burnout to put as much heat into the tyres as possible . Once the burnout is complete , your goal should be to get the car to the starting line as soon as possible .”
COOL TRACK ( 90 ° TO 105 ° F )
“ This is the most desirable surface temperature range for most race tracks . If the track surface also has a good cover of rubber , it will usually take all you can throw at it ,” Bickel explained .
“ Be aggressive with engine , clutch , and chassis tuning . If the air is dense and the surface is smooth , you should record the best times your car is capable of making .”
WARM TRACK ( 106 ° TO 130 ° F )
“ At these temperatures , the rubber on the race track begins to soften and pull loose from the surface . It is in this range that chassis tuning becomes paramount ,” Bickel said .
“ Excellent runs are still possible if you don ’ t overpower the surface and pull the rubber up . Softer clutch engagement and chassis settings are the key , but you ’ ll need a lot of experience with your car to determine how to dial back just enough without compromising performance .”
HOT TRACK ( ABOVE 130 ° F )
“ This is where everything seems to wilt , including the driver and crew ,” Bickel said .
“ Expect greasy track conditions and reduced engine power from the thin air . Traction will bottom out somewhere between 12 noon to four or five o ’ clock in the evening – usually the time when eliminations are run .
“ This is no time to try to impress the world with the performance of your car – in these conditions almost everyone has enough horsepower to win . Your challenge is to avoid overpowering the track and get to the finish line ahead of your competition .”
Burnout Considerations
Bickel offers this advice on adjusting tyre pressure for a burnout : “ Remember the goal of the burnout . Tyre manufacturers recommend that you heat the slicks so they are 30 ° F hotter than the track temperature . Take all race day conditions into account .
“ The final tyre temperature after completing the burnout varies with the ambient ( outside ) air temperature , track temperature , and the burnout length .
“ If your run is stopped for any reason after a burnout , your tyres gain pressure . There is no reliable means to determine exactly
how much heat is still in the tyres . The best option is to assume the first burnout never happened . Reset the air pressure in the tyres again before entering the water box and then conduct a normal burnout .
“ A well-adjusted race car will come straight out of the water box on the burnout and lay down nice , straight rubber tracks . If your car comes out sideways , it is not only dangerously out of control , but it will lay down tracks that are skewed and useless .
“ Wheel weight distribution affects how straight the car will come out of the water . This works the opposite way from what happens on the actual run . If the rear end starts going to the right out of the water , you have too much right rear bite and you need to take spring from ( loosen ) the left front . If the car goes to the left out of the box , you have too much left rear bite and you need to add spring ( tighten ) the left front .”
As you can see , there ’ s a lot to consider . Reading the track , working tyre pressure to your advantage , and making the car work under varying track conditions can spell the difference between going rounds or ending your day early . It all adds up .
For more from Jerry Bickel Race Cars , visit www . jerrybickel . com
Low-pressure tyre gauges like this one aren ’ t 100 percent accurate . If you can , compare your gauge against a standard gauge at a major race tyre service truck ; they typically turn up at larger events . Never use two different gauges to check tyre pressure on your car — you ’ ll never know which reading is correct .
Summit Racing sells several different types of laser heat guns . A great example is this model from the folks at Intercomp ( www . summitracing . com / parts / icp-360018-e ). It reads in Celsius and Fahrenheit in . 1-degree increments with an accuracy of +/ -2 percent of the reading . The range is from -52 ° below zero all the way up to 1022 ° F .
Summit Racing tyre covers ( www . summitracing . com / parts / sumg1990andra ) prevent the sun from heating and expanding your slicks . The vinyl covers are available as wraparounds for dragsters and roadsters , or with suction cups for doorslammers with fiberglass or steel bodies . You can even get this one with the ANDRA logo on it . Summit Racing covers for doorslammers have a soft fabric inside layer that won ’ t damage your paint .