Race Car Tuning - Working Order

Winning a race is really good. Winning several is even better. But it's a fact: season championships are really hard to come by. Regardless of what you are racing, running consistently well each time you take to the racetrack is paramount to any good finish in the year-end point standings.

Because of the concentration of Winston Cup teams, the area around central North Carolina has become a hotbed for oval track racers. Potential champions in every class, from all over the country are drawn to local tracks where they hope car owners, and others who can help them up the ladder of success, can see them.

So what do the championship winners do to run at the front of the pack week-in and week-out? Stock Car Racing went to the winners of the class championships at two of the leading pavement short tracks near Charlotte, Concord Motorsport Park and Hickory Motor Speedway, to twist some arms and get some answers on what they do from week to week to maintain their race cars and get those championship trophies.

Safety Review
The first thing the winners note-and it should be on the top of everybody's list-is safety. It is each driver's responsibility before every race to make sure all of his safety gear is operating the way the manufacturer intended.

For example, you need to wear your belts as tight as you can stand them, but if your seat belt adjuster is out of slack and you twist a belt to make it tighter, you increase the risk of a phenomenon called "dumping" during a crash. Dumping occurs when the seat belt adjuster rotates along the plane of the belt, turning to 90 degrees from its normal orientation. Each belt strap slides to the opposite ends of the bracket and bunches up. That allows the belts to loosen about another 211/42 inches and then the webbing begins shearing, just when you need the belt's protection the most. Two years ago, the phenomenon was virtually unknown and belts were installed according to what was comfortable and looked right. Now, safety inspectors are checking specific parameters for belt mountings, and confirming that the belts are installed according to the manufacturer's suggestions, too.

Keep in regular touch with professional suppliers of racing safety equipment. Quiz them on the latest innovations and make sure they (not that skeptical veteran) have told you how to install and use what you have bought. If you don't quite understand the instruction sheet, take the time to call and ask. And then don't vary from the instructions you receive.

Aside from staying informed and outfitted, the most important thing a driver can do from week to week is to maintain your existing safety gear. Make it a habit to perform a quick, weekly check of all 'cage welds and seat mount and restraint connections for cracks and signs of failure. Seat belts should be free of fraying anywhere. Assess the seat for cracks or bends that weren't there previously. Examine the welds around braces, supports, and doublers for cracks. Inspect all safety hardware for signs of stress and wear. Check the fire extinguisher.

These checks are especially important after a crash. Manufacturers often recommend that they have a look at any safety gear after a crash. The manufacturers will know where to look for the signs preceding failure (that you may not notice) and can usually repair the damage at minimal cost.