LegendsRacer - Legends & Bandolero Racing Forum

LEGENDS => Setup and Handling => Topic started by: tlr_28 on April 05, 2014, 10:14:05 pm

Title: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: tlr_28 on April 05, 2014, 10:14:05 pm
I'm running at a .375 mile high banked track called Kingsport speedway if you want to see the track you can find it on YouTube.  I'm pretty fast but it takes the car 6 or 7 laps to really get fast. The handling of the car doesn't change it just gets fast. Right now my spring set up is 325 RF 300 LF 275 RR 250 LR. My weight set up is 48.5% cross, 52% left and rear. Camber is at -5 RF and 2.75 LF. Air psi is 31 RR 29 RF 17 LF 10.5 LR. Like I said before the car drives really good and is fast, but by the time it gets really fast it's too late in the race. Any suggestions on what to do? Thanks
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: tlr_28 on April 05, 2014, 10:15:34 pm
Forgot to put ride height... Front is at 3 3/4 in, rear is at 4 in
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: Winterracing on April 05, 2014, 10:51:12 pm
raise your air pressures a bit? If the handling doesn't change much i'm not sure why its not fast right from the start.  Being that it is fast at the end it seems like your static setup would be good (caster, camber and such) but the air pressures, being the only thing  changing could be an issue.

Dan
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: tlr_28 on April 05, 2014, 10:56:45 pm
I have tried that and it just made the car too loose. Thanks for your input
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: IraceLegends77 on April 06, 2014, 08:18:31 am
Handling doesn't change over those 6-7 laps? I think the air pressure is to high on the right side. But if the handling is the same and it gets faster it just might be you getting in a groove. Sometimes its the the driver that is getting faster.
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: Earnst85 on April 06, 2014, 09:24:12 am
Maybe the car comes alive when your tires come to temp. I don't run asphalt, but we grind tires to remove the glaze created by heat cycles. Maybe once the glaze gets scuffed off, the tires come alive.
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: knoxracing on April 06, 2014, 10:50:42 am
Who cuts your tires and how many races do you get from a set of tires? Your asphalt spring package is interesting for sure. Six laps in will heat those right sides, especially with that stiff rr spring. Tire temps would be beneficial to fixing your problem, but tire cutting info will help.
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: tlr_28 on April 06, 2014, 12:44:37 pm
This is a concrete track. Should have mentioned that. I cut my own tires. Got the machine from Phil Tuel and he cut a couple tires with me showing me how to do it. I get about 6 or 7 races on them depending on how thin I cut them to begin with
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: s10custom on April 06, 2014, 01:32:08 pm
What Scott said....also sometimes motors don't come in until they get a certain amount of heat into them.

Robert
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: tlr_28 on April 06, 2014, 01:36:26 pm
Thanks for all the replies. Do you think that going with softer springs all the way around would help the tires build heat faster? I'm almost bottoming out now with the 325
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: knoxracing on April 06, 2014, 07:14:48 pm
The concrete would be part of the situation. I really agree that softer REAR springs would help. motor is not your issue or I should say is not related to this issue. Try a 180 lr and a 220 rr on the concrete.
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: knoxracing on April 06, 2014, 07:16:30 pm
I would also bring that left rear air closer to the left front pressure, 10.5 is really low compared to your other pressures. Hop this helps
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: tlr_28 on April 06, 2014, 08:35:28 pm
Soften the rear springs up even though my right rear is bottoming out?
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: knoxracing on April 06, 2014, 09:39:52 pm
180 lr 220 rr, do not be concerned- start there and play with it. I would bet the most common rr spring on pavement is a 200 lb spring. you need body roll to help the  car rotate.
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: tlr_28 on April 06, 2014, 10:40:58 pm
Okay I'll try that. Thanks everybody for the suggestions!
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: erich17 on April 22, 2014, 09:42:41 pm
Remember on high banked tracks its common for people to run a stiffer LR spring because it typically has more wheel weight during cornering.  Just what i have heard.
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: LegendConsultant on April 25, 2014, 01:03:43 pm
Do you buff your tires before every race weekend?
Do you run nitrogen instead of air?
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: justfreaky on April 25, 2014, 07:50:31 pm
Do you run nitrogen instead of air?

Seriously?!!!
Nitrogen is a plus for very long runs. Not usually an expense worth spending the cost vs the benifit.

Steve
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: Legends57x on April 26, 2014, 08:45:22 am
Steve,

I hate to tell you this, but using nitrogen to fill tires is common in the asphalt series.  Many use it, lots more than you think.  Another reason I switched to dirt... ;D
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: VMS Motorsports on April 26, 2014, 11:54:23 am
There's dirt guys that use it too, just not as many.
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: justfreaky on April 26, 2014, 06:09:04 pm
I know that for some it is common practice to use nitrogen. For short races, it is not cost effective.
Whatever!

Steve
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: VMS Motorsports on April 26, 2014, 11:37:27 pm
Tire pressures increase an average of 3/4 pound during an 8 lap heat race on dirt with the set-up I was running last year, as much as 2.5 pounds in a 20 lap main if the track was black. I run air in my tires, but I'm not going to be in NASCAR next year either, am just out there to have some fun.

It's not cost effective to haul 1 Legend car around with a $60,000 truck and $40,000 trailer either, but a lot of guys do it.  ;)
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: IraceLegends77 on April 28, 2014, 06:32:50 pm
It's not cost effective to run a sealed motor but that is whole different story and people do it too.
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: justfreaky on April 28, 2014, 10:06:44 pm
You all are taking this all wrong. Nitrogen in the tires is not going to make it go faster. If you read the question; It was why the car was taking so long to come up to speed. Has nothing to do with air or nitrogen in the tires. Tire pressures suggested as a possible cause. I am just not seeing nitrogen as a fix to his problem.

Racing is not cost effective.

Steve
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: VMS Motorsports on April 29, 2014, 09:08:10 am
I know you're mind is in other places Steve, but air pressure and nitrogen use are linked.
Not saying nitrogen in the tires is the answer, but pressure buildup or initial pressures could be the issue.
We haven't heard from the original poster in 3 weeks, so we may never know
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: justfreaky on April 29, 2014, 09:45:49 am
I agree with you Jim. Could be that his initial tire pressure was wrong and air pressure build up was helpful in getting the car up to speed.  :-\
Hopefully we will hear back from him on this issue.

Steve
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: tlr_28 on May 04, 2014, 12:10:01 pm
Hey guys sorry it's been so long. I've been real busy racing gokarts, the legends, and hunting, broke a cam in the car 2 weeks ago.... But I lowered my air pressure to29 rr, 27rf, 16 LF, and kept the LR at 10.5. It made the car drive like a dump truck it was so tight. I went to 30.5, 28.5, 16.5, and 10.5 and it was fast. They didn't pull me on the start like the use to I just couldn't get around them for a few laps. Was about to pass for the lead taking the white flag and the cam broke.... I'm going to try some softer springs and see what that does. Thank you all for the help
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: tlr_28 on May 06, 2014, 09:58:50 pm
Just got the head back today. Apparently the valve didn't have any lash so it wasn't closing off all the way until the head got hot and expanded. I think I was fighting a losing battle trying to change the car and make it come in faster. Thank you for all of your helpful tips and suggestions!
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: LegendConsultant on May 19, 2014, 08:19:04 pm
Do you run nitrogen instead of air?

Seriously?!!!
Nitrogen is a plus for very long runs. Not usually an expense worth spending the cost vs the benifit.

Steve


With nitrogen you can start your pressures higher and not have to worry about much pressure buildup resulting in the car changing during the race. And car is fast from the get go.

Seriously !!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Car takes too long to get fast
Post by: justfreaky on May 19, 2014, 08:49:12 pm
I get your point. Thing is, you can run some practice laps at speed and figure your tire  pressure build up. Pretty easy, and no cost. Just sayin'.

Steve