Stohr Chassis

C & D Sports Racer, track day cars

Official Stohr DSR web site

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As featured in the February/March, 2002 edition, Issue 40, of RaceTech magazine.

This article is reproduced with permission from RaceTech editor Ian Bamsey, and the images are reproduced with permission from Lee Stohr.

2001

Note: The information below is from early 2001.

Noted formula car designer Lee Stohr has announced he is building six D Sports Racers by the spring of 2001. After designing innovative and competitive Formula Fords for 10 years, Stohr has designed a revolutionary DSR. His Stohr FF99 has finished second and third in the highly competitive SCCA Runoffs for the past two years. The Oregon-based engineer is very excited by the new car and says, "DSR looks like a smart place to be."

Specifications

The Stohr DSR will have very low frontal area following the Audi concept of low bodywork between fenders and cockpit. It is carried even further using the Stohr FF style low rear upper a-arm. The car will have an under nose venturi, dumping over a floor splitter, requiring a raised frame in the foot area, as on the Stohr FF. It will evacuate air from the front wheel wells as is done by the Audi. No rear diffuser is initially planned due to weight, cost and practicality (special jacking points, vulnerability to off-course damage, access, etc.)

The Stohr DSR will come equipped with state of the art Formula Ford suspension technology. The Stohr FF1600 uses a modern front steering geometry that reduces slow corner understeer. The uprights have a high caster, low kingpin angle, forward offset axle design which provides greatly increased camber in the outside front tire at higher steering wheel angles, without any chassis weight jacking. The DSR will employ the very advanced Formula car shock absorber technology. "Triple compression stage, velocity dependent pistons are used in our Penske shocks with great success," said Stohr.

1/28/01

Lee Stohr commented, "It is surprising how much room is needed to swing an 8" front tire lock-to-lock. Especially if the body is low between the fenders. Don't be surprised if my final body shape is a little different than the initial CAD renderings."

Long-time FF and FC racer, Sean Maisey, has purchased the first car, and two more have been sold. Only 3 production slots are left for 2001 deliveries.

2/22/01

Lee Stohr stated, "The design for the new Stohr DSR is now frozen. Final dimensions are being put on parts drawings. Parts are being built and ordered every day. Some small changes have been made since submitting info to Sports Car magazine.

The frame should be considered a steel tube frame, with pre-preg S-glass/honeycomb stiffening panels in the cockpit area. Aluminum panels elsewhere.

A rear diffuser is now part of the first cars, rather than an add-on later. 
Outboard rear brakes are also standard. There wasn't space for an inboard single brake. The engine cover is so low, it barely clears the sprocket. In fact, the entire rear end assembly has become a work of art, with CNC machined aluminum plates carrying the rear shocks/springs, bellcranks, a-arm location and rear axle/sprocket unit, with eccentric bearing carriers for chain adjustment.

The suspension is still pushrod and bellcrank all around, with a 1:1 or better shock/wheel travel ratio.

The body and other composite work will be made by local Oregon shops specializing in experimental aircraft, RV's and such. The body has more rounded front fenders, with lower openings behind the front wheels. The body sides are lower, more like the new Bentley, which supposedly reduces drag (vs Audi channels on the body top side). The engine cover was widened slightly to accept the lower part of the stock Yamaha YZF R1 airbox.

We are also working on paddle shifters, mounted behind the steering wheel - mechanically operated to start with. We'll see how it works out."

Revised: January 20, 2006.

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