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Drivers Suffer 'Pogo Phenomenon
ES & AUTOWEEK OCT. 11, 1969

By Jeff Scott be created, or duplicated. In the informed Ford representatives at
NEW YORK, Sept. 23 - A case at Talladega, the collective Talladega of the information he had
totally new dimension in conditions were bumps in the gathered.
automobile racing, known to NASA corners to create amplitude, high With this development, plus the
space physicians as the “Pogo speed and the track angle provided excessive tire wear at the rough
Phenomenon,” was discovered the excessive G forces and the track, Ford elected to back the
during high speed practice for the frequency resulted*from the spring PDA boycott.
Sept. 14 NASCAR Grand National rates. Wright said smoothing the rough
500-mile race at Talladega, Ala. and The phenomenon was first and bumpy areas of the track
was recognized when Charlie reported by Bobby Isaac during tire would eliminate the problem since
Glotzbach complained of testing and testing of the new all three conditions must exist in
temporary blindness and confusion. Dodge Daytona in August. the correct ratio to produce the
Shortly after Glotzbach made his During practice, Glotzbach pogo effect.
problems known, it was discovered pulled into his pits and complained Long term effects on the drivers,
other GN drivers were suffering to his crew he did not know where if any, will be studied, possibly by
from physical discomforts after and he was going on the track and that NASA medical personnel.
during high speed laps, often he could not see. He said he seemed According to Wright, astronauts
exceeding 200mph on the straights to go blind for a few seconds when were only exposed to the pogo
of the new 2.66-mile Talladega he was going through certain effect for short periods of time,
oval. bumpy turns and that he had providing little information. But
kt off the challenges of Peter Gethin and The discovery of the pogo effect trouble focusing. He told his crew some NASCAR drivers have been
kp heat races at Hockenheim-the first . is noted as a major contributing he could only restore his vision by1 exposed to the condition for up to
r Germany. (John W. Kelly photo) factor of Ford backing the boycott looking back and forth quickly. six seconds a lap. Yarbrough has
Wright spoke with astronaut recorded more than 800 laps on the
of members of the Professional \ Tom Stafford about the symptoms track with many at speed.
Hockenheim (The physical complaints of and Stafford confirmed Wright’s Following the Sept. 14 race,
jDrivers Assn. (PDA).
Glotzbach were first recognized by opinion of the pogo effect. Stafford Richard Brickhouse, the winner,
Bill Wright, an aerospace engineer then said, “If I were those guys, I complained of chest pains although
__ .. ..............-___ _____
disappointment with 18 cars with Chrysler. White had worked wouldn’t try to race tomorrow.” racing speeds were well below the
entered, 13 showing up and 121 wjth NASA in the development of/ Following confirmation, Wright faster qualifying speeds.
starting with six of these engines for the Gemini space
competitive. project and during that period,
In the F/5000 events, Taylor astronauts had suffered similar
dominated, but he didn’t go effects during testing. They
without opposition. In the first complained of temporary loss of
15-lap heat, Peter Gethin, in a sight, chest pains, nausea and loss
McLaren M1OA, either ran in front of consciousness. In the Gemini
of or on the tail of the TS5-Chevy project the problem was traced to a
I until the 13th lap when he broke a combination of low frequency and
rocker arm. a high amplitude type of cyclic
Gethin didn’t seem to have it in vibration under high G forces and
the second heat and Mike was blamed on pulsations from the
Hailwood, Lola T142-Chevy driver, engine coming through the space
took over hounding at Taylor’s capsule.
heels. COMPLAINTS
In the overall standings,
Hailwood followed Taylor with two In checking with other NASCAR
second-place finishes and Ulf drivers, Wright found various
Norind er, Lola-Chevy, third, with a unique physical discomfort
fifth and a third finish. complaints voiced by all the GN
i drivers except three—Richard Petty,
David Pearson and Cale
OKs Fireornof Sloth Yarborough. The complaints
included chest pains, nausea, and in
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Monsanto some cases shortness of breath after
Co.’s new fireproof cloth, Durette, very fast laps.
has been officially approved by the So far the pogo effect, as
Sports Car Club of America. reported by the NASCAR drivers,
The fabric, second to receive has occurred only at Talladega.
approval from the organization, will According to Wright, three
not bum or lose its strength after conditions—the correct frequency, Dan Gurney, and hostess Vicki Hollaway, display the sign which will adorn a
several minutes in a '2? an'.rlituoe and G forces—must exist new franchise network of retail centers, Dan Gurney’s Checkpoint America,
flame. before the pogo phenomenon can. --------- -• (Jack Scagnetti photo)
fiction Gurney Launches Checkpoint

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18 - A Checkpoint America are in
franchise network of retail centers Florida-one at Fort Lauderdale,
for high quality performance where the company has
products and specialized service headquarters, and the other at
work is being launched by Dan Daytona Beach near the
Gurney, it was announced here superspeedway.
today.
Called Dan Gurney’s Checkpoint “Florida is not what you call a
America, the new business venture hotbed of expensive foreign car
will start in Florida and expand to owners,” Lyon commented. “But
300 centers across the U.S. within despite that fact, we have proven
five years. the market for our type of
The franchise goal for 1970 is for operation is sound. Here in
24 units to be opened in southern southern California our horizons
California and 12 in the look unlimited.
southeastern U.S. “No other living race driver
Each Checkpoint America will commands the recognition or