My Spec Racer Atom is Finished
06-03-2012 | 02:08 PM
#16
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From: 01776
Hi Laurie. I don't know if NCR/NER will allow me to run the car at PCA DEs. We are gonna leave the car at Monticello and use it mainly there.....for now!
06-03-2012 | 02:12 PM
#17
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From: San Martin, CA
Joe,
No other open cockpit car I am aware of has such a large opening between the side intrusion bars protecting the driver's head. Formula 1, IndyCar, SRF, FF, etc., all have much better protection. At least that is the impression I get from looking at the chassis in photographs.
There is no "lack of understanding" here. I understand that it is a purpose built race car. I am using "pillar" terminology that we all can relate to to discuss where I would like to see additional structure. As far as I am concerned, I feel the driver far too exposed in the design of this car. I don't care how smart the designers are or what kind of engineers they have working on the car. If the Atom got underneath another car, the driver could have a real problem. More so than with any other open cockpit car I am aware of.
Again, this is my opinion. If others don't share the opinion, that's great. I am not saying other people should not drive or race the SRA. That is their choice.
Scott
No other open cockpit car I am aware of has such a large opening between the side intrusion bars protecting the driver's head. Formula 1, IndyCar, SRF, FF, etc., all have much better protection. At least that is the impression I get from looking at the chassis in photographs.
There is no "lack of understanding" here. I understand that it is a purpose built race car. I am using "pillar" terminology that we all can relate to to discuss where I would like to see additional structure. As far as I am concerned, I feel the driver far too exposed in the design of this car. I don't care how smart the designers are or what kind of engineers they have working on the car. If the Atom got underneath another car, the driver could have a real problem. More so than with any other open cockpit car I am aware of.
Again, this is my opinion. If others don't share the opinion, that's great. I am not saying other people should not drive or race the SRA. That is their choice.
Scott
06-03-2012 | 02:13 PM
#18
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From: 01776
Congrats Coochas!
As you know I'm a long time Atom owner, and was fortunate to be a guest driver at a SRA event at VIR last year. If you are on the fence about racing, I'd say go for it with the TMI setup at VIR. I've had some experience racing various cars, tracks, & series, and the SRA setup is the best in all categories. The way they treat the drivers is especially nice.
Whether you race it or not, you'll love this car. One word of advice - patience. If you can't drive it like the Stig at first, take your time & don't push to hard. These aren't like the cars most of us are used to, & they can be a handful. Enjoy learning how to tame that.
As you know I'm a long time Atom owner, and was fortunate to be a guest driver at a SRA event at VIR last year. If you are on the fence about racing, I'd say go for it with the TMI setup at VIR. I've had some experience racing various cars, tracks, & series, and the SRA setup is the best in all categories. The way they treat the drivers is especially nice.
Whether you race it or not, you'll love this car. One word of advice - patience. If you can't drive it like the Stig at first, take your time & don't push to hard. These aren't like the cars most of us are used to, & they can be a handful. Enjoy learning how to tame that.
I definitely plan on being patient with the car especially since this is my first open wheel vehicle aside from a lawnmower.
I watched your Vimeo vid from the VIR race many times when I was preparing for my trip there. You were smoking!
The actual structure of the chassis is a larger surface area than any of the gaps in the side of the chassis. (see 2nd to last picture) Everything that is hanging in front of that radiator has no structure to it. It's just some fiberglass. The car won't be spearing through like you want to imagine or submarining, it's just not that low. I've had the displeasure of sitting right seat when a driver put one in the tire wall and even squishy tires didn't intrude into the cockpit. The car took a pretty darn good lick and we were able to get it back out on track later that day even.
A-pillar/B-pillar structure. This is a purpose built racecar, not a street car don't use those terms as they don't apply. Main hoop, front hoop yes but talking about pillars just shows a lack of understanding about that type of chassis.
As for the frontal area. It's an OPEN cockpit car. Biggest class in SCCA is open cockpit. F1 is open cockpit. Yes there are some dangers but no different than any other open car. The car does have forward bracing off the main hoop that does a lot to protect the driver.
The SRA is not like the normal atom (no bolt on roll hoops, etc.) and has some extensive development done by guys who engineered for a couple of GrandAm DP teams, various upper level open wheel series and the like. What the pictures don't show is the office area off to one side with all the computers and the associated certifiably smart people running them. I was skeptical of the car at first when they talked about the series but the additions and upgrades to the chassis were well done and addressed the issues I had.
As dp35 says, patience. The car is a great learning tool as it doesn't hide mistakes like most of the cars that people drive on here. It rewards smooth as much as any other car I've driven. It also demands some concentration as well, especially in the wet. A couple years back I was giving charity rides for over 8 hours straight on a wet track. Got home that night and slept for 14 straight hours. I was beat. They are a blast and I always had fun driving one. While the SRA doesn't ahve the supercharger it's still incredibly quick.
A-pillar/B-pillar structure. This is a purpose built racecar, not a street car don't use those terms as they don't apply. Main hoop, front hoop yes but talking about pillars just shows a lack of understanding about that type of chassis.
As for the frontal area. It's an OPEN cockpit car. Biggest class in SCCA is open cockpit. F1 is open cockpit. Yes there are some dangers but no different than any other open car. The car does have forward bracing off the main hoop that does a lot to protect the driver.
The SRA is not like the normal atom (no bolt on roll hoops, etc.) and has some extensive development done by guys who engineered for a couple of GrandAm DP teams, various upper level open wheel series and the like. What the pictures don't show is the office area off to one side with all the computers and the associated certifiably smart people running them. I was skeptical of the car at first when they talked about the series but the additions and upgrades to the chassis were well done and addressed the issues I had.
As dp35 says, patience. The car is a great learning tool as it doesn't hide mistakes like most of the cars that people drive on here. It rewards smooth as much as any other car I've driven. It also demands some concentration as well, especially in the wet. A couple years back I was giving charity rides for over 8 hours straight on a wet track. Got home that night and slept for 14 straight hours. I was beat. They are a blast and I always had fun driving one. While the SRA doesn't ahve the supercharger it's still incredibly quick.
I will do my best to be patient with it. I am WICKED excited !!!!!!
06-03-2012 | 02:16 PM
#19
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From: 01776
06-03-2012 | 07:03 PM
#22
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06-03-2012 | 07:09 PM
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BTDT!
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Specializing in Professional, Private Driver Performance Evaluation and Optimization
Consultation Available Remotely and at VIRginia International Raceway
06-04-2012 | 12:56 AM
#29
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Where have you seen this? I've read the RPM, DE Minimum Standards, Risk Management, and all of the other docuements relating to DE and never seen that. I also haven't received any info in regards to this from National.
06-04-2012 | 02:37 AM
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