11 replies to this topic

[Kieran]

In this high-tech world of Formula One, with carbon-fibre this, and titanium-alloy that, why on earth do the cars have a great chunk of wood on the aerodynamically-important underbelly of the car?!

Kieran

[The Swerve]

It's pretty quick and easy to measure wear I guess.

[Yelnats]

The FIA mandated wood plank is designed to wear down and give an indication if a car is running to low. After the race the plank is measured for thickness and those with too thin a plank are disqualified. A material like titanium would wear very little (lots of pretty sparks though) and measurements of these small dimensions would be very difficult.

I suspect some cars will run into problems with too much plank wear. To avoid wear teams will have to adjust the ride heights so high up that the cars will handle terrible on the fast corners due to loss of down force. The closer to the track the front of the car runs the greater the down force so with the high ride heights required, racing speeds should be much lower than qualifying.

[This message has been edited by Yelnats (edited 03-26-2000).]

[silver fan]

The plank is yet another example of the short-sightedness of the F.I.A.. In there ongoiing attempts to stifle even the merest sign of intiative or free thinking Max Mosely and his cronies decided in there infinate wisdom to bolt a chunk of wood to the undertrays of the cars in attempt to control lap times.

[desmo]

Here are the full technical regulations in regard to the skid blocks:


3.13 Skid block :

3.13.1) Beneath the surface formed by all parts lying on the reference plane, a rectangular skid block must be fitted. This skid
block may comprise more than one piece but must :

a) extend longitudinally from a point lying 33cm behind the front wheel centre line to the centre line of the rear wheels.

b) be made from an homogeneous material with a specific gravity between 1.3 and 1.45.

c) have a width of 30cm with a tolerance of +/- 2mm.

d) have a thickness of 10mm with a tolerance of +/- 1mm.

e) have a uniform thickness when new.

f) have no holes or cut outs other than those necessary to fit the fasteners permitted by 3.13.2 or those holes specifically
mentioned in g) below.

g) have six precisely placed holes in order that it's thickness can be measured at any time. These holes must be 50mm in
diameter and must be placed in the positions detailed in Fig.1 of Appendix 1. In order to establish the conformity of the skid
block after use, it's thickness will only be measured in these holes.

h) be fixed symmetrically about the centre line of the car in such a way that no air may pass between it and the surface formed
by the parts lying on the reference plane.

3.13.2) Fasteners used to attach the skid block to the car must :

a) have a total area no greater than 400cm² when viewed from directly beneath the car ;

b) be no greater than 20cm² in area individually when viewed from directly beneath the car ;

c) be fitted in order that their entire lower surfaces are visible from directly beneath the car .

Ten of the fasteners may be flush with the lower surface of the skid block but the remainder may be no more than 8mm below
the reference plane .

3.13.3) The lower edge of the periphery of the skid block may be chamfered at an angle of 30° to a depth of 8mm, the trailing
edge however may be chamfered over a distance of 200mm to a depth of 8mm.

Please note that at no point is a material specified for the blocks, only the stipulation that the material must be homogeneous and within a a specific gravity (density) range. This is commonly misunderstood.

[Haz]

Wait a minute, a specific gravity of 1.45? I assume they mean 1.45 times more dense than water. However wood floats so it is less dense than water, so its specific gravity should be less than 1? Shouldn't it?

[Williams]

I doubt whether these are your house-buliding or furniture woods. Some of the woods used for certain aircraft applications would definitely not float !

[Yelnats]

Originally posted by Yelnats:
etc etc.......I suspect some cars will run into problems with too much plank wear. To avoid wear teams will have to adjust the ride heights so high up that the cars will handle terrible on the fast corners due to loss of down force....etc etc.

As my post quoted above stated, plank wear will be a big problem on such a rough circuit. It looks like most teams choose to ignore the planks or it may have been impossible to set the cars high enough to avoid excessive wear.

As far as the new surface in concerned, the resurfacing crew has screwed up big time on this circuit. Speaking from 30 years experience in the freeway design business, there are seveal paving techniques that would have avoided the roughness paved into this circuit but instead they choose to use "Driveway Paving" crews who haven't the skills to prepare a high speed driving surface.

The surface problems, along with the sign falling incidents should make the FIA question whether this circuit deserves to be included in the F1 championship title chase.

[Laphroaig]

When was 'the plank' first introduced in the regulations?
That question has been bugging me for quite a while now, but I haven't had time to look it up...

It was also introduced to lift the car (essp. sidepods) higher off the ground, so there would be less earodynamical grip due to 'ground-effect' this was meant to slow the cars doen in corners.
Bring back the old magnesium skidplates!!! That would have been cool on the straight last weekend! Cars passing eachother at the end of the straight in a huge shower of sparks ;)

[Nomad]

from memory
The plank was one of the rules to come in as a result of Senna's accident. It was around in 94. I think it appeared around 3races after Imola.
Not sure on this at all...but it kinda feels like the answer.

They were definitely on by Spa94.
I was a huge fan of the showering sparks too

[This message has been edited by Nomad (edited 03-28-2000).]

[Frans MSH]

http://www.dailyf1ne...00/3/28-01.html

[Jackdaw]

Do all the teams use the same kind of wood in their planks? If so, what is it? Does Minardi have to use particle board?



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Jackdaw

"If it wasn't for disappointments, I wouldn't have any appointments"