Mysterious #71 K&K Daytona wheelhouse "covers" - what are they for?

[odcics2]

ok folks, opinions wanted and photos of other vintage MoPar stock cars that might have them.
The "covers" are on the left side rear. Right side does not have them.
Notice that they bolt on with hex head bolts and appear heavy duty, not just thin riveted aluminum pieces.

What do you think?

(Photo is from Amelia Island show, March, 2016.)

[Aero426]

The COG #6 Charger 500 (1969 Riverside 500) has a similar arrangement.   So it is not strictly unique to the K & K.       The ones on the COG car appear that you could remove one bolt and pivot the covers out of the way.

[Mike DC]

 
Adding ballast weight?

[Aero426]

 
Adding ballast weight?

That would seem to be the obvious answer to me.   But why are they up so high up on the K & K? 

[Troy]

Don't know but those drilled drums are interesting.

Troy

[cudavic]

Don't know but those drilled drums are interesting.

Troy

Troy

What I have heard and believe to be true is that back in the day, the old time racers would run on the big tracks like this.
Drums had no residual drag like calipers do as they have return springs to prevent the drums to overheat.
On the big tracks you stayed on the throttle and only hit the brakes when you needed to, however they drilled the drum to dissipate the heat just in case.
The reduced brake drag is important! Trust me watch a you tube video on qualifying for pole positions. The drivers have a sticker " DON'T HITS THE BRAKES"

Sincerely Vic

[Aero426]

Rear drums are drilled for the Riverside 500.  Not a wimpy 500k race either.   It took between 4 and 5 hours to run.

[hemi68charger]

They couldn't be opening, that have been temporarily covered, for cooling air ducts?

[HPP]

Wasn't there a time in the late 60s when they had tire durability issues and the drivers boycotted several races. These holes could be a window to monitor tire degradation, or at least allow pieces of rubber to enter the cockpit if a tire was coming apart, thus creating a visual indicator to get off the track.

[odcics2]

 
Adding ballast weight?

That would seem to be the obvious answer to me.   But why are they up so high up on the K & K? 

The wing gives you downforce without the penalty of carrying the extra weight. 
Just tilt it a little.

[C5X DAYTONA]

 
Adding ballast weight?

That would seem to be the obvious answer to me.   But why are they up so high up on the K & K?  

The wing gives you downforce without the penalty of carrying the extra weight.  
Just tilt it a little.

The more downforce you put into the wing the more the drag.  Not always a good thing.     With lead weight you have the ability to move the weight around and can put more on one corner of the car without adding drag.

[HPP]

Whats on the other side of the hole inside the car?

[5hunert]

The COG #6 Charger 500 (1969 Riverside 500) has a similar arrangement.   So it is not strictly unique to the K & K.       The ones on the COG car appear that you could remove one bolt and pivot the covers out of the way.

Were both cars Nichols chassis?  If so this might be a common trait.

[odcics2]

Yes, both were Nichels chassis. 
Here's a photo of the K&K at Bonneville, with the spoiler max'd out for downforce.

[Mike DC]

 
Bonneville . . . it always looks a bit otherworldly in pics.  Like some foreign planet.  

[Charger_Fan]

I'm curious, what was the top speed they were able to get at Bonneville?

[odcics2]

216-217 if I recall correctly, for a flying mile.

[Aero426]

It took an injected Hemi built by Bob Sykes to get that kind of speed 15 years later in Jim Fredericks Fly Rod Superbird.    Sykes was Keith Black's right hand man. 

[Aero426]

Heavy round bar stock would fit in there nicely.

[odcics2]

How deep?
Notice the broken bolt?
Also the gap between the quarter panel and wheelhouse?
Lots of scrubbing required to get the salt out of every nook and seam.

[HPP]

Heavy round bar stock would fit in there nicely.

Ballast pockets. Nascar and USAC had different weight bias rules, so these would allow heavy round bar to be added for left side bias.

[DAY CLONA]

Heavy round bar stock would fit in there nicely.

Ballast pockets. Nascar and USAC had different weight bias rules, so these would allow heavy round bar to be added for left side bias.

Hmmmm...how deep are these pockets?

[Aero426]

Both pockets are 20 inches deep.

[odcics2]

Must be some support inside the 1/4 panel.
It would be cool to get a pic of it.

So, a 20" slug would weight??   

[Aero426]

20" x 2" lead bar weighs 25.8 pounds.  So two bars are 51 pounds.