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Dan Bennett · 10-07-2024, 02:37 PM

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.

10-07-2024, 02:37 PM	#5
Dan Bennett Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 437 Likes: 839 Liked 591 Times in 134 Posts	Re: ET with and without wheelie. 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.