Lighter wheels = any E.T reduction?

[Wayne Scraba]

I maybe shouldn't wade in here because I really don't have a dog in the fight, but on the other hand, perhaps this info can help someone:

Decades ago, when I worked for the late great Super Stock & Drag Illustrated, I penned a tech article on the effects of reducing wheel weight. Sheldon Gecker (most here know of Sheldon) had run some well documented A-B-A tests of wheel weight on his Super Gas car. He went as far as having some heavy wheels made (same configuration as his light wheels), ran them and then switched to lighter wheels and then back to heavy wheels. The car definitely picked up with the light wheels. Keep in mind this was a relatively light, relatively high horsepower car. If I recall correctly, the goal was to improve the vehicle reaction and short times. Obviously for Sheldon, it worked.

On a similar note, shortly after that I was personally involved in another magazine driveshaft test on a very well sorted, consistent mid to high class NHRA Stock Eliminator car. I won't mention the racer's name, but he is smart, seasoned and meticulous. A stock DOM shaft was swapped for a lightweight (illegal of course...L-O-L) aluminum shaft and then back to the DOM shaft (typical A-B-A test). Conditions were monitored closely and it was all accomplished in a short period of time. The car definitely picked up with the light shaft.

My take by looking at the comments here is that the power and weight of the car can make a considerable difference. As a result, your results may vary...L-O-L