the most part they are hidden in there pretty good.

Right or wrong on the subject, your constant personal attacks SUCK!

Maybe you should consider your own "miserable existence"?????

Some years back, a local sprinter tried something new- oh, my gosh! He built a wing out of clear Lexan polyvinyl material. It was interesting. For some reason, the local tracks banned it, something about safety issues, but I don't recall what. I always thought it would be a cool idea to do something like clear Lexan body panels and hood. You could see the driver and the working parts of the car would look kind of like a transformer.

Boy, I guess if you feel I'm ripping on you, I apologise. I'd suggest you re-read what I've said and put things in context. This is a public forum where different people have different opinions and differnt ways that they relate them.

Where I've differed with you, is that you seem to focus on being as negative about Jackson Speedway as you can be. In that context, you come off sounding like a crabby person that's unhappy about everything. Granted, there's a lot to be unhapppy about in the world today; but having local racing and specials like the Jackson Nationals should be something to be happy about. 

I think the safety issue is that in a wreck all that lexan could break into knife like shards rather than crumpling or tearing like aluminum does.  All that being said I've seen photos of an IMCA modified with a painted lexan body from the mid 80's.  It ran in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.    

Jud Larson died when a Lexan type windshield broke and cut his throat.  This probably happened to more than Larson.  The plastic windshields were very commom on most cars in 1960 and 1970.

I was thinking more of it being a fire hazzard. Being made from petroleum, it would burn like crazy.

Besides the safety issue (which I'm not sure what that would be either, they use a clear piece of something in NASCAR for windows, so I would assume a material exists that could be safe?) I don't think it would have the intended effect you're thinking it would.  They would look awesome at a car show but at the track they would obviously be full of mud pretty quick and not be see through.  Another thing is I think after a few races you wouldn't be able to see through them at all as they would be pretty beat up almost like being sandblasted.

The year swindell did his no hands on the wheel at nationals wouldn't be near as cool today. Nobody would have seen it.

We had the hood cut down and a band of lexan riveted  so that we/I could see the front tires. You can ask why but i'd rather put it out to anyone that thinks he may know why that was being done back in my day 70's.