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Author |
TOPIC: Mod engines and in-line pipe dreams. (beginners) |
| RoyalPalmrace
June 13, 2005
5:01:38 AM
Entry #: 894965
| I am writing this to try to help some new drivers get the most out of this hobby without going overboard on spending.
First off I must say that there is a-lot to learn much more than you might expect. I for one.. love this sport because there are endless things to learn and it never ends. (same as real racing) This sport is constantly improving and there’s always more to learn and refine.
This does not mean its all that complicated.. you can make this hobby as complicated as you want it to be. There are some basic things that WILL improve performance or better said LAP TIMES. Its all about lap times.
Rule #1. ITS NOT ALL ABOUT THE ENGINE!
If you haven’t already noticed we are not drag racing. A drag race car has a completely different design altogether.
Don’t expect to buy the most powerful engine an get killer lap times. Don’t even expect to get better lap times at all. In some cases it can hurt your lap times. Now knowing this ahead of time might save you from spending 400.00 on an engine that will make you go slower. Personally I find great satisfaction beating other drivers with a bone stock non-modified engine and a really cheap pipe. Sometimes just to make it sweater I’ll put on a 2year old engine that might be worth 50.00 at most just to test my skills. I don’t suggest you do the same I just like to mess around sometimes. I do recommend a decent (reliable) engine with a good pipe match from a reputable manufacture that is easy to tune and reasonably priced for the novice. This engine will be your track friend for a while until you refine your driving and mechanic skills. If you are able to get the most from this engine you will be happily surprised. Once you have this engine installed work on clutch (30% power lost right there) also work on understanding car gearing and shift points and how this affects engine tuning and also get a grasp on handling. Then of course there is driving skills the most important ingredient.
STAYING ON THE LINE IS NUMBER #1 PRIORITY!!!!!
I cant say that enough. If your not on the line your going slow period. This is key.
The faster you go the more difficult it gets to stay on the line. The whole idea is to stay on line as fast you can drive. If you are just starting out and you put in this monster engine you will just make life harder on yourself for many reasons. An example is our sweeper is a 90 ft radius. If however you gave your car enough throttle and your now out 12ft from the berms (red/white boarder) then your traveling a much greater distance even if the car is going faster your lap times WILL be slower.
To practice go as slow as you need to drive to stay online! If you steer away from the line LET GO OF THROTTLE and GET BACK ON THE LINE. If your offline your not doing anything productive and may even hit a wall while your squeezing the throttle trigger. Take it easy go slow and build up from there as you KEEP the car on the line.
For those that don’t know the line is an imaginary travel path through out the whole track. This path is the optimum travel path for fastest lap times. This (imaginary path) is not always obvious and track designs sometimes make this path difficult to find in some areas. This is for a reason since knowing the line is very important to good lap times so some tracks (hide the line) to make it challenging for top drivers. If you need help in this area just ask some of the top drivers to point out this drive line path for you so that you can practice and drive with a goal.
If any other racers want to comment feel free.
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| Juancho
June 13, 2005
1:07:19 PM
Entry #: 895749
| I totally agree with Andy, it doesn't matter how expensive is your stuff or who made it... is all in the driving.
This Sport-Hobbie offers as many tuneable options as a real race car and maybe more since the only regullated item is the engine class... For us novices, is better to stay within reasonable hop ups and upgrades until we get the hang of it.
The most difficult part for me so far has been the racing line... it is completelly opposite to the real thing... Yet is is true that the closer you are to the apron of the track(Bottom line) the shortest the traveled distance is, in many cases by using an early or late apex allows you to get back in the throttle sooner and get faster out of the corners (Greater distances at faster speeds)... this looks crappy and sometimes wide but it works just fine (Lets say, what you do when setting up a car to over take him on the next turn... you swing wide behind it, and when he checks out, you get the inside... that is called late apex... he might fight you back on the next turn, but is a matter of controling the line and closing the door)... This may sound like mumbling, probably even more comming from a newby... but in any case, it all deppends on what driving lines will make you feel comfortable...
In my case, Is been hard to get a hold of the RC line (And I have even been shown)... but I'll get there.
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| kakapoopie
June 13, 2005
11:01:21 PM
Entry #: 896941
| yea this all sounds good, but the real trick is knowing WHAT the perfect line really is. you have to be following the right line, or your times will never improve. this is what im having trouble with right now...finding the right line...and getting the stupid car to steer :P
also for anyone not using brakes, you should set up your car for soft braking, or drag brake if your too lazy to push your index finger up from time to time. it will allow you to slow down later in the entry instead of having to coast in forever to reach the right speed.
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| RoyalPalmrace
June 14, 2005
1:15:36 AM
Entry #: 897133
| Kaka.. you need good tires and mechanicaly sound car. and this.."Once you have this engine installed work on clutch (30% power lost right there) also work on understanding car gearing and shift points and how this affects engine tuning and also get a grasp on handling"
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