New F1 cars

So the new F1 season is here! Major changes to the cars this year. Most noticeably, cars are wider with much wider tires, lower rear wing, revamped inlets, all creating much more grip and downforce. They showed some great side by side pics.

 

Cool. Was at Indy 500 3 years back. Cool event, sat across from the pits. Wished I could have taken one for a spin.

 

Grip is what it's all about. I only have to set mine up to turn left though.

 

2015 Car



2016 Car



Mine have gotten a little smaller every year since I started. That said, I think this is my last one...unless I start racing motorcycles.
2017 Car

 

Can't wait for the F1 to start, especially as it starts off in my hometown. Going to Austin in October for the U.S. GP this year, The cars look more aggressive this year and judging by the practice they're faster this year

 

Chris, any reason you change cars every year?

 

The Accord from 2015 was my first time in a front wheel drive. It was nowhere near competitive and was totaled trying to be. I got that car down about 2 inches from the beginning of the year, put street stock springs in it (much heavier than stock) and finally got it running right. Ended up "being a race fan" and watching a wreck in my mirror while running second. A lapped car spun and came up the track in front of me and I had nowhere to go but the backstretch wall. Well, that or the drivers door of the spinning car, which would have hurt them. I'd chose that ridiculously hard concrete instead every time! I tore the unibody in that car from the shifter to the fuel cell in the trunk and it lost about 3" of width after.

The Civic last year was a last minute thing as my build went sideways on me and I couldn't get the cage finished on it. When you're turning a rusty old street car into a race car, it happens. Plus it was my first time building one from the ground up. So I bought that one and ran it but it was about 800 pounds heavier than the CRX. The Civic was quick but built for bigger tracks with more banking. I'm on a relatively flat 1/3 mile oval.

That CRX I bought got crashed in July last year. But I had been beaten by it for two years in that division and knew it was fast. So I bought it, straightened it out (for the most part) and will give it a go. Most of the cars winning races in the four cylinder front wheel drive divisions are CRX's and older (late 80's to early 90's) Civics. It was basically an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

 

The flight and crash of the Accord...

 

Damn that looks fun

 

It is for us guys that can't afford F-1 cars. Haha. Better than a drug habit.

 

I usually get press passes to Long Beach Grand Prix every year but this year I'm bummed I couldn't get them.