Track Prep

[jgiannone]

As the upcoming driving season approaches, some thoughts on track prep are worth consideration. All sorts of discussion at the track, and on forums, is dedicated to mechanical failures and the associated consequences. From my experience, most mechanical failures can be foreseen, before the failure occurs. Parts don't usually catastrophically fail, they give off signs. Close inspection, I mean really focussed inspection can uncover impending failure before things fail. Tires usually show signs of excessive harsh wear. Do they have any cuts in the tread, or evidence of overheating? Things don't get better, they only get worse, and usually faster. And yes, everyone would like to get dozens of runs/heat cycles out of track tires, but in reality, for faster drivers and heavy cars, tires start to show those signs of fatigue before something gives way. Do your wheel bearings rattle (when you spin the tire, do you hear a rumbling sound, or just smooth). They don't get better either, usually get worse, faster. Are you losing axle grease out of the end, a sign of overheating, and if its not replaced, the bearings inside will wear, again, faster. Do your axle boots have small rips or tears, or is there grease leaking from the boots? And a favorite, showing up at the track for a hot three day event, in a fast heavy car with only half the brake pad thickness of new. Again, they wear so much faster in the second half of their life than in the first. We spend quite a bit to go through an event. An extra $300 for new pads is money well spent, and a safety edge where one is needed with an expensive car to protect. The point is, spend the extra time to look at everything, and anything that gives you pause, is likely something worthy of attention. Its a shame its not as easy as, "I need new golf balls". But things can go form being a lot of fun to a disaster pretty quick out there, so see how many failures you can spot before they happen.