When I think back to when I was first introduced to competitive motorsport - rather more years ago now than I care to remember - I wince now at some the things we used to do. At the time, it was very much a 'make do and mend' attitude, and the amateur weekend designer/racer would often spend more of his time seeking that certain part of the right size or shape to support his backyard vehicle build. A common part might be, say, a top or bottom radiator hose. If money was not a...
In previous articles on oil drillings, nose-fed oil galleries have been discussed. This is not a new concept. However, the drillings used in a modern race engine with significant main bearing/crankpin overlap are far removed from those used in the comparatively long-stroke crankshafts without overlap. For a recent article on crankshafts for Race Engine Technology magazine, crankshaft suppliers revealed that the proportion of their racing crankshaft business which has nose-fed oil galleries...
If your car has ever broken down you'll know it can be both a humiliating and humbling experience, especially if a little prior warning could have rescued the situation or at least minimised its impact and allowed you to get back to a place of refuge for the problem to be fixed. Or worse still, if you're stuck beside the side of the track or special stage knowing that a minor issue could be cured and you could be on your way, and in with a chance of a good placing but for a want of...
The previous article on this subject described the concepts and decisions to be taken when applying a wet liner, and concerned the choice between top, bottom or mid-stop liner. Some basics were shared on the advantages of each one, and it was mentioned that a number of secondary engineering decisions need to be taken to establish the final design. This follow-up article will provide some more insight into these secondary decisions. Let us take a closer look at some of those decision areas:...
GT racing remains a popular form of car racing, and there are a number of successful national and international race series. The GT classes are well represented at the important Le Mans 24 Hour race - indeed, GT racing seems to have become more popular at the expense of the Prototypes. The racing is close, the drivers are top quality, and car manufacturers are keen to support this kind of competition. GT racing is characterised by long races, and 24-hour events are a popular format. The...