leaf spring car

[Dirtmover]

just wondering, is anybody running a leaf car in crates? has anybody thought about running one. i think an old leaf spring car would run very well in that class.:Toothless:

[jojoracer]

Hey Man since noone bit on your post I thought I put
my 2 c worth in. I loved the way the leafs felt when I
last ran one in 95, the 4 bar hooks better most of the
time, but you have to be on top of it all the time....
leafs not much set up stuff just bolt them in and go..
but when I raced then they'ed wear out in two races
thats $ 70 every other week, crates might be easer on
them than that... I'd love to build one to try now a days
I think 4 bar stuff wants to be ran wide open all the time
which might cause problems in a race, seem like they do
tear up more stuff these days, most cars darting this way
and that. co cked up if you know what I mean. I don't know,
I would'nt rule one out. I don't know if any one is still building
one now a days, but it may be worth looking in to......
I think they would work better on a hooked up track....
but I'm just guessing, I will say this lap times haven't
really picked up a whole lot yes records broke but not
by that much??????? If you got the chance to try one
with out spending a lot of $$ try it....if you do put a new
set on it, to give 'em a fair shake....I don't know I just
started back last year I haven't learned all the ins and
outs of all these new 4 bar set ups????? I don't learn as
fast as I used to......let us know what happens.....

[Dirtmover]

u had some good points there. a leaf car is alot more free and forgiving.i personally won alot of races with a leaf car back in the day and after watching these crate cars and talking to a few drivers and crew members i think a leaf car would surprise u. these low hp and tourqe engines (crate's) is what a leaf car love's because it's alot more free through the corner.in other words it doesn't bogg the engine as much through the corner if u understand. i think they would kick butt.

[racerm146]

You got a leaf car now,,dirtmover?

[JRhodes]

Anyone remember the Warrior chassis/Hyperco car that Bloomquist and Dewayne Hommell were testing about 5 years back?

In my opinion, a leaf spring car would be great for a track where handling was the key. Like it were mentioned before in a previous post, low horse/low torque crate engines with leaf springs sounds like a good deal. The reason I think a lot of the drivers are using the four bar type cars, are for moving up purposes. When they feel they are ready or the right sponsor comes along, they can use the same car to drop a steel block or all aluminum engine in.

[DOCCALLAHAN]

I Remember When Bloomer Was Testing Out That Car He Wanted To Use It For The Million Dollar Race But He Didnt I Think They Would Do Great On All Tracks But The Cost Of Leafs Wearing Out Put Them To The Sideline But A Crate Car Would Do Great They Wouldnt Wear Out The Leafs Like A Super Would

[Hotrod9]

i agree i think a leaf car would be great for crates especially on the nites when the supers are running and the track is real rough because when the four bar cars are darting all over the place the leaf car will stay consistant with all of the crates supposedly having about the same horsepower and all it seems to me that the most consistant cars would out run the cars that are all over te place

[straight8]

You got me to thinking, have a 94 Barry Wright in the corner of the shop and while I have fielded a car for my son the last few years, I still have the itch. There have been some good points made on here about the "old" mono leaf cars. May have to drag it out and give this theory a try. Don't know for a fact, but it was rumored last year some of the bigger chassis makers were planning on producing some new mono leaf cars.

[rjweld67]

Well guys my experience with the crates has been in florida and al tracks.we ran some with leafs and some with a three link and threw all the 5th and 6th coil away.
We tested one at east alabama speedway and was well under the track record,that car was a three link with a soft spring big bar setup we acquired from our asphalt racing.like i say this was just testing,but what we found was the track is dry slick and the bar kept the body from rolling and the soft springs kept the tire on the track in the series of bumps.
Now everyone i helped first told me you cant run a swaybar on dirt,but i say heck yes you can because that bar has no idea what track its on.the bar is simply nothing more than a stronger right front spring in the corners when the body trys to roll.
These cars that run all jacked out of shape arent consistant as this setup we ran,and what folks dont realize is that the chassis can dive to the right or left,the roll center is where the puzzle is.
You can make a car level with the ground all the way around and be more consistant than driving a three wheeler for a few laps,4 tires is deffinately faster than 3.
Some people just do what these factory chassis guys tell them and seriously dont do thier own experimenting.
Well we did our own and found a car that is stiff frame wise and spring soft was the fastest and with a crate the deal is not to let off more than the next guy,and if you could keep the car in the upper rpm range it will not fall off as much as someone that brakes,slings it sideways,and slams the gas.
Think about it,is the track the same during the feature from lap 1 until the end? no 9 times out of 10 it dry slicks over and makes a black ring in the groove.
My old flagman Jack Neidermeyer told me one time,if you stay in the black youll be fast and if you get out of the black youll get passed.
Just my opinion on these crate cars in general and what we tested was fast i have to see one car here in the carolinas that runs like im talking about and he wins everywhere he goes.
Well hope this helped someone and if you have any questions you can feel free to call me anytime and i will be glad to help folks.
Robby Johns ( no kin to bobby ) ha!ha!ha!
336-971-8465

[SlingShot62]

just wondering, is anybody running a leaf car in crates? has anybody thought about running one. i think an old leaf spring car would run very well in that class.:Toothless:I have a 95' BWRC that I'm planning to jig and build just for what you are talking about, crate. I also have plans for a Canti-Lever car, just havent decided which I want to try first. On the Leaf car I plan to use Flex-A-Form "single leafs instead of Coils/Mono's. I also plan to utilize a transverse leaf in the front and a Flex-A-Form torque arm instead of traditional 5th/6th combination. Simple, lite and fast.

Chip

[Dirtmover]

Well let us know how it does.

[SlingShot62]

Well let us know how it does.

Sure, it may be a while, work is slow....