|
Many people
don’t realize how much effort goes into making the
body of a NASCAR race car. NASCAR sheetmetal is a
work of art. The metalworker must take into account all
aspects of aerodynamics. The process is painstaking as
each piece is hung and welded in place one at a time.
Only the hood,
roof and deck lid is stock from the manufacturers. Front
and rear fascia molds are usually constructed from
Kevlar which is five times stronger than steel. It is
what bullet proof vests are made of.
The rest of the body is all hand made.
The roof is the
most important part and goes on first. The angle and
placement are crucial and tailored to a specific type of
track. When the roof is welded on the roll cage it
determines the relative position of the entire body of
the car because all the remaining parts are connected to
it.
The sheetmetal
used in NASCAR is ordinary steel with a lead alloy to
make it easier to mold. Some parts can be simply stamped
out while other sections must be molded, cut and shaped
into its final form. NASCAR Sheetmetal workers are
artists of a sort using a blend of old style and new age
techniques.
After the roof
is welded in place then comes the deck lid, window
posts, hood, front and rear fascia, door panels and
fenders. All the weld seams are then ground down and the
car goes to the finishing team. This is where all the
imperfections are filled in with fiberglass then pasted
and sanded smooth.
Now it’s off
to the paint shop for the last bit of art work. A NASCAR
race car is a canvas for the painters. NASCAR sheetmetal
is transformed into a portrait of detail and artistic
mastery.
|
