According to Geoff Healey (yes, that Geoff, name dropper that I am...) there
indeed was a measurable structural deficiency in the RWA for standards
purposes...
WST
----- Original Message -----
From Jeff Boatright <jboatri at emory.edu>
To: Chris Kotting <ckotting@core.com>
Cc: <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: another dumb newbie question
> Chris,
>
> I read Horler, too, and I did not see where he documented or
> referenced real structural data about the RWA. I don't doubt that the
> SWA might be more structurally sound, but do they _need_ to be? Were
> there really problems with the RWA or was it a preemptive change to
> placate a supposed changed in safety regulations? I've always
> wondered about this claim because it seems to me that it would be
> difficult to determine whether it's true. Is there a database of
> accident reports that would allow us to compare SWA vs RWA? Did
> BMC/BL conduct accident tests? This may be worthwhile knowing in case
> one wanted to change from SWA to RWA for just aesthetics (e.g., not
> for racing needs).
>
> Jeff
>
>
> At 12:35 PM -0500 11/6/00, Chris Kotting wrote:
> >Okay, here's a "significant opposing view". I like the square arches on
> >the later Midgets. (So call me a weirdo.)
> >
> >The reason that the round arches are so rare is that it was a sylist's
> >change that conflicted with engineering needs.
> >
> >The Frogeye had round wheel arches, but then again, the Frogeye had no
> >bootlid! When they made that big square opening for the bootlid, they
> >lost a lot of structural stiffness back there. When they went to the
> >1/2 elliptic rear axle (not to mention meeting the 5 MPH impact
> >standards), they needed that missing stiffness, hence, the square
> >arches. The round arches were an anomalous result of a stylist getting
> >a change put through over the engineer's heads. It got changed back
> >when there started to be problems.
> >
> >At least that's the story as told by Horler's "Original Sprite and
> >Midgets" book. I would tend to trust that as a reliable source.
> >
> >Now as for the aesthetic value, the "squarebody" Midget with round wheel
> >arches just looks "wrong" to me. The Frogeye's round arches
> >complemented the rounded rear end, the squared off rear arches, to me,
> >compliment the more squared off rear end of the later cars.
> >
> >But, as has been often said by many on this list (me included) "It's
> >_your_ car, do what you want."
> >
> >Chris
> >
> >Ajhsys@aol.com wrote:
> > >
> > > If you have the option of converting to RWA, do it. You can't
> >get much wider
> > > tires if you keep the SWA openings. If competition is in your future,
you
> > > will need to have RWA or flared fenders.
>
>
> _____________________________________________________________
> Jeffrey H. Boatright, PhD
> Assistant Professor, Emory Eye Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
> Senior Editor, Molecular Vision, http://www.molvis.org/molvis
> mailto:jboatri@emory.edu
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