I dont frequent the RR forum much but we're just starting to get into it ourselves since alot of our customers are from the RR scene.

Since we're doing Racing front ends for the drag cars, I was curious if there was a need for wider front fenders like what Rodney offered in the past and also a matching rear flare for the rear. I guess I'm asking to see how to setup our car.
Are there tire restrictions on certain classes?
Is it preffered to go to a wider tire in most cases?
* If so, are people not doing it because of class rules or
its just not necessary?

 

People running time attack I think would be interested.

 

Pretty simple to figure out.

Who are you racing with? www.nasaproracing.com www.scca.org

Then from there What class are you going to run in? HC? PT? IT? PT? ST? Prod limited prep or full prep?

then from there you can decided if it is legal or not legal. No one can give you a blanket statement.

Or are you looking into doing Time Attack stuff? super lap battle? or redline Time Attack? What class? street, limited unlimited?

Read the rules for those classes and see if it is legal.

Or are you interested in SCCA auto-X? Like what HT member Rodney did?


If you are looking to see if there is a demand, then i'd say maybe 10 to 15 sets a year would sell.

 

In most of the road racing classes, the rules stipulate whether you can modify the fender for additional tire clearance. In most cases, you cannot modify fenders. However, in time attacks, the rules are usually more lenient and many classes allow running modified fenders.

So, lets assume that for argument purposes that wider fenders are allowed and we are talking about FWD cars for the moment. Because FWD cars on road courses require that both cornering and tractive forces be translated by the heavier end of the car (in most cases), the consideration of the front tire size is critically important to performance. As most know, wider tires optimized for proper camber of the same compound invariably generate higher maximum levels of grip. So, going wider is usually better up to the point where the added inertia (both linear and rotational) of the larger wheel and tire combo and the added frontal area start negatively affecting performance.

At the same time, you must consider which size of rear tire you want to run with this new larger front tire. Theoretically, a different sized rear tire may be used for best performance and of course this would need to be determined to help balance out the car, especially where mechanical grip is concerned (i.e. low speed). Since the same inertia and aerodynamic considerations apply to the rear of the car, this will also factor into the "best-compromise" of front to rear fender modifications.

Same other considerations on how wide to make the car's fenders are the following:

1. Power - How much do plan to run? Big power = big tires

2. Drag: More drag (aero, rolling resistance) you produce, the more power needed to overcome it at a given speed. You need to optimize your tire size to your power.

3. Costs: Bigger tires = bigger wheels (optimally) = bigger brakes = more expensive

4. Downforce levels, especially at the front of a sedan based car since the rear DF will be used to balance the car at high speeds.

5. FWD, RWD, AWD will all have different requirements.

6. Which tire is used? Higher grip tires can be smaller than lower grip tires.

7. Time Attack or Road Race: TA tires can be smaller due to the fact that the tires don't have to last (before tires go off performance wise) a 30 minute race. TA tire's only need to last a lap or two depending on the rules and other factors.

This is a great engineering problem that will require a lot of thought and design iteration to arrive at a good solution.

 

There are almost a class for everything. You can build your car to whatever you like and run it in the class that fits for it. Of course competitive is not a guarantee.

Or, you can do it like Slammed alluded to. Read the rule book, determine which class you want to run and build the car according to the rules.
There will always be rules or limitation for any given class.

 

if you make them for a crx I would buy them

 

Another glimmer off the diamond that is Johnny Mac.

Scott, who struggles over less than great engineering problems and fritterates to excess I am sure...

 

I think your main demographic would be for autocrossers. especially ones trying to fit 275/35/15.
only thing is that kind limits you to one class of car (street modified).
really not many other classes that allow cars to run non stock fender flares.
same thing goes for alot of the classes in SCCA and NASA club racing.

you might have some demand from Time Attack participants also.

 

If you want to sell enough of them to make them worth producing for your intended use, regardless of performance-related demand, show them off on the appearance forum; market and sell them as the new bling.

 

Are you forgetting the existence of Prepared and Modified classes?

A number of new/old Hondas are now running G-Prepared or plan to move there and many will continue to run in E-Prepared. I could use some extended fenders.

 

If you need a set of Rodney's fenders for research, check out my sig!

I ended up modifying the OEM fenders rather then using Rodney's. His fenders also cause clearance issues for me be cause I'm running a 17" rim.

 

x2

 

x3!

 

i like metal fenders. they can bend back :-/
but to the o.p.-you have to first find out weather or not it would be legal for the class your customers plan to run in. then go from there.

 

Or Street Prepared, although in that case the fenders cannot be replaced with fiberglass, but rather they can be trimmed for clearance and flares added.

 

Street prepared allows add-on fender flares. I'd be interested in a set of affordable flares for a DC2 to fit my 275/35/15's on 10.5" wheels.

 

hows it going Will are u going to keep ignoring my phone calls. i have left u numerous messages and not one return phone call. And when i do get u on the phone u tell me your going to call me right back, but never do. All i want now is my money back for the h22 arias pistons that i returned back to u. sorry that it has come to me having to post in your threads but i don't like being dicked around. and if u have some how forgot who i am my name is kenny g the guy who needed the custom 88mm arias h22 pistons. but not anymore i just want my money back. like u said u would do

 

I wasnt ignoring you. I just got the pistons back and didnt getto check it about midday yesterday(Tuesday) and I got an emergency call and had to leave to go out of town to San Fransciso right away. I got back this morning at 4am and came in a little late today. I just did a turn around of 12 hours of driving back and forth on a short notice. Give me a break man.


BTW Thanks for the info guys. Will look into those links when preparing our car.

 

me and Will have spoken and the issue is being resolved