Race Prep.
Lances133
06-28-2006, 11:49 AM
If you guys were entering a race against one of your buddies at a track, and he's always had the faster car and has always talked shit and you can't really come back at him with anything because you know his car will beat yours, then you finally get a contending car, what would be your race preperation list? Weight reduction? Take out the headlight thats in front of the intake, tune up, etc.?
PsychoJJ
06-28-2006, 12:26 PM
One of the more over looked areas is oil. If its almost time for a change and you are about to hit the track its a good time to do it before the track. Fresh oil will make the car run alot smoother as well as keep the heat down to a point.
Second take everything out of the car that is not needed. All you need is the shifter, wheel, and a seat. Everything else is just dead weight. Seats, carpet, most of the dash and everything in the trunk. This wont be a whole ass load of help but with racing every little bit counts.
Wheels and tires. Get some that are as light as possible. If you are running 16+ inch rims and tires take those things off and find someone if you dont have any with some smaller steelies or if you are really lucky a buddy with some trak lites. Those babys are lighter then damn 14" steelies at about any size. When you get to the track loose some air preassure in the front tires. This will not only cut down on some more weight but will also give the tire a little more gripping surface. Last time I went to the track I took mine down to 20psi and it cut down on alot of my wheel hop.
Prepare for the main event. Dont just get in the track and try and take your buddy right out of the gate. Get in a few runs to get in tune with the tree and get those lights down. Make sure you can get your launch times down to neer perfect. Its always good to get in some warm ups first anyways.
Work the car. Its a misconception with our cars that once its go time its always slam that peddle down and work the hell out of the car. Thats not the case. Cavys tend to hessitate alot of the line when given full peddle. Ever been driving on the road and the light turns green and you give it about half peddle then just say fuck it after a few seconds and mash the peddle down the rest of the way before second shift? Car feels like it shot up faster didnt it? Thats because it did. We have started calling this the half half full rule. Once you cut the light only give it half peddle through half of first shift then mash it down to full peddle. Your 60 foot time will thank you for it.
Dont let up. Most tracks towards the traps (end of the track) have a deception point. This is the area where you think you have hit the traps and the race is over but in actuallity you still have about 20 feet to go. At firebird down here our deception point is about damn 40 feet from the traps which sucks ass. Cant count how many times Ive been on someones ass towards the end and let up thinking I crossed the traps and lost just to find out I let up and the race wasnt over.
Only other thing I can think of is mental. In my club and with the focus guys I used to hang out with there isnt an na guy yet that can take me. I know I can beat them and I get in their head so they know it to so when they are up against me they get all unerved. You cant just get up to the line and think "crap, Im not going to take him" you have to know you will win and make them know it to.
Im sure others will have more info or maybe even try and debunk some of mine but this is what I do before racing. Not so much the ripping everything out of the car anymore because Im a lazy ass. Taking everything out of the car is ok because Im all crazy and want to do it before the track. Its the putting it all back in is when the lazyness hits me. :lol:
Second take everything out of the car that is not needed. All you need is the shifter, wheel, and a seat. Everything else is just dead weight. Seats, carpet, most of the dash and everything in the trunk. This wont be a whole ass load of help but with racing every little bit counts.
Wheels and tires. Get some that are as light as possible. If you are running 16+ inch rims and tires take those things off and find someone if you dont have any with some smaller steelies or if you are really lucky a buddy with some trak lites. Those babys are lighter then damn 14" steelies at about any size. When you get to the track loose some air preassure in the front tires. This will not only cut down on some more weight but will also give the tire a little more gripping surface. Last time I went to the track I took mine down to 20psi and it cut down on alot of my wheel hop.
Prepare for the main event. Dont just get in the track and try and take your buddy right out of the gate. Get in a few runs to get in tune with the tree and get those lights down. Make sure you can get your launch times down to neer perfect. Its always good to get in some warm ups first anyways.
Work the car. Its a misconception with our cars that once its go time its always slam that peddle down and work the hell out of the car. Thats not the case. Cavys tend to hessitate alot of the line when given full peddle. Ever been driving on the road and the light turns green and you give it about half peddle then just say fuck it after a few seconds and mash the peddle down the rest of the way before second shift? Car feels like it shot up faster didnt it? Thats because it did. We have started calling this the half half full rule. Once you cut the light only give it half peddle through half of first shift then mash it down to full peddle. Your 60 foot time will thank you for it.
Dont let up. Most tracks towards the traps (end of the track) have a deception point. This is the area where you think you have hit the traps and the race is over but in actuallity you still have about 20 feet to go. At firebird down here our deception point is about damn 40 feet from the traps which sucks ass. Cant count how many times Ive been on someones ass towards the end and let up thinking I crossed the traps and lost just to find out I let up and the race wasnt over.
Only other thing I can think of is mental. In my club and with the focus guys I used to hang out with there isnt an na guy yet that can take me. I know I can beat them and I get in their head so they know it to so when they are up against me they get all unerved. You cant just get up to the line and think "crap, Im not going to take him" you have to know you will win and make them know it to.
Im sure others will have more info or maybe even try and debunk some of mine but this is what I do before racing. Not so much the ripping everything out of the car anymore because Im a lazy ass. Taking everything out of the car is ok because Im all crazy and want to do it before the track. Its the putting it all back in is when the lazyness hits me. :lol:
my99cavy
06-28-2006, 12:43 PM
holy hell that was ALOT of information. lol
PsychoJJ
06-28-2006, 12:50 PM
holy hell that was ALOT of information. lol
He asked for it. :lol:
He asked for it. :lol:
my99cavy
06-28-2006, 12:54 PM
He asked for it. :lol:haha yeah i know. it was very informing lol
BabyCavyZ
06-28-2006, 02:22 PM
yo my99cavy this is off topic but wat exhaust do u have??
Lances133
06-28-2006, 02:24 PM
yo my99cavy this is off topic but wat exhaust do u have??
:newbie: You know there's a "Private Message" option right?
:newbie: You know there's a "Private Message" option right?
my99cavy
06-28-2006, 02:29 PM
:newbie: You know there's a "Private Message" option right?:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
BabyCavyZ
06-28-2006, 02:30 PM
thnx man but uh where'd u come from???
Lances133
06-28-2006, 03:58 PM
thnx man but uh where'd u come from???
If you're referring to me - I started this thread. :grinno:
If you're referring to me - I started this thread. :grinno:
CavLCD128
06-28-2006, 04:35 PM
One of the more over looked areas is oil. If its almost time for a change and you are about to hit the track its a good time to do it before the track. Fresh oil will make the car run alot smoother as well as keep the heat down to a point.
Second take everything out of the car that is not needed. All you need is the shifter, wheel, and a seat. Everything else is just dead weight. Seats, carpet, most of the dash and everything in the trunk. This wont be a whole ass load of help but with racing every little bit counts.
i really didnt feel like readin it all...but i guess i agree that seatbelts are dead weight...lol jk
Second take everything out of the car that is not needed. All you need is the shifter, wheel, and a seat. Everything else is just dead weight. Seats, carpet, most of the dash and everything in the trunk. This wont be a whole ass load of help but with racing every little bit counts.
i really didnt feel like readin it all...but i guess i agree that seatbelts are dead weight...lol jk
Lances133
06-28-2006, 07:14 PM
Would front and rear strut bars help in a drag? Even tho it's obvious i don't have enough power to make the chassis twist at all? lol
PsychoJJ
06-28-2006, 07:19 PM
It will help a little. 4drs are best in the 1/4 because they are set up to have less twist then the 2drs. To correct this stiffening up things will indeed help you out a touch.
Lances133
06-28-2006, 07:26 PM
Nice, I wish I could have enough money to buy motor mounts and the B&M shift plus before hand but it's not looking too good. Hopefully I'll atleast be able to get the shift plus.
CavLCD128
06-29-2006, 01:44 AM
i got the mounts, and they are not as good as i heard...you can feel a difference, but you cant really tell...if that makes sence lol
PsychoJJ
06-29-2006, 01:55 AM
AF mounts are to get the TQ back that you loose from engine roll durring launch as well as with the shift points. Take a stock 03+ open the hood and with it in park roll the car back and forth. With the little bit of wheel play while in park when it hits the stop point the engine moves like 4 inches back and forth. Add in the af upper and lower mounts and all that play is gone.
Lances133
06-29-2006, 11:23 AM
i got the mounts, and they are not as good as i heard...you can feel a difference, but you cant really tell...if that makes sence lol
Yeah, I've already installed them in my 2.2 and there's definitely a big difference. Without the mounts - if you open the hood and look through the windshield while shifting through the gears you can see the whole engine move backa nd forth like 4 inches. With the mounts in, that engine does not move AT ALL. It's to save you the torque you lose when the engine moves while shifting, I hope you weren't looking to gain hp.
Yeah, I've already installed them in my 2.2 and there's definitely a big difference. Without the mounts - if you open the hood and look through the windshield while shifting through the gears you can see the whole engine move backa nd forth like 4 inches. With the mounts in, that engine does not move AT ALL. It's to save you the torque you lose when the engine moves while shifting, I hope you weren't looking to gain hp.
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