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Preseason race preparation Part II

Sunday, 10 April 2022

Episode 395

April 10, 2022

Pre-season prep Part II

The 2022 race season is rapidly approaching with tracks opening for practice and racing, some before the end of April. In a previous episode the need for a stout, well prepared dyno-tested engine was highlighted.

This week we will look at chassis preparation including set up. The location once again is JRT Customs in Caribou, Maine. Owner Jason Theriault is one of the premier kart racing specialists in the northeast.

Two of the four race karts at JRT Customs when visited Saturday. All chassis were in different state of assembly in preparation for track use. (HTF Motorsports photo)

Chassidy Shorty in her Sportsman kart while preparing to be scaled for weight distribution. The team drove from Winslow to have JRT Customs do chassis prep. Set up notes were prepared as well as how adjustments affect their specific chassis. Races are won in the shop before a wheel turns on the speedway. Chassidy Racing will be at April 24th opening day at Mainely Karting Speedway; formerly Richmond Raceway. (HTF Motorsports photo)

Chassidy Racing with their 2021 Slack Pursuit chassis at JRT Customs. Left to right Vanessa Folsom (Mom), Chassidy Shorty, David Folsom (Papa), and Greg Vigue all from Winslow. (HTF Motorsports photo)

Chassidy Shorty’s first win of the 2021 season at Richmond Raceway. Handing Mom, the checkered flag after a victory lap. Chassidy went on to win the XXX Series Championship and second in the Junior Sportsman class season championship. (Katherine Fogg photo)

Season opener at Mainely Karting in Richmond, Maine

Safety equipment check

Most safety equipment has a date of manufacture code which is used to determine both eligibility of that equipment to be utilized in some series as well as expiration date for it to be swapped out in series that have such a requirement.

Helmets 2020 standards are explained in this article courtesy Speedway Motors

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/the-toolbox/snell-helmet-certifications-sa2015-vs-sa2020/30976

Some tracks require a two-or three-year swap-out of seatbelts, that is up to the sanctioning body. Most SFI certifications are for two years! Do not think that seat belts are not going to deteriorate or last forever.

The obvious things; replace torn or pinched seat belts. Make sure they are mounted according to sanctioning body standards. Check out this article from Speedway Motors on seat belts.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/the-toolbox/how-to-choose-a-racing-harness/29453

Tanner Russell, Pyrotect Racing, packing my new safety belts for 2022. Disclaimer, Tanner gave me a slight discount on these new 4-inch belts. (Tanner Russell photo)

Nothing like unpacking new racing equipment upon its arrival at HTF Motorsports in Westmanland. Note the important date and certification code in red on white label. (HTF Motorsports photo)

Get primed by watching excellent instructional videos like this from Ross Bentley’s Speed Secrets “Racer’s Mindset: How to Pass, Be Passed, & Race Wheel-to-Wheel”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHLZyua6gAc

WAR at Easter Bunny 150

When the WAR team left Ellsworth Tuesday March 15th at 7 am to compete in the twin Easter Bunny 150s at Hickory Motor Speedway, Hickory, North Carolina. They could not know what adventure lay before them. Crew chief and Hall of Fame member Bob Alexander tells it this way:

” Brett, Jenn, and Quinn left Ellsworth for Hickory Tuesday. The rest of the team struck out on Wednesday morning. Jenn had rented a house a short distance from the track for the weekend.”

The WAR team was stopped by the Pennsylvania DOT near Carlisle where they ironed out some issues about trailer registration before getting out of the state heading south. No violations were found, simply registration misunderstandings.

“Thursday practice ended for us when the newly built engine expired with a rod out of the side of the oil pan. After a few phone calls we were able to find an engine that was in a chassis being built at Clattenburg Racing Fabrication (CRF) in Salisbury, NC.”

“We loaded up and traveled to Dean Clattenburg’s CRF Shop where we were able to swap out the engines, getting the replacement running at 3 AM.” We struggled with our setup on Friday resulting in a finish outside the top 10.”

In line at Hickory Speedway after an all-night thrash to replace an engine. The guys look okay despite the acute lack of sleep. (Racing America/RacingAmerica.com photo)

Bob continues, “Saturday morning we regrouped on our shock and a spring package, resulting in a more drivable car for Wyatt. Examination of our tires showed an issue with the toe setting which was affecting the left front tire.”

“Further checking showed that a loosely clamped tie rod had allowed the toe-in setting to grow to more than 2 inches of toe-out, far from where we wanted to be. Following toe-in adjustment and a shock setup from 2019, we arrived at a package that we felt would race quite well.”

“With a starting draw for outside pole on the last of 4 heat races, Wyatt showed some strength with a win in the heat race.”

“The car was strong in the early stages of the 150-lap feature, Wyatt ran a conservative race, on the lead lap of the 150-lap race.”

“With 30 laps to go, a restart mishap resulted in a chain reaction pileup which caused major damage to the front of the car.”

“We were able to hold things together with duct tape and get back on track but the front-end damage caused restriction of air flow to the radiator and an overheating condition. At this point Wyatt decided to end his night and come to the pits.”

WAR folks were able to talk with Austin Theriault who was at Hickory Motor Speedway to support several drivers as part of his Professional Driver Development business.

Scarborough, Maine’s Ryan Moore won the Friday evening Easter Bunny 150 and NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron won the Saturday evening Easter Bunny 150.

Tom Patsis best replica yet!?

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1031276871133732

Let’s go racing,

Tom Hale

Soli Deo Gloria (Matthew 5:16)

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Preseason race preparation Part II

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