Special Report: How to Become and Auto Racer (Part 5)
There are many small, yet important, pieces of information that a driver can utilize to increase their experience and education, which will in turn make them better drivers. One major occurrence in auto racing is the use of modifications in the drivers’
vehicle.
Once the driver is addicted to auto racing, there are infinite modifications to be made. Firstly and most importantly are safety upgrades. Safety harness, roll cages, brakes, tires, and fire extinguishers are the most common upgrades. Aside from safety,
performance modifications are also popular. Enthusiasts tend to upgrade their vehicles to make them faster and handle better. The most common engine upgrades include turbos, superchargers, air intakes, blow off valves, nitrous oxide, and limited-slip differentials.
Other upgrades include extended bumpers, widebody kits, and spoilers, which increase road grip. However, drivers should remember that spoilers are only necessary if driving speeds exceed 200 km/h.
Drivers must also keep in mind that their vehicle will not be able to handle more than one drastic input at a time. This means that the car is able to accelerate, brake, and steer, but doing two or more of these actions at the same time may result in loss
of control. The cars’ tires can only offer so much traction, so a driver must make sure to keep any and all strong inputs separate and under control.
While your tires are wet or cold, drivers must drive with extreme caution. Cold tires are usually a problem only on the first lap. Afterwards, traction warms the tires and gives them better road grip. Tires can also be warmed up while doing what is known
as a “burnout” before driving. Also known as a “peel out”, a burnout is the practice of spinning the wheels of the car while the vehicle is stationary. This causes the tires to heat up and smoke to emit from friction.
Weight is always a disadvantage while racing. The heavier your vehicle, the harder it is to drive it. To reduce weight, remove all unnecessary items from your vehicle. This includes subwoofer boxes, tools, spare tires, even back seats. Auto racing cars usually
have stripped interior. That means no carpets, dashboards, passenger seats, door panels, and almost everything else that has nothing to do with the performance of the vehicle. Items in the vehicle which are required, such as seats and body panels, are often
replaced with lighter aftermarket parts to reduce weight. Having loose objects that slide around in the car, such as subwoofer boxes, change the vehicles center of gravity, which is the difference between crashing and staying safe while negotiating turns at
high speeds.
Be warned, there is significant danger while racing a car. Driving everyday on public roads requires a lot less skill, practice, and attention than driving on the track at high speeds. Track driving should be treated as a serious sport, as many people have
been seriously injured and have even died while racing.
Also, the driver must make sure that their equipment is up to standard each time before a race. Standards for safety equipment, most commonly in helmets, changes from time to time, so it is best to acquire standard equipment. Also, damaged equipment should
be repaired or replaced depending on the seriousness of damage. Cracked helmets should not be used in any circumstances, and should be replaced before driving.
Another warning to drivers: insurance companies and manufacturers’ warranties DO NOT cover track racing. Some racers have been known to tow their vehicles out of the track and then claim insurance, but be forewarned. This is known as insurance fraud, which
is illegal and punishable by law. As for warranties, some new vehicles have computer chips in the vehicle that report driving conditions. These spy chips report to the service department, which will then cancel the vehicle’s warranty coverage, due to intentional
abuse.
Although track racing can be an enjoyable experienced, there are many things to remember to make the driver better and to keep them safe. Knowing how to get the driver’s vehicle into top condition, and working properly can keep them safe and driving better.
All the warnings stated in the article are to keep the driver aware of conditions of racing, not to scare them off. If they are serious about racing, they will use a dedicated track car, on which there is no warranty, and will not claim insurance on collisions
made on the track. As important as driving, is to stay safe, so every driver should remember that racing is about going fast and winning. But safety is
always the number one priority.
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