Re: What other classes did you consider and were your criter
Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 5:59 am
JoshO wrote:I like how detailed your analysis is, but here are my thoughts:
NP01 fundamentally might be the same concept. however, only 30 exist. They are well over double the cost of a gen3. Likely proportionally costly to run. Speeds will be higher so that starts to offset safety of the more modern chassis.
Oval racing does have better safety/communication info, but incidents are more frequent due to higher car count per mile. Many of the infield/pit entrances/gates are not properly designed and offer chances bad "freak" accidents. Safer barriers don't exist. Which is even more important in my opinion, as every turn is basically a big hairpin with no runoff. Half of all racing deaths in last ten years were at small ovals: http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports ... you-think/
There are no doubt hazards with road racing. There is large opportunity to be smarter about safety measures in road racing. You can find a thread where I bring up that point.
Some oval track cars are a bit wilder. On pavement, the next step is NASCAR modifieds: 650hp, 2600lb (5x the power and just a bit more weight than a Spec Miata) on 16" wide tires with 13" wide wheels. Solid axle front and rear. There a variety of open-wheel sprint and midgets. Some really extreme; one class has 8L Chevy's with wings on the roof that look like they were cut off an airliner. Then a lot of these classes or a variation run on dirt. Then there are low-cost legends which aren't that slow but don't have much protection around the driver.
So yes, some oval track racing can be dangerous.
Compared to a Spec Racer, the extra cost of the NP01 comes in its sequential gearbox, roof, more expensive brakes (Stoptech). The MCS shocks are probably not much different in cost than the Penske's. Elan just couldn't build for a price.
A stock car chassis is around $3500, maybe 40% less than an SRF, closer in design to an NP01, and with more material than either by a bit. Upper control arms with bearings, mounts that use slugs to reposition, are about $140. Really cheap arms are maybe $50.
They say a new P2 version of the ESR will be less expensive. I wouldn't be surprised if a comprehensive look at the costs of the SRF couldn't bring it down 20%-30% while improving safety.