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  1. #1
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    Jul 2013
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    Default Thornton Jr's Door

    https://www.facebook.com/rickythornt...type=3&theater

    Unless it's an optical illusion, it appears his driver's door is not flush or "sealed" to the LR quarter. I'm sure it's not by accident (like they ran out of rivets), so I was wondering if anyone saw this in person, or has seen someone do this before?

    I can only assume it's to let air escape, but is there something to actually be gained by doing so?

    In looking at it again, the pic might have been taken while actually putting the wrap on, so maybe they did just drill out all but the very bottom rivet. Nonetheless, I'm curious...
    Last edited by TheJet-09; 01-09-2021 at 07:55 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
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    Default

    I would 100% bet that they removed the rivets or bolts holding the panels together to install the wrap.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
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    Default

    It's just too install the wrap. Very common practice

  4. #4
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    Default

    It makes sense. I tend to overthink things sometimes!

  5. #5

    Default

    They just aren't running fasteners where the door and quarter meet on either side. I believe it is to attempt to let air out from behind the body. He raced it that way I see.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rjs21 View Post
    They just aren't running fasteners where the door and quarter meet on either side. I believe it is to attempt to let air out from behind the body. He raced it that way I see.
    They took some out of the right side last night 😉

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    Wisconsin
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    Default

    Letting as much air out of the left side as possible will add downforce. Thas why I don't understand all the small wheel wells on the left side. I would open those puppies up and let as much of the air out as possible. When the car is in Yaw, almost all the time, the left rear corner becomes the rear of the car. Trapping air there acts like a parachute and takes away downforce. The right side is the exact opposite. seal it up as tight as possible.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    Macon GA
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ltemodel View Post
    Letting as much air out of the left side as possible will add downforce. Thas why I don't understand all the small wheel wells on the left side. I would open those puppies up and let as much of the air out as possible. When the car is in Yaw, almost all the time, the left rear corner becomes the rear of the car. Trapping air there acts like a parachute and takes away downforce. The right side is the exact opposite. seal it up as tight as possible.
    Cade dillard was letting a lot of air out his LF the other night when his flopper got ripped off....... why do you think he went straight backwards?

  9. #9
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    May 2007
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    Batavia, OH
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Burke1118 View Post
    Cade dillard was letting a lot of air out his LF the other night when his flopper got ripped off....... why do you think he went straight backwards?
    More importantly, he lost his nose sideboard. It had little effect on getting air out from under the car.

    That is also assuming his front end alignment was still all good.
    Modern Day Wedge Racing
    Florence -1

  10. #10
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    Oct 2017
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MasterSbilt_Racer View Post
    More importantly, he lost his nose sideboard. It had little effect on getting air out from under the car.That is also assuming his front end alignment was still all good.
    It was probably letting more in than out

  11. #11
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    Jun 2007
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    Wisconsin
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    Because of air spillage, the left front operates a little differently than the left rear. Remember a couple of years ago when Richards showed up at Screven, I think it was, his left rear was cut on an angle to let a bunch of air out. I think they outlawed it after the first night I believe. It was a huge advantage. Now, if the side of the front fender got ripped off close to where it mounts to the door, I could see where that would be an advantage. The air passing over the nose needs to create the vacuum formed by letting the air out in the back of the wheel well. That is why we always pull the front end out and tuck it in behind the tire.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
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    Default

    Many years ago, Ray Stonkus showed up at the Snowball Derby with the front nose completely sealed off. He had my friend who was the crew chief, fabricate a pan attached from the bottom of the nose to the steering rack. He told my buddy that he had been to the wind tunnel with a Cup team an found that it increased front downforce a ton!

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
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    212

    Default

    Most all the dirt rule books have had something in them for a while now that deems the pan illegal. Sure seems like a better way and lot cheaper way to help the front end than all the aero crap they are doing now.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mopar DLM View Post
    Most all the dirt rule books have had something in them for a while now that deems the pan illegal. Sure seems like a better way and lot cheaper way to help the front end than all the aero crap they are doing now.
    There are rules against enclosing the lower frame to upper frame down the right side too. But, a lot of them are.
    Modern Day Wedge Racing
    Florence -1

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