Comments on: Smokey Yunick Indy Car

By: BabylonBob

BabylonBob — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:59:09 +0000

Smokey got the idea for this side car design from one of his bombing missions over Germany in 1944 (B-17 pilot). He noticed a Blohm und Voss bv 141 hauling ass (has he put it). As it turned out, he discovered that two small shapes with the same total frontal area a one single shape had less parasitic drag, but he didn’t realize it until 1962.

However Smokey’s “Capsule Car” as he called it, got the kibosh when a USAC rule change aimed at Granitelli’s turbine car and Mickey Thompson’s “roller skate” cars (as Smokey called them), noted that “no part of the body can exceed a line pulled from the inner rim tire edge from the front to rear.” Well, that killed the Indy run in October for a Goodyear tire test, plus any future at Indy for the Capsule Car.

By: BabylonBob

BabylonBob — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:59:14 +0000

Like Trish said, they were traced from little Smokey’s hands, on some moly plate, and chromed. A new rule came up that you needed front and back bumpers and surprised Smokey, so he thought he would surprise the inspectors; he did. He already had the acceptable front bumper fabricated but didn’t put it on until he raised a few eyebrows (and their blood pressure).

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:23:26 +0000

Mike, I am not sure what your comment is in response to but as the creator of this site I can assure you that Smokey knew far more about cars in general than I ever hope to know. He was one of a kind and a real hero to many of us.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:42:49 +0000

HGe most likely knew more about building race cars than the poster of this site. IMO

By: Legendary Collector Indy Car « CHARLES PERRETTI

Legendary Collector Indy Car « CHARLES PERRETTI — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 03:21:57 +0000

[...] Smokey Yunick Indy Car : Legendary Collector Cars. [...]

By: Trish

Trish — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:42:45 +0000

The reason for the hands as bumper was because he built the car without them. When he got to Indy, he was told one would be required. The hands were traced from my brother, Smokey.

By: Danny "The Mad Hungarian" Seybold

Danny "The Mad Hungarian" Seybold — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:21:53 +0000

Smokie just was an amazing guy with amazing ideas,although he had some that were so radical they were on the verge of crazy. I was lucky enough to meet him a few times at Indy in the 90′s He would show up every year the Indy 500. At the 99 Brickyard 400 he was hanging out with Jay Segornie, (IROC owner and chief bottle washer)and all the drivers including a young Dale E Jr. Thanks for all of the Smokie information you guys have posted your site