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RACE TECH TIPS
updated August 5, 2007
TECH TIP #1: You can beat " Murphy " ( you know the guy from Murphy's Law ) in the shop with good thorough race preparation..........and you beat your competitor fair and square on the race track.
TECH TIP #2: Use good quality hardware and fasteners as it is good cheap insurance. Stay away from your local hardware store as they usually carry cheap in quality and priced hardware. Rockford GR8, AN, MS, NAS, Grade 10.9 & 12.9 Metric hardware are all the types that you should be looking for. Watch out for counterfeit and Chinese hardware. Always use a torque wrench and torque hardware to appropriate torque settings.
TECH TIP #3: Always remember the "K I S S" method of doing things on your race car.
That is "K"eep "I"t "S"imple "S"tupid. Simple, and less complicated, things are easier to adjust, maintain, diagnose and repair.
TECH TIP #4: The 8 most important tools in your tool box are:
Notebook
Rule book
Stop Watch
Tire Pressure Gauge
Tire Pyrometer
Data Acquisition system
Laptop Computer
Weather station
TECH TIP #5: Do not neglect safety when you are preparing and maintaining your race car. A safe race car is, 9 times out of 10, a well maintained and competitive race car. We all have a hand in making this sport of racing the safest it can be.
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Peter Symonds putting his RIC RACING built #40 E Production Symonds Racing Elva Courier through its paces at NHIS during an SCCA Qualifying session.
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TECH TIP #6: When in doubt, "ASK" someone knowledgeable for advise. There are no stupid or dumb questions in this sport except the ones you do not ask.
TECH TIP #7: Always use a torque wrench and appropriate torque specifications to tighten nuts and bolts. An over tightened nut or bolt is apt to snap when you least expect it to or when it is loaded and is more dangerous in most situations than one that is not fully tight.
TECH TIP #8: Always use Loctite and/or safety wire to secure critical hardware on your Race Car.... especially for brakes, steering and suspensions.
TECH TIP # 9: Use and maintain skid plates on your Race Car as they protect the chassis from damage when it bottoms from running low Ride Heights, which we all do most of the time. When you do not run or maintain skid plates, just picture your wallet dragging on the ground as your chassis bottoms and contacts the ground.
TECH TIP # 10: Make certain that your suspension moves very freely through its travel, both in Bump and Rebound. Check all 4 corners of your Race Car for this. Friction and tight spots give you uncontrollable and un-tuneable dampening.
TECH TIP # 11: What is a shock absorber or what it really should be called, a "damper"? Shock absorbers do not absorb shocks, the springs absorb shocks. Shocks turn kinetic energy into heat, they absorb/dampen rebound energy stored in the spring from the compression stroke, they keep the tires in contact with the ground when valved properly after the compression stroke of the spring from a bump, and when properly valved and adjusted they improve grip, braking and steering........which results in better driver feel.
TECH TIP # 12: Make sure that you are using the correct brake fluid for your application and/or manufacturers recommendations. See chart below for some comparisons between the various brake fluids that are currently on the market for race car applications.
TECH TIP # 13: Check Lists are important items for successful race team functioning as they assure orderly race car preparation, trailer loading and pre-race checks so that things are not forgotten by any crew member or driver. In order to finish first....first you must finish.
TECH TIP # 14: TOOLS - having the proper tools and equipment to get the job done fast and efficiently is important to a successful race team.
TECH TIP # 15: Brake system maintenance, rebuilding master cylinders and calipers on a regular maintenance schedule is very important to the efficient functioning of your brake system.
TECH TIP # 16: Infrared pyrometers are no good for measuring tire temperatures because they tend to measure surface temperature. Use them for monitoring brake temperatures and fluids. Use a probe type tire pyrometer for measuring tire temperatures because they get deep into tire carcass for a good reliable reading so that you can make good changes to your chassis set-up. Infrared pyrometers work real well for real time measurement in Data Aquisition systems.
TECH TIP # 17: Always set the nitrogen pressure in your gas filled shocks with them extended in full rebound. Never set them installed in race car and setting on the ground.
TECH TIP # 18: Sample Shop Race Prep Check lists coming soon as pdf file
TECH TIP # 19: Sample Race Track Checklists coming soon as a pdf file
TECH TIP # 20: Sample Race Trailer Loading Checklists coming soon as a pdf file
TECH TIP # 21: NOTEBOOKS - write everything down at all times so that you have a permanent record of every direction that you went in. It makes the best reference material you will ever need.
TECH TIP # 22: SHOCKS - low speed shock dampening helps to control how quickly weight moves around the chassis platform to the tire contact patch.
TECH TIP # 23: Always turn your Nitrogen bottle gauge to zero when not in use. This saves you from a sticking gauge needle when you least need it to happen.
TECH TIP # 24: RACE LUCK = PREPARATION + OPPORTUNITY
TECH TIP # 25: BRAKES
