The Impact Of Technology On Drag Racing – How does technology transfer from a race car to the car in your driveway? See more NASCAR photos.
Watching car racing, whether it’s Formula 1, NASCAR or dirt track, is adrenaline-pumping and fun. Once you get into a Honda Fit or Toyota Corolla and hit the road (safely, of course), the fun continues. Oh, you don’t think so? In fact, these two small economy cars have more in common with race cars than you might think, and we’re not talking about tuned-up or tricked-out Fits or Corollas. Since the factory, racing technology has taken some unexpected ways to influence production cars.
The Impact Of Technology On Drag Racing
Auto racing teams have always sought to build the fastest and best cars possible. They brought in top automotive designers and engineers to help with the job. When there’s a breakthrough in auto racing, it’s almost always in some form with mass-produced cars. As a result, racing technology has affected many components of the car in your driveway, from the basic engine design to the ignition position and even the rear view mirror.
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As it turns out, you don’t have to go much further than your own garage to experience racing cars. Read on for the top 10 racing tech that can be in your car.
Most U.S. drivers use automatic transmissions, which allow them to navigate urban worlds without the heavy gearshift wheel on a Formula 1 track. However, the purpose of a race car and road car transmission is the same: it transfers engine power to the car’s wheels. While an automatic transmission shifts gears without driver input (other than the initial Drive selection), a manual transmission allows the driver to control the flow of power from the engine to the wheels. Race car drivers prefer to operate a manual transmission, but the manual process can be too slow and prone to human error.
Enter direct shift transmissions (DSG) and clutchless manual transmissions. Both of these types of gearboxes are racing technology that allow drivers to shift gears quickly and make sure they are shifting into the correct gear.
The DSG actually works like two transmissions, one picking the odd gears and the other picking the even gears. Since there are two transmissions, the next required gear is always “on deck”, making the DSG faster than a manual. DSGs also don’t use a clutch pedal, making them faster than conventional manuals and less prone to driver error. The DSG is a fun addition to several cars (they’re mostly seen in sporty Audis and Volkswagens these days) because it allows drivers to enjoy manual mode without the hassle of pressing the clutch pedal.
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Similarly, clutchless manual or matte transmissions with manual mode take the idea of clutch-less engine control and sequential gear shifting and transfer it to production cars. These systems are increasingly used in passenger cars with automatic transmissions; however, they don’t shift as quickly as the DSG. Basically, these are matte transmissions that allow the driver to choose when the car changes gears, but without the driver having to use the clutch pedal. Similar to racing gearboxes, these systems only allow drivers to shift gears sequentially. When using a manual transmission, the driver may intentionally or accidentally shift gears erratically from first to third. Doing this by mistake can spell disaster in a race, which is why race cars have the Sequential Mechanical Transmission (SMT). SMT only changes in order: from first, to second, to third, etc. matic transmissions with manual modes do the same thing – they put engine control in the driver’s hands and reduce error.
Am I late? Read on to see how automakers have taken racing technology designed to shave seconds off lap times and used it to help you save time on trips to the grocery store.
You shouldn’t try to steal someone’s Porsche, but if you do, a tip: the ignition is on the left side of the steering wheel. It’s an odd place for most people – just ask any would-be Porsche buyer who’s been shamed on test drives – but it’s a nod to Porsche’s racing heritage. In racing, every second counts. With left-hand ignition, drivers can start the car and engage first gear almost simultaneously, allowing them to go much faster than the competition.
But what’s faster than turning the key (and easier than doing it with your left hand) is push-button ignition. A number of production cars use this racing technology, which starts the car at the push of a button rather than a key. There are many options for button systems. For example, BMW drivers insert the key into the slot before pressing the button to ensure that the driver really intends to start the car. Others, like Infiniti, have an electronic remote that communicates with the car. When someone carrying the remote approaches the car, the car doors are instructed to unlock – no more fumbling with the keys. When the car detects that the remote is inside the vehicle, the button is activated and pressing it will start the car – similar to many racing cars.
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We don’t want to keep you in the dark any longer than necessary. Read the next page to learn about the everyday car tech that’s ranked #8 on our list.
You might not think about your car’s suspension (until you go over a particularly deep pothole), but this is one area where racing technology has made an almost direct transfer to production cars. In auto racing, it is best to have all four tires in contact with the track. This makes the car more stable and ensures that all the power generated by the engine helps the car move.
Like most production cars, race cars use independent suspension. These suspensions allow each wheel to move without affecting the movement of the other wheels. Formula 1 cars use multi-link suspensions, while NASCAR cars usually use MacPherson struts. Both types of suspension are available on many production cars.
So why doesn’t your car run like a race car? Although the suspension types may be the same, NASCAR or Formula 1 suspension tuning is completely different than your car suspension tuning. In a racing car, the suspension must keep the car stable during cornering that generates more force than a production car can handle, as well as during extreme acceleration and braking. Before you start adjusting the suspension to mimic the capabilities of a race car, remember that the car also has specialized suspension adjustments: it’s tuned to balance comfort and performance. Comfort is not part of the suspension equation for most race cars.
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Tired? We hope not, because we only have 7 daily car tech to discuss with you as we count down to #1. On the next page you will find number 7 on our list.
This race will only last a few laps, but the lessons learned on the track should make your tires last much longer.
Most drivers don’t think about their tires until they go down. It’s a shame, because the tires are what connect the car to the road and allow the driver to control it. Auto racing teams understand this. That’s why they use high-performance tires tailored to their specific form of racing. The technology from those specialized tires spread to production cars.
You have probably noticed that your car tires have grooves. These groves allow the tire to deflect things like water, even snow and mud away from the car. If you have all-terrain or all-terrain tires on your car, the grooves are likely very deep and the rubber very uneven. These types of tires give the car teeth that can grip uneven or loose surfaces. If you have a sports car, the tires likely have fewer grooves, and the grooves are generally shallower. This allows more of the tire’s rubber to maintain contact with the road, giving the car better handling. All these innovations and the development of different types of tires came from racing.
Nhra Drag Racing Royalty: Shirley Muldowney
Like most racing technology, high-performance racing tire technology has been translated into everyday production cars. For example, F1 and NASCAR cars use tires with very soft rubber. This rubber becomes sticky as it heats up, which helps keep the car on the track. While this sounds great, don’t buy a set of racing tires just yet. Softer rubber wears out quickly – you’ll find that a race car gets several new sets of tires in one race, and most production car tires are designed to last tens of thousands of miles. Many of the major tire designs came from racing innovations, however