How To Choose The Right Racing Car?

Car racing is probably one of the most dangerous sports one can try. In fact, there is quite a long list of fatalities in NASCAR’s history alone. What is even disturbing is the fact that race car drivers know that it could cost them their life, and yet they willingly put their life at risk. Even though the danger of car racing is widely publicized, it does not stop the people from taking interest in this type of sport. Instead, more and more people are enjoying the thrill, the drama, and the fun all together.

Fortunately, in every racing accident that takes place, race car experts as well as professional technicians and mechanics invented and crafted new innovations to prevent or at least minimize the causes of accidents. Some of the most notable causes of racing accidents are when the driver loses control of the car or when the car itself is out of control. These two causes have already cost a lot of car racers’ lives. The number of car racing fatalities has continued to increase these past few years. This is very alarming and at the same time disturbing.

For this reason, proper training for all aspiring racers is implemented. Choosing the right racing car has also been given priority since malfunction in the car’s system is one of the top causes of racing accidents. This is particularly the reason why choosing the right racing car is highly encouraged nowadays. This article aims to help you regarding this concern; it serves as a guide in choosing the right racing car for your next racing event. It does not matter whether you are old or young as long as you love cars in general, then this article is definitely a must read.

car racing

Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One

Why Choosing the Right Racing Car is A Must?

1. Have Good Racing Experience

If a great racing experience is what you want to have, then choosing the right car is a great aspect to consider. How can you possibly win if your racing car does not have the qualities and features needed to win a race? Formula One famous race car drivers such as Fangio and Hamilton have won a lot of races not just because of their remarkable skills in racing but also because of the right racing car they got.

Choosing the right racing car is also a good start for beginners. Most beginners end up quitting this sport because of having bad experiences. These unpleasant experiences are most caused by poor car performance. Ensuring that beginners have the right racing car, which could help them enhance their skills, is the key to retain their interest on the sport.

2. Develop Potentials

If you choose the right race car that fits your skill perfectly, the more chances you get of improving your skills and developing your hidden potentials. Having the right car can aid your lack of expertise in the field. For instance, you are not that skilled when it comes to turning corners, then you can look for the right car that can help you in that area. If turning inside is your concern, choose a car that allows you to have lower handling easily, but if outside turn is your issue, then look for a car that have higher handling instead.

Having the wrong car for racing can do so much damage that you could possibly imagine. It will not only mess up your interest on the sport, but it will also hamper the potentials that you could have possibly developed and honed. We often heard about famous and expert race car drivers complaining about not having the same performance as they have before. People’s automatic reaction is questioning their skills, thinking they are not as good as before. Sometimes the problem is not about their skills, it could be because they are using the wrong car in the race. Using the right car can help you maximize your potentials and use them in the race.

3. Keep Safe

This is one of the most important reasons why choosing the right car is very crucial. A lot of racers have lost their lives because of the single mistake of choosing the wrong one. Do not make the same mistake; your safety should be your top priority. This is particularly important in sports like auto racing wherein a single machine is the only thing separating you from death. You are entrusting your life to your race car, so it is only expected to choose nothing but the best one for you.

You have to choose the right car and you have to choose well. In dire situations wherein your safety is at risk, you should do nothing but the best. Choosing a race car may seem like an easy task, but ensuring that you choose the right one is what makes it difficult. Following all the guidelines above will help you in these difficulties. It will save you time and will decrease the chance of getting an extremely poor quality race car. Do not buy a race car in such haste. Take your time and decide well. You have to be sure and firm of what you want and what you need from a race car before you decide to buy one.

Choosing the right racing car is not just about looking at the car itself, it is so much more than that. You have to ensure that the car is the right one for you and you have the right skill to control it. Do not make the mistake of taking this important matter for granted. You are putting your life at risk and you are entrusting it to a single machine, so the least that you can do is to ensure that you trust the right one. Make no mistake and take nothing but the best racing car in the market.

NASCAR Race Car

Photo Source: http://wallpapercave.com/free-nascar-wallpaper

General Guideline

1. Save enough Budget

Setting your budget is an important aspect in choosing the right racing car. Humans have a natural mentality that everything expensive is so much better than the cheaper one. This is often true but that at all times. If you want to have a high quality race car, you better prepare your pockets and set your budget beforehand. What hinders people from buying the right racing car is the fact that they do not have enough budget. So, prepare your savings first. It is better to set a large amount of budget and have some extra money after, rather than finding yourself with a crappy car due to your almost non-existent budget.

Budgeting is a basic skill that every person has to learn. You can search for a good model on the internet first, and then later on, scout for stores that have the model that you want. This way, you do not just save money but you save your time as well.

2. Have the Right Skill

Assess yourself and determine your skill level when it comes to racing. Knowing your racing skill will help you determine both your capabilities and limitations in racing. These capabilities and limitations are good indicators to ensure the exact car that suits you best. You should be honest in assessing your skill though. Do not be too confident by choosing a model that way beyond your skill. Choose the race car model that you can handle for sure. Knowing all these will also help you in choosing the right car that is at par with your capabilities and can be an aid of your limitations.

If you are a professional racer or have been racing for quite some time now, determining the suitable car for you could be an easier task as compared to the first timers. However, if you are a beginner in racing, it is important to note that certain racing cars are quite dangerous especially for novice racers. There are racing cars that are specifically designed for professionals while there are those that are made for beginners. Assessing your skill will tell you which group you belong, thus you will know what type of race car to purchase.

3. Do some Research

You will never know what the right car is unless you know what you are looking for. Do your research and do it well. Knowing some race car specifications will give you a little bit of background and will help you decide on which racing car is the perfect fit for you. It is also easier to deal a good bargain if you know some basic concepts in racing.

Doing a little bit of research can also be helpful in choosing the right model to buy. It can also help you craft your own standard as you gain more knowledge in the field. There are a lot of racing car models available in the market; you can research a particular model that you want. Learn its specifications, features, and safety measures and assess if it is what you actually need.

4. Consider the Availability

Next to research is scouting for the model that you want, but you should be realistic in choosing your own racing car. Choose the one that is within your budget range and has a realistic design. Do not be blinded by the car’s appearance and design alone. Look into its specifications. See to it that the car has the necessary parts. Also, choose the one that is widely available in the market unless you have the budget to buy a limited edition.

5. Craft your Standard

It is important that you have already crafted your standard beforehand so that it is easier to look for the right race car that fits for your needs. In order to do this, you should do the research process first. You have to remember to be realistic in crafting your standard though.

Keeping these general guidelines in mind will help you have a better grasp on what race car is best for you. It does not matter what others think is the ideal racing car if it is not the best one for you. Only you can decide what is the right car for you and what is not. However, it would be an advantage if you know some of the specifics in a racing car. These specifics are particularly important to ensure a good performance of the race car.

Specific Guideline

1. Decide a Race Car Type

The primary thing to do is to decide what type of race car you want to purchase. There are four historic types that you can choose from. These are the Formula cars, Sports racers, Production racers, and Road cars. On the other hand, the modern choices are only Formula cars, Sports racers, and Production racers.

  • Formula cars- are those cars that they use in Formula One racing events. A formula car is a single seat and has an open cockpit.
  • Sports racers- are center-seated and have an open design.
  • Production racers- are often used in NASCAR racing events. Unlike the Formula car and Sports racer, this one has a covered top and closely resembles an average car.

    2. Choose a Car Model

After choosing the right car type, you can now choose the model. You can choose a historic model or a modern one. Historic models are those classic cars that made quite a history in racing. These are also the cars that pioneer racers have used during their racing career. The modern ones are also use by some of today’s famous racers but with a modern twists and features. Some of these models (both historic and modern) are listed below.

Historic

Formula Cars

  • 1958 Auto Sport Mark 2
  • 1969 AAR Eagle Mk 5
  • 1977 Chevron B42
  • 1968 Gilbert Indy Car
  • 1970 Tecno TF70 Formula B

   Sports Racers

  • 1973 Bobsy SR6
  • 1964 AUSCA MK II
  • 1998 Chevy Corvette
  • 1986 David Loring Racing Mazda
  • 1996 March Bennett MK II World Sports Car

Production Racers

  • 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Lightweight
  • 2003 Chevy NASCAR Modified/SCCA SPO GT1
  • 1991 Ford Thunderbird Roller
  • 1961 ALFA Romeo Giulietta
  • 1983 Pontiac IMSA GTO Firebird

Road Cars

  • 1968 Ford Mustang GT
  • 1969 Porsche 911
  • 1982 Maserati 450S
  • 2003 BMW M3
  • 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STI EJ20 WRC Wide

Modern

Formula Cars

  • 2012 Ariel Spec: RaceAtom
  • 2013 Anderson Mirage
  • 2008 Dallara Indy Lights
  • 1999 Dallara Renault F399
  • 2004 BMW FB02

  Sports Racers

  • 2004 Chevy C5R
  • 2006 Ferrari FXX
  • 2007 Ferarri f430
  • 1999 Porsche Boster Spec
  • 2002 Subaru WRX

    Production Racers

  • 2013 Aston Martin GT4
  • 2010 BMW M3 GT4
  • 1999 Chevy Camaro Z28
  • 2003 Chevy NASCAR Roller
  • 2000 Ford Taurus

    3. Check the Car’s Aerodynamics

If you are looking for a racing car that can nail an impressive distance in no time, then you should pay attention to its aerodynamic performance. The cars’ aerodynamic is a crucial part that you should check before purchasing one. It is a great help in decreasing the drag in your car, thus increasing your speed.

Certain race car models have specific aerodynamic features. You can look into these features and decide whether it is included in your standard or not.

4. Check the Suspension Design

It takes more than just a car’s steering system to have a good handling on the road. You also have to consider the suspension of the car and as well as the tires. You have to see to it that the steering system works hand in hand with the suspension design of the race car.

The suspension’s main function is to enhance the handling and the overall car ride. To check the suspension design of the race car, you have to check the following:

  • Frame- It supports the main weight of the car.
  • Damper or the shock absorber- It utilizes hydraulics to change the kinetic energy into a thermal energy. The stored energy is dispersed easily, thus stopping the motion or shock of the car’s body.
  • Springs- The tightness of the spring is an important factor in absorbing the shock in the car. You have to check whether the spring is balance, not too tight nor too loose.

    5. Consider the Car Parts

Pay attention to the car’s major parts. Check if they are of high quality. Also, it would be an advantage if you know that these parts are easily available in your area. This is particularly important especially when the time comes that you need your car to be repaired. You should at least make sure that the majority of the parts are something you can easily scout and bought. Certain parts of racing cars are difficult to find and need to be shipped from their authorized manufacturers.

Some race cars have certain vents that add to its overall performance. Losing one of these vents can lessen your car’s performance. For beginners, it is best to choose a car that has simple parts. You can add more details onto it once you have gained more experience in the field.

6. Select a Comfortable Design

Racing Car Design

Photo Source: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-racing/motorsports/formula-one2.htm

This is another thing to consider when purchasing a racing car. Choose a race car which has a comfortable design, at least what is comfortable on your part. Do not take other people’s words when it comes to your own comfort. A design that is comfortable for them may not be the same on your part. So, the best thing to do is to check it yourself; feel and try it yourself. It is only then that you can guarantee that it is indeed the design that you want for your race car. After all, it is you who will use the car not them.

7. Consider the Fuel Consumption

Not all racing cars used the same fuel as the ordinary cars. Some racing cars use gasoline while some do not. It is helpful to know the kind of fuel needed in certain race cars. Some of the fuels used in racing cars are methanol, 110-octane gasoline, and Nitromethane. For instance, NASCAR engines usually used the 110-octane gasoline while the Indy cars utilized methanol. You have to consider the fuel consumption and assess what kind is most helpful on your part. The pros and cons of these fuels are given below.

  • 110-octane gasoline- This type of fuel can handle a high compression. It means that the car can have more power which is very useful in the race.
  • Methanol- Methanol also has the advantage of having a high compression.
  • Nitromethane- It contains a great volume of energy.

Aside from the general and specific guidelines, there are other things to keep in mind in order to make sure that you have chosen the right car that fits for your own personal style.

Other Important Things to Consider:

1. Ask the Experts’ Opinion

It would not harm you if you ask an expert opinion in choosing the right racing car. Do not be too proud thinking you know everything there is to know about racing cars nor be too shy to ask for help. If you are not sure about certain points and concepts about racing, you can ask for an expert’s opinion then. There are a lot of racing car experts that you can reach out over the internet. Most of them would be happy and willing to offer their services in a considerable price. Just make sure that you choose a reputable site to contact to avoid scams and frauds.

2. Secure a Warranty

No matter how sure you are that the car that you chose is the right one for you, it is still best to secure a warranty when you decide to purchase one. Secure a warranty whenever you buy a car. This way, you can come back and ask for the dealer’s assistant if the race car needs some repair.

3. Choose a Car with Low Maintenance

See to it that your car has a low maintenance. Consider purchasing the one with a simple design and has simple parts. This way, it is easy to check your car’s condition. Also, you do not have to spend much for its maintenance.

Whenever you feel like choosing a car should not take most of your time, remember that you only have one race to prepare and that race is your life. Below is a list of some important reasons why choosing the right racing car is a must.

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