The ricer gen just saw what their grand-dads and grand-uncles did when they were younger, if it made them faster...
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3...er/32holes.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...g/scan0001.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...log/holes2.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...log/holes1.jpg
...their Gramps flew in WW2 aircraft where they saw every structural metal frames were full of 'lightening holes'. Post-war, they did the same for their rods, on structural frames and even their body panels.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-skfk4nomX8...600/vacuum.jpg
Engineers really call it, 'belled'. A hole is made and then a belling die flares the inside edges. Properly located and flared it 'strengthens' that frame. Colin Chapman was a religious believer in aircraft fabrication techniques.
http://users.lmi.net/~ryoung/Sonerai...ging_Dies.html