Fugly race cars

[SteveH]

To borrow a phrase from Methanolandbrats, why do some race cars look like they could have been "designed" in twenty minutes with a drill and sawzall? :rofl:

What is it about the IRL's specs that resulted in cars that are ugly. What is it with GrandAm's specs that have resulted in the same? I'll admit the airbox on an open wheel car does disrupt the lines and creates styling 'issues' and its not just limited to the IRL. Its only recently that I've begun to again like the looks of F1 cars. So its not just an IRL thing. But by far those cars are as unsightly as any on any track. Same with the DPs. Most of them look like crap with their huge greenhouse. Is ugly a result of some unique rule those series have?

[Rob]

Well, the DPs' greenhouses are so wide because they wanted to increase the frontal area without increasing downforce. That way they could limit both cornering and straightline speeds in one shot. I wish they could have found a more elegant solution.

[pchall]

Well, the DPs' greenhouses are so wide because they wanted to increase the frontal area without increasing downforce. That way they could limit both cornering and straightline speeds in one shot. I wish they could have found a more elegant solution.

They could have done without the rear wing and just mandated the surface area and angle of a big ducktail spoiler from the mid 60s.

[FCYTravis]

The high roofline and huge greenhouse is also, I understand, an (over)reaction to the only fatal accident which Grand-Am has ever experienced.

In 2002, Jeff Clinton, driving an Archangel Motorsports SRP2 Lola B2K/40, was decapitated at Homestead when his car flipped and went upside-down into a barrier :eek: :(

[SteveH]

The high roofline and huge greenhouse is also, I understand, an (over)reaction to the only fatal accident which Grand-Am has ever experienced.

In 2002, Jeff Clinton, driving an Archangel Motorsports SRP2 Lola B2K/40, was decapitated at Homestead when his car flipped and went upside-down into a barrier :eek: :(

However that wasn't due to car design, was it? I thought there was a structural failure, roll bar IIRC.

[JT265]

However that wasn't due to car design, was it? I thought there was a structural failure, roll bar IIRC.

Yep.

[nissan gtp]

Grand Am cars look they way they do since something has to be uglier and more ungainly the the COT :gomer:

IRL sleds are ugly mainly due to the nooooooose. They biggie wings don't help either. And then there's the sound.... it's the complete package 'o uglee :yuck:

[opinionated ow]

Grand Am cars look they way they do since something has to be uglier and more ungainly the the COT :gomer:

IRL sleds are ugly mainly due to the nooooooose. They biggie wings don't help either. And then there's the sound.... it's the complete package 'o uglee :yuck:

crapwagons look fugly for a few reasons me reckonsL
-long spindly flat nose
-oversize "barn door" wings
-wanky (i have no other way to describe them) sidepods that are taller on the outside than on the insde
-weird as mirrors
-awful sounding 3.5L V8s. i still don't understand why they didn't adopt air restricted ASCS specification 360ci V8s. not only do they sound good, they are readily available and pretty much cheap as chips

[Andrew Longman]

crapwagons look fugly for a few reasons me reckonsL
-long spindly flat nose
-oversize "barn door" wings
-wanky (i have no other way to describe them) sidepods that are taller on the outside than on the insde
-weird as mirrors
-awful sounding 3.5L V8s. i still don't understand why they didn't adopt air restricted ASCS specification 360ci V8s. not only do they sound good, they are readily available and pretty much cheap as chips

That pretty much nails it, esp. the nose and wings. The airbox is also an issue put if they are not going to run turbos I'll accept the functional necessity

[SteveH]

But why the long spindly nose? Is that particular part of the chassis mandated by spec or design parameter or did it just end up that way as part of the entire package - both current chassis (even though one no longer competes) both share this design "feature"?

I understand the mirrors and side pod design created issues with the driver being able to see beside and behind the car, especially with the smaller drivers like Danica. The mirrors I believe are not mandated as to design and consequently we see all sorts of designs, some of them just plain weird.

Barndoor wings are mandated. So there is one design parameter that does effect the overall look of the chassis.

The sound of the engine, while harsh, doesn't contribute to or detract from the visual appeal of the car.

[FCYTravis]

The roll bar wouldn't have helped anyway because it was one of those single-basket-hoop-behind-the-driver designs, and if you flip an open-cockpit car upside down and fly into a barrier with nothing in front of your helmet... :(

That's how I understand the accident, anyway.

[cameraman]

Given the design, if he was inverted and skimmed the top of the rail it wouldn't much matter which hit first:shakehead

http://homepage.mac.com/datkinso/.Pictures/250_3.jpg

[emjaya]

Grand Am cars are just copys of ugly 80's sportscars to my thinking. :)


http://i19.tinypic.com/63kbg9h.jpg

http://i3.tinypic.com/4pmbkw0.jpg

[pchall]

Is that GTP Lights car an early Tiga chassis? Anyway, the Crapotype makes it look like a work of art.

[emjaya]

Courage Cougar C02 Ford DFV (http://www.courage-competition.com/htmgb/const_historique.php?nom=Cougar+C02+Ford) :)

[NismoZ]

Be interesting to see how the new ALMS mandated coupes will look. Saw an Allard at the old-timey races at RA a couple of years ago. Just because it has a roof doesn't mean it'll be ugly. That thing was a work of art. Had it raced in the US? I'd never seen it before. 90s? LeMans? I think it was with Toad Hall Racing. Pic anyone?

[NismoZ]

Whoa. Went to www.ToadHallRacing.com and found about a zillion pics. A bunch from RA in '05. It's a 1992 Allard J2XC-001. Take a look if you've never seen this car. Of course, it WAS '92 so I don't know how "safe" it was.

[nissan gtp]

this one ? link (http://www.mulsannescorner.com/allardj2xstory-2.html)
http://www.mulsannescorner.com/Allard-PM01.jpg

[NismoZ]

Yeppie.

[Indy]

this one ? link (http://www.mulsannescorner.com/allardj2xstory-2.html)
http://www.mulsannescorner.com/Allard-PM01.jpg

Dunno. That's pretty oogly to me.

[Spicoli]

this one ? link (http://www.mulsannescorner.com/allardj2xstory-2.html)
http://www.mulsannescorner.com/Allard-PM01.jpg

hey. got 750k?


WORLD CHAMPION
1990 Nissan Serial Number 90-1
Driven by Jeff Brabham to World Championship in 1990
Winner of 12 Hours of Sebring 1991

$750,000



http://www.toadhallracing.com/oppnissan.jpg

That would look good on you. :thumbup:

[SteveH]

Nothing wrong with this beast

http://www.billzilla.org/lemansbentey.jpg

[pchall]

Dunno. That's pretty oogly to me.

Doesn't look any better in red, and red should make any car look good.

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/Allard-CL11.jpg

[NismoZ]

Now THAT'S the angle where it actually looks best!:D

[cart7]

Nothing wrong with this beast

http://www.billzilla.org/lemansbentey.jpg


Form and function at the same time. :thumbup:

[Indy]

http://www.toadhallracing.com/oppnissan.jpg


Now, THAT is smoking hot. :thumbup: