Motorsport Prep Website Sought

[GC8]

Can anyone suggest a website/forum which I can refer to for help when prepping a car for competition?

Im looking for good solid knowledgeable advice from people who have done it themselves. I have a shelf full of Blue Books and a reasonable idea of what I am doing, but there is no substitute for others experience...

[benjj]

What kind of prep, Simon?

For my line of competition the British Rally Forum's Technical Section is good (need to be registered to see it) - http://www.britishrally.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?...

Am sure there must be others for track driving etc.

[cookracing]

Have a blog (of sorts) here http://racing.cookieonline.net if it's any help.

If so, feel free to look at some adds

[GC8]

Thanks Miles. The first ad was gross! Maybe something less stomach churning will come up next time?

Ben: Im looking for the difference between knowing how to do everything and having done everything, if that makes sense? My grandfather used to prepare and build racing Astons and other family members are heavily involved in motorsport, including prep, so I have always been interested and I have picked up a great deal, but there is a lot that I dont have practical experience of.

[bozla]

Personally, I've found books particularly useful for learning about prepping cars. The internet tends to be a smattering of good information in a sea a bad advice.

Try tune to win (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tune-Win-Carroll-Smith/dp/0879380713/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382306982&sr=8-1&keywords=tune+to+win) and prepare to win by Caroll Smith. Some does cover saloon car racing and it is heavily racing focused, but will cover most things about good prep.

I think he started writing these books because he got tired of seeing things being done so badly.

Ford Escort rally prep is probably a good read as well,　if you can find a copy!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Escort-Rally-Preparation-C...

[GC8]

An example problem. Passing a bowden cable through the firewall and into the cabin. Where does it go and how do I seal it effectively, because it is flexible?

[shirt]

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showpost.php...

any good?

[GC8]

Thanks - thats exactly what I had in mind (but a far neater implementation). You can buy through-bulkhead fittings for your extinguisher tube, but there doesnt seem to be anything for extinguisher and cut off switch control cables.

[GC8]

They have proper steel and alloy bulkhead pass-throughs, but it looks as though I will have to buy a bowden cable cutter too...

Escort Rally Prep is always out of stock! I do have a copy of the works preparation manuals though.

Rally forum joined, thanks Ben.

[stacy]

I'd lay another vote for the Carroll Smith books. He wrote Prepare to Win and Engineer to Win as well as Tune to Win, and for those hard core enough to want it there's "Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing" too. All very accessible.

When it's built there's "How to Make your Car Handle" by Fred Puhn. That, and a set of Steve Smith Autosports one Winter, took me from winning class to winning outright way back when.

Sometimes you can't beat a book..

[NJH]

You mean a book even more hardcore than Engineer to Win? Its a fascinating book but the first 85 odd pages are just on Metallurgy.

[GC8]

A little above my level. Im looking for the metal equivalent of a plastic cable stuffing gland...

[stacy]

NJH said:

You mean a book even more hardcore than Engineer to Win? Its a fascinating book but the first 85 odd pages are just on Metallurgy.

A Brief History of Time is an accessible book, relative to those generally written on quantum physics. ;-)

[GC8]

I struggled with A Briefer History of Time! Im waiting for A More Brieferer History of Time. Maybe as an audio book...

[GC8]

GC8 said:

An example problem. Passing a bowden cable through the firewall and into the cabin. Where does it go and how do I seal it effectively, because it is flexible?

Expedient solution?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fireproof-gland-kit-red-...



Fireproof polyamide stuffing glands.

[stacy]

The quick answer is just to phone Merlin Motorsport on Monday morning. Technically competent guys as well as a mail order operation.