TAFC Bodies/Side Spill-Plates

Our team just purchased an alcohol Funnycar, and I had a question about the spill plates. The body that is coming with the car is a 2002 Firebird and has only the center fin on the back of the body instead of both sides being there. I was just curious to know what are the advantages and disadvantages of this...seems a lot of the top-runners are going to this lately. We've never run a Funnycar before, but have run in TAD for 25 years, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[ December 29, 2003, 06:42 PM: Message edited by: Nathan Sitko - 625 TAD ]

 

We ran big giant spill plates and switched to very small carbon fibre ones, car handled the same. I was told by one of the guys that ran the
"shark fin" that if they didnt need a place for decals they wouldnt run anything. when you run the single fin you do need the little side plates behind the tailights to help it from sucking the parachutes under the body which is a BIG problem anyway.
Marc White

 

We plan to run the fin with the new car. With the new body's, we were told that there is to much down force and drag all ready. But we were also told that the fin has to be straght or it will act more like a rudder than spill plates.

[ December 29, 2003, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: Funnycarbob ]

 

The champ runs side spill plates.

enough said.

 

If I'm not mistaken the bodies that Steve Gassperelli(sp) and Shawn Jones were running at Pomona had spill plates...both were Fuel Firebird, Fuel Camaro...I think Gassperelli had high MPH...make alot of HP and don't worry about it...

[ December 29, 2003, 08:21 PM: Message edited by: imjustafan ]

 

Have to agree with Dan.

New to TAFC - look to the #1 car

 

The car we bought is actually the car that Steve Gasparelli crashed near the beginning of 2003. We build/repair chassis for ourselves and for other racers, as well as a lot of other work, so we're going to front-half the chassis and fix the body. I was mostly wondering about the handling of the car and if it changes how stable it is at the top end. I am curious as to what others think because this car already has the fin in the middle, not sure if that is easily changed or not.

 

The sides of the old 1996 Firebird bodies were shaped like a potato and needed taller spill plates to stabilize them downtrack. The first few times I drove with one it had very small side spill plates and the car wandered very easily on the top end (kinda like a drunk) especially at divisional events. At the prompting of Mike and Doug Gordon (who complained about the same problem with their car back then), I put on a larger set and it really calmed it down with no loss in speed.

The newer bodies are more straight up and down looking down the sides and likely don't need them as much. However, being new to funny car I'd be inclined to recommend side spill plates especially if you plan on running on marginal (points race type) tracks where there's no rubber from 1/2 track on. The purpose of the spill plates is to hold the air on the deck in front of any amount of spoiler you elect to run. If you end up with a loose race car, you have no options with the shark fin. Some of the shark fin racers in the past have switched back and forth depending on track conditions. At Pomona the track was so good you didn't even need a body.

When we got our current body I had the taller side spill plates put on because I don't think they hurt, and possibly could help in the way of handling. Manzo's results with his 262 mile per hour run with the same body and spill plate size confirms it. There's a hired aerodynamisist (sp)in Orange County who thinks the shark fin is a decorator item, or a place to put stickers on and that's it. Monkey see/monkee do? Or doo? Don't know.

Good luck.

 

Randy,

You have a good style of writing. Have you ever thought about writing for ND? Sort of like Fletcher does?

 

Dan:

I would if they would sponsor my funny car!

RG

Photo coutesy of Dave Kommel:



[ December 30, 2003, 06:04 AM: Message edited by: Randy G. ]

 

It looks like to me that it doesn't matter which you use. Manzo uses the side spill plates. Gasperelli, and Jones use the "fuel" style bodies with side spill plates. Bucky Austin, Jay Payne and Chuck Cheeseman use the "alcohol" style bodies with the "shark fin". Then there's Tate Branch's approach which I don't know what to call. It looks like to me it's not the body/wing setup, it's the whole package.

 

Hey Dan Lynch Email me.
Dean

 

Bucky has a spoiler with small side spill plates that he attaches when he needs more downforce. It looks weird in combination with the shark fin, but it definitely stabilizes the car.