My next two mods look to be lighter wheels (Regamasters if I can save the cash) and dwb1's brake kit (6-9lbs lighter at each corner). What kind of real performance benefits am I going to see on the track?

I have heard anecdotal stuff from other guys about quicker acceleration, but would like to hear from the experts. Is there any benefit in cornering? Will the removal of 65lbs (35# for wheels, 30# for brakes) of unsprung weight make any significant difference on smooth tracks?

Thanks for any help.

 

I am no expert but when undertaking these mods I read everything I could find. The unsprung weight will accelerate faster, brake faster and rebound faster and be easier for your struts to hold down onto the pavement.
I have never seen a smooth track. There are usually patches, ruts and waves in the pavement. These are some of the best mods you can undertake.

 

I was watching a race on TV two weeks ago and there was a conversation about the audi quadro, the race aficials thought it had to much of an advantage on take off so they added 100lbs to the car and said it lost 40hp because of it. That is a lot to loose, but i would think taking 65lbs off a stook would add a good amount of hp! That is one thing I am looking to do to my car right now. There is a battery out there that is 15lbs less, which would help. I do not remember the make, one of the guys from the Irving meet had it.

 

I've heard the ratio is about 1hp for every 10lbs removed on the body of the car. Removing unsprung weight will be a huge bonus in terms of handling, but removing the rotating weight (lightweight rims, tyres, brakes etc.) will help acceleration the most.

I think any money spent on reducing unsprung weight is spent wisely. It won't help handling that much on smooth tracks, but there are always ripples and seams even on the smoothest tracks.

 

Brad,

The battery that Prolene has is by Odyssey: http://www.odysseyfactory.com/ . I don't know if any of the site sponsors sell them.

Tanq

 

Thanks for the heads up on the battery, and I am looking foward to the AZ drive!