tuning the car

[BlewBYu]

I read about someone using their tuning board to set the initial tune, but then dialing in tune by running it on their timed test track. My question is this,

Why would you even need a tuning board if you have a test track and timer?

Why wouldn't you just let the timer determine how much drift to use?

Am I overlooking something?

 

[561 racing]

You use the tuning board to make small adjustments and not blindly trying until you get it right, plus it makes it easy on reprep.

 

[BlewBYu]

You use the tuning board to make small adjustments and not blindly trying until you get it right, plus it makes it easy on reprep.

I get the first part, but could you explain the reprep part?

 

[561 racing]

If you take your wheels off between races to clean up you then put back together, run it down the tuning board back to the same drift. Then next time it runs down the track it should run the exact same.

 

[BlewBYu]

Gotcha....thx!

 

[BulldogRacing]

I totally agree, I like to set mine ant 4" in 4' and work from there. Makes for fewer runs down the track which seems like less risk.

 

[TRE]

If you dont use a tuning board... how do you know where you are?

 

[BlewBYu]

If you dont use a tuning board... how do you know where you are?

I guess what I was trying to articulate was this:

Why not simply use the track to do all the tuning by making runs and checking the time. When you achieve the fastest speed, you have the car dialed in. That's all I was asking. But I do think (as has been pointed out by others) the process could be hastened by using the tuning board to start the process.

 

[561 racing]

If you dont use a tuning board... how do you know where you are?

Either use a make shift board or like many say here. Send it in to race and make adjustments every race.

 

[ngyoung]

You still want to use the board to make sure you are making incremental adjustments. Once you find your best time it is likely after you've started seeing the times go back up and you want to be able to go back to where it was fastest.
then you'll likely have to make even more fine adjustments.

There are many times where I thought I made a small tweak and then when I checked on the board it made a big +2" change.

If you dont use a tuning board... how do you know where you are?

I guess what I was trying to articulate was this:

Why not simply use the track to do all the tuning by making runs and checking the time. When you achieve the fastest speed, you have the car dialed in. That's all I was asking. But I do think (as has been pointed out by others) the process could be hastened by using the tuning board to start the process.