Full Throttle

In looking through this list: RCR engineers, Evernham Motorsports, DEI, Roush Racing and Robert Yates Racing, you wouldn’t think they were the “tea and crumpet” types.

A beer and a few buffalo wings would probably be their preferred menu, yet there they were, in search of more speed while combing the asiles of the Autosport International Racing Car Show in England last week.

I believe Richard Childress was the first of those in NASCAR to look East. Last July RCR signed Nick Hayes as their director of engine research and development. His previous job was Managing Director at Cosworth Racing and had a very large hand in the development of the Cosworth CR-3 V10 (and all it’s variants) that powered Jaguar’s Formula One efforts.

When Ford sold the Jaguar team it gave Hayes the opportunity to move into NASCAR.

“Nick is showing us a lot of new ideas here to get RCR back where we need to be,” Childress said. “We will do 600 engines this year for our team programs. When you’re talking numbers like that you’re looking for specialized items that give you an advantage over your competition, something a little lighter or more durable. If we can find just a little thing it helps.”

600 engines and how much is that per? Forget it, my mind is boggled enough without dredging up high school math.

They must have different air in England than what’s available in North Carolina, Childress said they have car in a wind tunnel in Germany. (Can you say: Brats, beer and buffalo wings?)

Charles Jenckes, the chief development engineer with DEI, said they produce 250 engines and will have 350 rebuilds this year. In the process they look for every small edge they can find including the use of coatings and engine parts manufactured all over the world, throughout Europe, Japan and the rest of Asia.

Follow my “logic” for a minute. If the Southern-bred race teams are looking to Europe and Asia for an edge what happens when Toyota joins NEXTEL Cup in 2007?

Will they get their “coatings and engine parts manufactured” in Brazil? South Africa? It’s just a thought., a silly one but a thought none the less.

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