Frequently Asked Questions

"Speedway racing is an art form and team members are quickly finding out the there is a lot to building a race car. "

"In the section of my website I will try to answer all your question. "

Q. Do Sprintcars with wings go faster then the ones without?

A. YES, the wings help with downforce mainly on the rear wheels to give mor traction and get porwer to the ground.

Q. What is the weight of a 410 C.I. Sprintcar?

A. The weight is around 650 kilos, with a 850 HP engine the power to weight ratio is a fraction under a F1 racer.

Q. Why is it best to race on a Clay track opposed to Dirt?

A. If a clay surface is prepard properly (tacky) cars gain more traction. Opposed to dirt where they can easily spin the rear wheels on the starights.

Q. Why do drivers where arm restraints?

A. In the event of a barrel roll, the drivers arms are Pulled from the steering wheel, the resints help keep arms within the cockpit, many drivers have suffered Lost arms or damaged arms when not wearing restraints as the roll cage has crushed them.

Q. Why do cars run methanol fuel ?

A. The methanol helps the engines run cooler.

Q. Why do the sprintcar use power steering?

A. These cars are very physical to drive, power steering helps a great deal, especially on heavy clay tacky tracks.

Q. Why dont sprintcars have starter motors?

A. It is a tradition that has carried on from the early days of sprintcar racing in the USA that sprinters do not have starters. This tradition continues today.

Q. How many gears do a sprintcar have.?

A. None so to speak, they are either in gear or out of gear, If a sprintcar stops, the will need a push to restart. They have a "quick Change differential which has a top gear and bottom gear, these cogs may be changed very quickly hence the name "quick change"

Q. How does the sprintcar driver move the top wing back and forth?

A. There is a small hydraulic lever in the cockpit in which directs oil from the power steering pump that enables the wing to be moved.

Q.What air pressure is run in the rear tyres on a sprinter?

A. Depending on the track surface, but typically 8 PSI on the right rear and 4 PSI on the inside.

Q. Why do most sprinters have a plate (like a hub cap) on the right rear wheel?

A. When on heavy dirt or clay tracks, if any material gathers within the wheel centre it will cause the wheel to become off balance.

Your questions are very much invited. Click on the contact page and in the comments section ask your question there and I will answer you. Lance wilson