|
The innovation of the wheel is the cornerstone of racing technology.
By scaling the size of the wheel and rim, major performance
and control gains have been attained in racing wheels,
providing better contact with terra firma. These attributes
in wheels and racing rims give the racer a more stable platform
for speeding.
American racing equipment history dates back to 1959. With
the manufacture of magnesium rear wheels from six to ten inches
wide and magnesium spindle-mount twelve-spoke front wheels
in 15 by 3 1/2 inch sizes. In the mid-sixties, American Racing
Wheels and Halibrand Engineering produced custom wheel sizes
as large as 16 by 13 inches wide. Through the sixties and
seventies, most top fuel dragsters used motorcycle-style laced
wheels on the front, which were made by lacing machined aluminum
hubs to aluminum motorcycle rims that were commonly made in
Italy. Many styles of American magnesium racing-wheels were
subsequently produced. One of these wheel styles was the Le
Mans, which was cast so it looked like a Torq-Thrust that
had been faced off in a lathe, with the outer surfaces of
the spokes being completely flat. Other custom
wheel styles included the original four-slot Standard
wide rear wheels and the extremely successful five-spoke Torq-Thrust
wheel series.
American racer rims has been in business for the last fifty
years, during which time they have carved a niche as a popular
contender in the aftermarket alloy wheels industry, providing
over 100 wheel and rim designs to choose from. One novel innovation
in these wheel series is the Teflon coated wheels. These wheels
are dirt, brake dust and weather resistant and come with a
three year finish warranty. Original, unmodified Halibrand
magnesium wheels in good condition remain the most sought-after
and valuable of all vintage racing car wheels.
Daniella Rotta is a contributing writer to custom-wheels-n-chrome-rims.com
- Find information on chrome & alloy rims, spinners
and wire wheels for your sports car SUV truck or motorcycle |
|
