multi21

Racing clutches and gear ratio. On series where there is a rolling start, there is no need for a low 1st gear, so those are the crews where you typically see the crew pushing off the pit lane.

In F1 where they have a standing start, the 1st gear ratio is much lower. You never see an F1 crew push a car.

Barfly

Yeah, I could have used a few pushes off the grid this past weekend as I was running a Stohr WF1 for the first time at the Sprints. I stalled it a number of times. When I got back in the SRF, I nearly stalled it due to the difference in clutch feel.

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Jason

SundayDriver

How did you do in the Stohr and how did you like it?

The motorcycle clutches get really difficult at high temps - they are on or off and not much in between.

The other question is - did you try to rev the SRF To 13,000 rpm? First time I jumped back in an SRF after my Stohr, I just could not get used to the sound and lack of revs for a while.

Greg Smith

I'm gonna have to bring some people with me to the next club race to push me off.

Larry Herman

Barfly

Qualified 4th with a 2:12. Weekend was pretty ****ty overall as I blew the engine in Q2 (despite short-shifting the entire weekend at less than 12000). Fastest guys were below 2:10 which was my goal for the race. Didn't run the race.

SRF wasn't much better as I was running top 3 times during the test day (2:40 flat). Ended up qualifying 10th in traffic. Had a MAF sensor come loose on the opening lap of the race and watched 50+ cars steamroll by. Those rumble strips are rough.

Loved the Stohr though. It felt like a fighter jet. I still can't believe what it was capable of. It made the SRF feel like a school bus. I think I will park the SRF for a while.

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Jason

multi21

Your not too far off. I push my kid everytime off the grid after starting her kart on the grid. You can fry a clutch just sitting there trying to get started. Ask ltc

SundayDriver

Impressive performance in both classes with bad luck. Who owned the WF1?

Barfly

It was Jean-Luc's car. Can't wait to take it to the Glen next month where he holds the track record at a 1:51.

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Jason

ltc

Been there, done that.
The new KF clutches are VERY fragile (re: expensive) with regards to a standing start.
We always push them just like we would an ICC (KZ2) shifter...always fun to watch a rookie pushing a shifter and as soon as it starts and takes off, face plant into the asphalt...a ritual that every Dad has to go thru...

chris walrod

This is because of their anti-stall electronics -- no need to push the car.

For other open wheel series, pushing the car is simply to avoid the dreaded stall and to decrease the outlap time as much as possible. Also there is a bonus in minimizing drivetrain stress.

As mentioned above, if in for fuel only, if the driver doesnt quite get the tire lit up, you can easily twist driveshafts. Ovals are the worst since you have a spool and tire stagger. If the tires grip in the pit box, it plays hell on the drivetrain.

Buddy Rice was really hard on driveshafts. Its not uncommon for a two car Indycar team that has one car with driveshafts that twist at a different rate than the sister car even with similar mileages. Often times driveshafts are pitched when they twist a certain amount, not necessarily soley on mileage. Some teams count the pitstops that are on them.

So, any stress the crew can minimize by pushing the tractor off the pit box is worth the effort.

SundayDriver

I kind of suspected that from the car number (he never gets #8 at the Sprints). That car is insane in its development level - titanium brake rotors, etc, etc. Have fun in it. Are you considering buying it - if so, you can't get a better WF1 out there and Jean-Luc is a great guy and straight shooter. (I know him from both my SRF and DSR days.)

Jarez Mifkin

I disagree. The electronic assists make the GT easy to start for any driver. I've found that a RSR is harder to launch than a GT.

Barfly

Bought it. Great deal with a very nice spare package. It is a great car, and Jean-Luc and Chris Young are both great.

Mark, you were the one that got me going down this slippery slope 2 years ago!! I started in SRF on your recommendation, and now look where I am, in a Stohr.

I won't get rid of the SRF though. It's hard to find a better wheel-to-wheel package.

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Jason

A.Wayne

Bahhh ..............................................