You would notice that the teeter-totter is still balanced, but the 1,000 pounds of weight is carried directly at the pivot point. Now picture the same example with the 500 pounds from each seat moved directly over the pivot point (this would be the same as our center of gravity in our race car). Front-to-rear movements would have to be controlled as well.
In your vehicle, your springs and shocks would have to control all this dynamically moving weight rocking back and forth. If the teeter-totter were moving fast, you would be crushed trying to stop the movement with 500 pounds out on each end. In the static position, the 500 pound weights would balance out however, when you put the teeter-totter in motion that much weight would require much effort to get started and even more effort to stop once it got moving. Now picture 500 pounds of weight on both seats of the teeter-totter (the seats compare to the left and right frame rails). The teeter-totter’s pivot point, which is located in the middle, is comparable to the center of gravity in your race car. Let’s picture a simple example: a playground teeter-totter. Why is important to mount ballast in a small, concentrated area? When mounting the ballast we want to concentrate the ballast in the smallest possible area to make the car go faster. Since we are starting with a rear weight percentage that matches our car builder’s recommendation, we need to add 200 pounds of ballast to reach our goal of 50 percent rear weight at the rules-mandated 2,900 pounds. In this example, we’ll also say your car has 50 percent rear weight without any ballast installed. With these assumptions you will need to add 200 pounds to get up to the minimum weight. We’ll also assume you have a 200-pound driver, your minimum weight allowed is 2,900 pounds, your recommended rear weight is 50 percent, and your maximum left side is 56 percent–a common scenario for circle track competition. For example, let’s assume your car weighs 2,500 pounds race-ready but without any ballast. You need to locate the ballast as close to the car’s center of gravity and as low as possible while meeting the minimum total weight rule, car builder recommended rear weight, and any left side weight restrictions. In other words, you want the ballast to be located in the smallest area possible. Now that you know what you want for rear weight you can begin finding a home for the ballast.
Verify that your car is “race-ready” excluding the ballast operation. Next, check with your car builder for his recommendation on front-to-rear weight percentages. You should never run your car heavy for the sake of more left side weight. For example, circle track racers should check their rulebook for the maximum left side weight allowed and get as close to the maximum left side weight allowed while maintaining the minimum total weight. Once you’ve reduced vehicle weight, you’ll need to add ballast to get the car up to the minimum standards set by your sanctioning body. Remember, every little bit adds up but safety should always be the first priority. We’ve even seen people go as far as drilling lightening holes in the center of bolts to shave weight.
#CROSS WEIGHT OVAL RACING WINDOWS#
Consider using lighter Lexan windows instead of glass.Use stainless steel headers instead of cast iron.Eliminate extra engine accessories–A/C pump, steering pump, etc.Avoid or eliminate unnecessary interior items–sound deadening material, radio, A/C, window cranks, etc.Consider using a fiberglass or carbon fiber hood, bumpers, and other body components.
Here are a few ways you can reduce vehicle weight: You will be amazed at how little things can add up to big weight savings. Be sure to look for any opportunity to save weight without compromising safety. Lose Weight Firstįirst, you should be very weight conscious when constructing your car. So, in conjunction with Rebco, we’ve put together a few simple tips for ballast placement. Getting the ballast located correctly is a key component for a faster race car and will allow you to go faster around the turns and provide more grip for your car.
#CROSS WEIGHT OVAL RACING FREE#
Proper ballast placement is actually a free speed secret.
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