An observation on grille blocks

[piers.singer]

Seeing as it is the ultimate week before the deadline for my final project at university, I am doing my best to waste as much time as possible. In this way, I have been watching lots of motor-racing, particularly the British Touring Car Championship. One of the first things that I noticed was the diverse aerodynamic aids present on the cards, including various full and partial grille blocks:

A closer look at the Daewoo (sorry, Chevrolet) and Honda upper grille blocks:

Compare that to the slightly more comprehensive grille block of the WTCC Chevy Cruze:

BTCC Ford Focuses with partial grille blocks:


The point of this post is not only to satisfy my need to take my eye off the prize at a critical moment but also to show that a grille block will not necessarily cause your engine to overheat and combust spectacularily (was I the only one concerned about that?). Clearly, these are purpose-built/heavily modified, high-performance vehicles and there is an element of don't-try-this-at-home, but what I think that it shows is that if you know the sort of window within which you'll be operating (climatic/traffic conditions/scangauge data etc.) then there's no reason why you can't modify your car safely and effectively.

Keep on moddin', chaps and chappettes

[Varn]

One thing to keep in mind is that these cars don't sit at traffic lights. Nice looking.

[piers.singer]

There have been a number of delayed starts already this season, and I think that they have the engines off as they wait on the grid. Nothing to stop the rest of us doing likewise by switching off at the lights. But yes, they do look good. Goes to show that efficiency mods don't have to look tacky.

Seems to me (as far as I have seen on various forums and from accounts of other users on here) that the two main criticisms of grille blocks are A. "you'll overheat"; and B. "it looks crap". Clearly, if one plays one's cards right, neither need apply.

[Christ]

Excellent post.