To find a trailer for your race car on a budget can be a real challenge. The best way to go shopping is to know in advance what your needs are, and then stick to your budget. There are a lot of fancy trailers out there for big bucks that might not meet your needs, but with a [...]
Reducing drag is just like reducing weight on your race car, it allows you to go faster on the same amout of power. Other advantages of proper aerodynamic modifications to your car is the reduction of lift and the increase in downforce. This creates more stability on the straights and more traction in the corners. Just look at [...]
The driver has direct contact with his race car through the steering wheel, seat, and pedals. And the car has direct contract with the racetrack through it’s tires. So having a good set of race tires for your ride makes all the difference. Other than cost, there are quite a few differences between roadrace tires and street tires, [...]
As with most things in life, planning ahead usually brings about better results. My Dad taught me the rule of 3 P’s: Piss Poor Planning leads to Piss Poor Performance. That certainly holds true in racing. A little luck can go a long way, but planning, preparation, and skill is what leads to a better race weekend. 1- [...]
No, this is not a ‘Woman’s Day’ article on how to lose ten pounds by walking from the back of the parking lot or by folding your laundry while jumping in place. I’m talking about putting your race car on a diet. A car’s acceleration potential is measured by its Weight-to-Power ratio, or how many [...]
A lot of older cars used throttle linkages instead of throttle cables. My 1971 Datsun 240Z was one of them. Linkage systems are usually quite robust and hold up to decades of abuse. Unfortunately in the 196os and ’70s, they started using plastic pieces, usually the end caps, that sometimes break down, especially when frequently [...]
I’ve never been a believer of the Harley crowd’s moto “Loud Pipes Save Lives”. All that loud pipes do is get restrictions put in place. Next month I’m going to a track day event at Laguna Seca Raceway in Salinas, CA, just outside Monterey. LSR has a very strict db (decibel) limit due to its [...]
photos 1, 2 I was lucky to have a set of blueprints to start this project with, instead of having to draw up a template myself. A good friend and fellow 240Z racer is a bridge engineer, and he provided me with this schematic. Supplies and costs: 24″x24″ sheet of .025″ 5052 anodized aluminum [...]
