Breaking Steel Wheels

["Dave M." <doc1590@xxxxxxxxx>]

Borrani wheels can break too.  In working with Steve Piantieri's race
cars over the last three or four years I've seen two Borrani wheels
break and a couple more crack on his Vintage Giulietta.  This happened
at Sebring in the hairpin, and two years in a row at the Vintage races
prior to the 12 hour, he had visited the grass and tire wall. The
entire center broke out leaving the center disc of the wheel still
lugged neatly to the hub and the rest of the wheel and tire rattling
around inside the wheel well (Briefly).  
The first time we suspected a fluke, after the second we started
serious inspection.  The thick paint made this difficult and I think
Chrome would make it nearly impossible.

In all fairness to Borrani, I submit that it appears that the previous
owner used thick washers under the rims to gain some track and this,
as everyone knows, no doubt weakened the wheels by allowing flex.  

Secondly, the hairpin at Sebring was a very, very, high load RH corner
and it's always been the left front that has broken.  
I say "WAS" because; thanks to the INDY guys that practice there, the
hairpin turn at Sebring is no longer.

Dave Miller <doc1590@domain.elided> Deltona, Florida USA


 
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @domain.elided address at http://mail.yahoo.com

------------------------------

End of alfa-digest V7 #302
**************************