Tabla de contenidos para June 2017 en Circle Track

I consider myself pretty loyal to the sport of short-track racing. In return, it’s been pretty good to me, so there are no complaints. But because we’ve had such a long relationship, there are often times I get burned out, tired, and just need my space. You know: “It’s not you, it’s me.” “Maybe we need a break.” Those sorts of excuses. However, short-track racing is just too hard to shake. It’s an addiction. It’s a lifestyle. It’s in our blood. So, like many of you, I’m constantly thinking of ways to make short-track racing better. Trying to come up with simple fixes that can help the good of the sport. Not every idea I have is a winner. That’s just how things go. Thankfully, there are a lot of…

In the March 2017 issue, which hit newsstands right around Christmas, our “Off the Mic” column featured a racing Christmas wish list. If you haven’t seen that column, find it online at www.circletrack. com. Here are some of the responses. Montgomery Speedway Late Models I read your Christmas wish list with interest. I’ve raced many years and, like the Farmers Insurance commercial, “I’ve seen a lot.” Montgomery Speedway has a Late Model class that is as simple as you can get, based on an 8-inch tire and wheel. It only has six rules besides safety stuff. 1. 8-inch 890 Hoosier tire and 8-inch wheel, no soaking. That’s the equalizer. 2. Stock appearing Late Model body, fiberglass, steel, or aluminum. 3. Any 6- or 8-cylinder motor 4. 500-cfm carb, no modifications…

Many aspects of the parts and pieces of dirt cars have evolved over the past 20 years or so. We’ve seen almost every part of the car evolve from fairly primitive designs to the most advanced configurations possible. Historically, the brake systems have been among the least evolved, mainly due to the fact that in years past, dirt racers used very little braking. Now, though, that has all changed. A big influence in the change in how brakes are used in dirt racing involves the way the cars are setup and raced. The setups offer a more balanced approach whereby all of the four tires are doing work. We rarely see the left front tire up in the air. This is true for the top three most popular types of…

On the first day of the new year in January 1964, Smokey has survived his Speedway experience so far, but he had reached a stage where conventional Indy car design and construction won’t get the job done, at least as far as he’s concerned. He sketched out a turbine engine and fiberglass body that weighed 5 ounces a square foot. Among other changes to conventional chassis components, including aluminum brake drums and an experimental Corvette aluminum independent drive assembly, he planned to use a rubber fuel cell to carry the customary 75 gallons of fuel. But his most noteworthy concept was to place the driver in a small capsule as a completely separate component that would bolt to the mainframe with five bolts. It would also be a one-pedal car.…

Last month, I discussed the balance of performance and the ways sanctions try to equal out the power influence of different engines. I use the term “power influence” because the value of a particular engine depends somewhat on which track it is running on and how that power is regulated. I outlined the fact that adding a small amount of weight to a higher hp motorcar does little to equal out the competition. Adding sufficient weight is a more effective way to provide equal acceleration down the straights. But what about differences in performance in the corners? The penalized car now has to try to get through the corners with a lot more weight, which wants to go to the wall. If we consider that penalty, then we add less…

Fire Protection The Lifeline 2.25 Liter 2 Nozzle Fire System comes in a complete kit that’s ready to install. This system is ideal for many types of motorsports activities. The specially designed nozzles divide the AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) into minute particles to smother the fire and provide a seal that prevents re-ignition. The system weighs 8 pounds and has a very small footprint for installation in a wide variety of areas. For more information call (844) 776-7223 or visit www.augustamotorsports.biz. Let’s Get it Started The E3 DiamondFIRE 6CDI features a high-performance digital microprocessor-controlled circuit board in a lightweight extruded aluminum housing. Boasting a highly efficient design, the DiamondFIRE 6CDI has several key innovations, including the sequential fire start mode, allowing easier and faster starting. It draws only 0.7…

Over the span of a 50-year career in the high-performance and racing industry, I’ve had the good fortune to meet and come to know some highly experienced racers and engine builders, particularly Smokey Yunick. I’ve also had an opportunity to respond to the tech questions and problems a range of readers and enthusiasts. This has caused my brain bucket to be chockfull of learning that came from those much more experienced and knowledgeable than I was back then. One particular area that emerged early on was a fundamental need of racers and enthusiasts who were seeking the best engine part’s combinations to address specific objectives. Too often, it frequently seemed the bigger-is-better approach failed to achieve the desired results, and instead lead to increased costs and time to reach their…

We want to provide tips on how to do various things while at the racetrack. Many of these are easily done at the shop where we have a mostly sterile environment, but things get messy when we go racing. Here is why. When I walk around the pits, I either see techniques I have never seen before or that I did before I found a better way to do it. Or I see things that are done wrong, in my opinion. I like to think of myself as a student of processes. That means, I am forever looking to do things in a more organized way, more accurately, and easier, with the emphasis on easy. So, here are seven processes that we hope you can learn how to do better…

The MSD 6CT Ignition features a slew of new features that make the process easier on the racer, the car, and the tech man. This box is specifically designed for engines that require rev limiting. Although previous rev-limiting boxes were difficult to adjust and use, the 6CT’s new features allow for easy set-up and even easier tech. It is designed to be the smoothest rev limiter yet, which will be very friendly to your powerplant. The rev limiting is controlled via a microprocessor that is designed to help your chassis remained undisturbed when charging into the turn. It is set up using easy-to-use rotary dials to set the cylinder option for 4-, 6-, or 8-cylinder engines and to adjust the built-in start retard, providing 0, 10, or 20 degrees of…