Bill, previous review of the ballast issue apparently came up with the
result that the old-timers at Bonneville went to lead ballast between
the axles, such as in the frame rails of a '32 Ford, if they wanted
ballast in a 200+ roadster for instance. Ballast behind the back axle
was bad because it aggravated the pendulum effect if there was
fish-tailing. Ballast ahead of the front axle was bad because it
interfered with recovery if the car was getting out of shape. I gather
that people sometimes put some ballast over the front axle, exactly why,
I don't know. It's clear that ballasting is a deep subject, and the
physics of it on a loose surface like Bonneville must be murky. Wrong
ballasting could bite you! Everyone seems to agree that on a standing
mile airport course like Maxton, traction is so good you don't want any
ballast at all, just the lightest possible structurally-sound car
assuming reasonable normal weight distribution and rear wheel drive.
Cheers Bill
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