For some time, while watching NASCAR races on TV, it seem the some of the cars were dog tracking/crabbing on the straight. At first I thought it was just the camera angle. Nope, they really were. Turns out some teams were using a softer bushing in the left truck arm that allowed the left wheel or axle to move ahead.for rear axle steer. Apparently there was some aerodynamic advantage to doing this on the straight. Now NSCAR says there can only be 1/4" movement. Holy crap, that is tremendous.
Good luck tonight Hendrick drivers! 
"Creative Rules Interpretation".
Creative rules interpretation has been putting racers on the podium since the dawn of racing.
It was a lot worse in 2008 when they were offsetting the rear axle. Some cars could barely get on the scales because the right rear was hanging out so much.
914Driver wrote: "Creative Rules Interpretation".
In reply to iceracer:
That idea has Chad Knauss written all over it. And it's a brilliant envelope pusher, as usual.
Heard a discussion on the radio about skillful rear control arm mounting that caused the same thing.
Bruce
Now Hendricks can't use their super soft bushing after tonite. They have to use something a little harder. Next thing,you know, NASCAR will be issuing spec bushings.
thats the type for thinking/engineering that i just can't come up with. Will I forever be this dumb?
Chad's greatest invention was the hinged rear window that got him kicked out of Daytona.
Cleverest (recent) NASCAR rule-bending I heard was the team that glued washers under the roof flaps at Talladega. Doing so kept the air off the rear spoiler.
That's pretty interesting. There have been many incremental sneaky rule bending things like this over the years, this shows there is still plenty of development available.
I still like the best cheat of all time: how Ford designed the GT40 radiator openings to create downforce without having an illegal 'wing'. If you look at Ferraris etc of the time, that was a MASSIVE advantage and well hidden.
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/07/12/smokey.yunick.crew.chiefs/story_single.html
My fav...
... And then there's the most famous Yunick story ever, the one where inspectors pulled the gas tank from one of his racecars, and he still drove it back to his garage.
BoostedBrian wrote:914Driver wrote: "Creative Rules Interpretation".
Read this.
http://www.circletrack.com/ultimateracing/ctrp_0801_smokey_yunick/viewall.html
This man didn't read the book to see what was in it, he read the book to see what wasn't.
they also hang the bodies differently for different tracks.. they put them on straighter for the super speedways to reduce drag, and a bit more "sideways" for the shorter tracks to have the air on the outside of the car "push" the front of the car around the corners.
NASCAR put limits on how far the bodies can be mounted off the centerline of the car and how crooked they can be, but some teams always push the envelope.. if you wonder which teams might be doing stuff like that, just look at who wins the races week after week and who doesn't... it's the teams that are winning that are pushing the envelope..
they also hang the bodies differently for different tracks.. they put them on straighter for the super speedways to reduce drag, and a bit more "sideways" for the shorter tracks to have the air on the outside of the car "push" the front of the car around the corners.
Holy E36 M3. That's cool.
poopshovel wrote:they also hang the bodies differently for different tracks.. they put them on straighter for the super speedways to reduce drag, and a bit more "sideways" for the shorter tracks to have the air on the outside of the car "push" the front of the car around the corners.Holy E36 M3. That's cool.
The old cars were amazing to look at. Look at the front of a downforce car vs. a restrictor plate car:
poopshovel wrote:they also hang the bodies differently for different tracks.. they put them on straighter for the super speedways to reduce drag, and a bit more "sideways" for the shorter tracks to have the air on the outside of the car "push" the front of the car around the corners.Holy E36 M3. That's cool.
yeah, but they're still just a bunch of rednecks racing their ancient buggies in circles..
But, they are getting paid to race.
(for most of us, the cash flows in the opposite direction)
Any questions?
novaderrik wrote: yeah, but they're still just a bunch of rednecks racing their ancient buggies in circles..
Yep, there is nothing hard about having a winning car in stockcar racing...
erohslc wrote: But, they are getting *paid* to race. (for most of us, the cash flows in the opposite direction) Any questions?
Even at your local circle track they have payouts, although it doesn't typically cover the cost of a set of tires. But hey, entry fees are $25 for a pit pass and your good to go racing. 
I have an ex-COT wing on my Miata. When I got it, there was a Gurney flap on one of the end plates. I'm guessing it was for just a tiny little bit of side force in the endless left turns. Cool.
In reply to Keith Tanner:
didn't know they were allowed the Gurney
but yea, makes sense, cool
Curmudgeon wrote: That's pretty interesting. There have been many incremental sneaky rule bending things like this over the years, this shows there is still plenty of development available. I still like the best cheat of all time: how Ford designed the GT40 radiator openings to create downforce without having an illegal 'wing'. If you look at Ferraris etc of the time, that was a MASSIVE advantage and well hidden.
Didn't really work though, the front ends would still lift at top speed on the Mulsane and the drivers could turn the wheel without any reaction from the car until they backed out of it.
The brakes were also only good for one stop from top speed per lap. By the time they came back around, the brakes would be cool enough to stop at the end of the front straight.
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