ET with and without wheelie.

[Dan Bennett]

I've been sitting here a while deciding whether to post. I honestly could write a couple of pages but will try and keep it as concise as i can.

Though my experience was mostly in a different class, I've had this conversation with class racers a few times. It's probably going to be a very unpopular view here, but in each case I told them that wheelies simply slowed a car down. Every one of them disagreed and told me that stockers and superstockers had to do them. But wait! My opinion is only true if there are no other variables involved.

Think of the force it would take for 5 or six guys to lift the front end of the car to the same height if it was just sitting in the pits. Yes, suspension leverage will reduce that but it's still a question of straight physics. Whatever force is being used to lift the front end could/should be instead transferred to moving the car forward.

But like I said, it's complicated by variables. Forget wheelstands for a moment. Wheelspeed is everything. Period. Higher is better as long as they're driving the car and not losing momentum to excessive spin. So if a wheelie's effect on weight transfer to the rear tires keeps them from going out the window into being less effective moving the car forward, it will be an overall plus.

The people here will forget more than I will ever know about class racing. And it may just not be possible with what you have to work with to achieve tires right on the edge while keeping the front wheels dancing. But physics can't be denied, and that's the ideal case for power to the ground and acceleration.

A different class, but when I'd watch the edges of the slicks quiver all the way through first gear I knew it was going to be a good run.

[jimmyparker]

Back in the eighties I was running a SS/BA Corvette that did big wheelies and was told by most that l needed to calm it down some with limiters, etc. I tried several ways of keeping the front end on the ground but they all hurt the ET so I went back to letting it get pretty high and never looked back.

I would explain my theory but might get beat up by a physics major.

[1320racer]

4 decades ago no one built a double adjust shock. Today, they are readily available from multiple manufactures, my choice is Afco and with the turn of a knob




my car launches without any wheelie, dead hooks and runs quicker 60 foot and ET.

Oh and my engine makes more power than yours did and runs a smaller slick than you did.

[Dan Bennett]

Originally Posted by jimmyparker

Back in the eighties I was running a SS/BA Corvette that did big wheelies and was told by most that l needed to calm it down some with limiters, etc. I tried several ways of keeping the front end on the ground but they all hurt the ET so I went back to letting it get pretty high and never looked back.

I would explain my theory but might get beat up by a physics major.

That's pretty much what Kenny Schindler told me and I highly value both your opinions. Being proven wrong is one of the most valuable things that can happen in learning things. It's one reason I went ahead and posted what i did because obviously I must be missing something and would love to know what it is.

It's always frustrating for me to run into things like "that shouldn't work but it does" and "that was a big improvement but I have no idea why". I'm talking about those statements coming from racers I could not respect more and have no need to defend their abilities.

Thinking more about it, I guess even with all the years we've learned new things, there are still a lot of areas in drag racing like that. And I totally understand that when you're on the track, it doesn't matter if you can detail why something is quicker because all that matters is that it is.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

all that matters is that it is.

but it's NOT!

My Firebird IS a super stock car, built by arguably the best and it DOES ET quicker with no wheelie. The engine under the stock hood doesn't know it's not super stock legal.

[jimmyparker]

I forgot that my example was 40 years old and no one built good shocks back then but it appears that what worked then is still working reasonably well today but with much better control due to the evolution of shocks.

Exact reason I didn't share my theory.

Bracket cars and superstock cars are two different animals, transmissions, converters, gear ratios, power curves, etc., etc.

[Tim Barrett]

Going back to the first question of this post,if wheelies helped or hurt ET's,,Linda and I have definitely done testing for both and in our setup,69 Camaro 350 255hp in G/SA, the results were very impressive. Many might disagree but we found that our multi leaf rear suspension with slapper bars were just as good if not better than the modern day setup that so many run now. Also we found you need a really good front shock and springs to control the lift and landing. We also found a clamp on wheelie bar works great with the setup we have.
Overall,,Linda and I found,with all our computer data,that to much of a wheelie,,bumper scaping,affects et and no wheelie affects our ET and,,low horsepower and lots of horsepower affects ET plus wheel stands. One thing Linda and I know is Alan Rhinehart and Joe Castillo sure do like Stock Eliminator and wheel standing cars.

[1matcoman]

Originally Posted by Tim Barrett

One thing Linda and I know is Alan Rhinehart and Joe Castillo sure do like Stock Eliminator and wheel standing cars.

And, me!

[1320racer]

Alan Rhinehart likes my Firebird too

start at 4:01

[MR DERBY CITY]

Originally Posted by jimmyparker

Back in the eighties I was running a SS/BA Corvette that did big wheelies and was told by most that l needed to calm it down some with limiters, etc. I tried several ways of keeping the front end on the ground but they all hurt the ET so I went back to letting it get pretty high and never looked back.

I would explain my theory but might get beat up by a physics major.

Gotta agree with Jimmy on this one …I have been told that during the wheelie it makes the converter work more efficiently …...1320 please do not reply to my post…..I have dealt with enough IDIOTS today and like many on CR I do not give 2 ****z about your opinion OR your (. ) car ……