12 replies to this topic

[Graham Clayton]

Fellow members,

I have a vague memory of seeing a late 1960's NASCAR that had a hole cut in the lower right corner of the front firewall, so that the driver could visually see how much wear the right front tyre had left, in order to know when to pit for a tyre change.

Would someone be able to post a picture of this to confirm my memory? Also, was this a NASCAR rule, or did individual drivers cut out the hole for their own safety and peace of mind?

Edited by Graham Clayton, 16 March 2012 - 00:02.

[kayemod]

A bit like those little windows on the Tyrrell P34?

[RacingCompagniet]

Or the prewar Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz streamlined AVUS specials

[Emery0323]

Fellow members,

I have a vague memory of seeing a late 1960's NASCAR that had a hole cut in the lower right corner of the front firewall, so that the driver could visually see how much wear the right front tyre had left, in order to know when to pit for a tyre change.

Would someone be able to post a picture of this to confirm my memory? Also, was this a NASCAR rule, or did individual drivers cut out the hole for their own safety and peace of mind?

I can't find a good picture of it on a real 1:1 NASCAR, but here's a 1/25 scale model with a very detailed interior that shows the trap door clearly:

http://www.randyayer...pic.php?t=23943

Edited by Emery0323, 16 March 2012 - 21:58.

[ZOOOM]

Your memory is correct. In the early days of Nascar the tires were normal street tires. To check on the wear of the right front most cars were equipped with a little trap door on the right of the firewall, opened by a string or cable from the drivers seat. This allowed the driver to see how far the right front tire was worn. The flap was spring loaded closed, so that anything flung up by the tire wouldn't come into the cockpit...

ZOOOM

[HeskethBoy]

Wasn't the viewing hole a contributing factor to the end of Flocko Jocko's career?

[Tim Murray]

It would seem so:

http://www.timflock.com/jocko.htm

[Aero426]

The trap doors for checking tires were common into the early 1960's. This one is on a 1964 Holman-Moody Ford currently under restoration.

[Aero426]

This is a similar 1964 Ford. There is a piece of clothesline wrapped around the roll bar. It is attached to the trap door. The driver would pull on the string to open the door. Sometimes there was a light or strobe shining on the tire to assist the viewing. All this at 140 mph at Darlington.

[arttidesco]

The driver would pull on the string to open the door. Sometimes there was a light or strobe shining on the tire to assist the viewing. All this at 140 mph at Darlington.

Quite at variance with the European view that NASCAR was unsophisticated

[Sisyphus]

This is a similar 1964 Ford. There is a piece of clothesline wrapped around the roll bar. It is attached to the trap door. The driver would pull on the string to open the door. Sometimes there was a light or strobe shining on the tire to assist the viewing. All this at 140 mph at Darlington.

I'll bite--what does "WHM?" stand for? Mind you, April 1 is only a couple of days away...

[Aero426]

I'll bite--what does "WHM?" stand for? Mind you, April 1 is only a couple of days away...

It was a not so gentle reminder from Ralph Moody to his driver Fred Lorenzen to keep his focus: "Think! What the hell matters?" In other words, "use your head".

Edited by Aero426, 30 March 2012 - 21:47.

[Sisyphus]

Thanks for the answer, Aero426!

Sorry for the late acknowledgement (internet issues...).