What are the users thoughts on this section? Anything we need to add? Set up? In the suspension forum I spent a lot of time putting together a link list for people who would like to read up for themselves and tried to build a useful archive.

I know the racer crowd is different, as lots of people know what they are doing and they don't feel the need to try and prove to everyone their genius as happens in other sections. Added to the fact that many of you guys have much more real racing experience than I do.

All that said, anything you guys would like to see added here or done differently?

DamonB
Suspension and Race Car Tech Mod.

 

I would like to see things that are more technical in this section. (Keep in mind that certain topics may overlap w/ the Suspension and Interior sections of this forum)

From:

1) a basic list of things to bring to the track (from basic water supplies to tools to emergency medical kits)
2) a basic check off list of things to examine on your "race" car prior to the actual track event.
3) Discussion on the use of various "race" oriented products,...like fuel cells (proper mounting, composition of a fuel cell, brands, etc.), fuel reservoirs, etc.
4) Race seats,...choosing the right one for you. How to properly mount one. Safety harnesses.....what makes a certain mounting point ideal? What makes another mounting point dangerous? (Explain in accordance to NHRA/race sanctions rule book)
5) Technical subjects like Corner Weighing for example. How to properly set up your coilovers to compensate for the varying weights at all four corners (based on application whether drag, autocross, drift, etc.)
6) Technical subjects on the "racing line". How to spot it, where you want your vehicle to be at a given point, setting up your car to anticipate not only the first curve, but the next one as well, understanding track configurations, etc.
7) Vehicle handling. Understanding the way your car should handle. The way it should feel on a banked curve (for example).
8) Things that work as quick fix solutions at the track. Example, duct tape. How to McGuyver something? (Like create a brake pressure bleeder out of a spray bottle...etc.)
9) Things to do at the track (like etiquette, disposal of trash, etc.). Things NOT to do at the track. (Seriously)
10) Wheel Alignment based on particular application
11) Load transfer (w/ relation to suspension setup).
12) Maintenance of your "race" car.
13) Tires,...the right ones for you.
14) Oils coolers,....will going larger affect oil pressure?
15) AN fittings. How to choose, use, and install?
16) The various racing sanctions. And what is allowed and what isn't within a certain race "class".
17) Tire changers. How to make sure your tires are mounted properly (even when a technician is doing the work for you).

This is the info off the top of my head. I'm sure that I can figure out more, but I think you get the idea.

 

Y'know what they say .... if it ain't fixed, don't break it.

I dunno. Maybe a section/sticky for auto-x and a section for road racing. A lot of setups and tricks are not the same across both types of racing.

 

I agree w/ redrotorR1 in that sub sections (based on application) may be necessary.

 

All that sounds good. The safey aspect alone I think really needs to be approached: proper helmets, belts and installation, fuel cells, fire control etc.

For the handling stuff, there's lots of info in the link list here

 

More:

18) Properly sized helmets along w/ fitment (the various brands available) (Totally forgot about this one...thanks Damon)
19) Types of fire extinguishers: dry chemical, Halon, in-car to portable handheld, etc. What to do if a fire extinguisher fails? How to check and maintain dry chemical fire extinguishers, etc. Worse case scenario,....what to do if there are ZERO working fire extinguishers?
20) Vehicle on fire,...what to do. What to do in a crash? How to exit the vehicle safely?
21) Track safety.
22) How to locate safety cutoff switches on a race car?
23) Proper storage of race fuel. How to properly clean up spilled fuel.
24) Race suits. Choosing one that fits. Brands.
25) What to do if you lose the use of your brakes on the track?

 

All of the things Dom listed are great and would make for good discussion. Either the topics will come up in time or someone can take the initiative now and just start asking questions.

 

I'd like to hear suspension setups people are using, what struts, what spring rates, what coil over kits, etc. I'd also like to see more discussion on gearboxes and rear gears, including reliability mods and upgrade options.

-Trent
1984 RX-7 (#27 CC car)
1988 TII RX-7 (shell, ready to build into an endurance racer)

 

a drifting section, I dont think people fully understand what drifting really is, and it is really about to blow up in the U.S.

 

Awww, what a good mod!

 

Can I get my cookie now?

 

Yeah we do. That's why it doesn't belong in the Race section

 

ok so im a n00b here but i have opinions, here they are:

i think all drifting related posts should be banished to the 9th level of hell (or at least moved to a forum outside of racing).

dont split racing into sub forums, there is not enough traffic here to begin with, maybe change the name to road race/autox. since people who konw about one usualy know about the other it makes sense to have it all in one place.

i think the honda-tech rr/autox forum is moderated extremely well. you need to put a FAQ up at the top with the first question "what is road racing?" or explain that road racing is not street racing, and any posts not racing related will be locked. also that if you dont search before you post it will be locked.

this forum is as close to moderation perfection as you can get:
http://honda-tech.com/zeroforum?id=19

 

Yeah, not enough traffic but I respect (most) of those who post here. We're all mature and know our stuff. To echo someone's earlier suggestion... a permanent sticky for "Post Your Race Setups" (dampers, spring rates, anti-sway bar choices, tires and compounds) and perhaps one labeled "So you want to go racing?" with content on starting out (often asked), modifications required (safety et al). Oh and I just thought of one more, a "Track Events Sticky" to include lapping days upcoming, rotary participation in upcoming races local to you, etc.

Three sticky's, not so bad...

 

I absolutely agree with that one.

We don't even have to do that, we can just delete them completely. I try not to come across as "evil" though; everyone should get a say. I try and be lenient in what I just toss out though.

 

Nevermind. I just read your posts,....and I do agree that the racing section is EXTREMELY inactive compared to the rest of the forum. (Funny, considering this is the "racing" section.)

 

the only reason i say lock the post rather then delete it is so when the guy who posted it will understand why his post was locked (by adding a reply with the reason for lockage and then locking it). for those who refuse to read the FAQ that way kinda forces them too.

on the other hand this forum doesnt have anywhere close to the rice problem that HT does, but im sure there will be a whole lot more drifting posts in here before its all said and done.

im not trying to tell you how to moderate, so dont take it the wrong way. it just works really well for HT, and thats one of the best RR/autox forums on the web.

 

Low traffic? That's because most forum traffic is poseurs. Pretty good signal/noise ratio here. More traffic doesn't mean more data.

 

Posers, ha. All I could suggest is a thread where members' front and rear camber and toe settings are shown. It would give newbies like me a starting point for setting up my suspension. I've read the links on the suspension forum.

 

What's in your toolbox?

What's in your spares box?

Things you "Have to have", besides the car!!

"I bit the barrier, here's why I think it happened!"

There are some very experienced people posting in this forum, if you've got the time please share things you've learned the hard way!!

 

How about we define what should actually be present in this forum and add some guidelines to follow. We have way too many posts asking about problems with or suggestions on street cars. The place to ask about a suspension for a street car is NOT in the race car forum. In fact an answer from us would be completely useless for the street.
-Matt