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DOES MOTOR RACING TRULY “IMPROVE THE BREED?”

Writer's picture: Rick TitusRick Titus

As hard as it might be to believe, “racing” really does improve the performance and durability of components as well enhance engineers' understanding as to how the total package works together. Everyone is aware of the Indy driver back in 1920’s who added a rear view mirror to his race cars, and engineers went back to Detroit and added it consumer vehicles. No component on a racing vehicle gets a free ride. Every part works hard and for long amounts of time. 


Tire, suspension, brake, engine and transmission design have all benefitted from the demand for faster, stronger and lighter than racing requires. The '60s brought aerodynamics as a key component to winning, reducing a vehicle’s drag and improving its stability and cornering performance. These demands had nearly an instant impact on consumer vehicles: When cars went from frames to unit bodies

Seatbelts, rollover bars and impact resistance all taught engineers and designers about the importance of safety features that work together to improve driver and passenger safety. Once engineers understood how control of impact forces, called “impact mapping,” they learned they could reduce the forces placed on the driver and passengers. We’ve all seen the massive crashes in NASCAR at 200 miles per hour and the driver walks away.  Seat construction and roll cage strength were each developed from racing. 


Driver’s suits, helmets, gloves and shoes have contributed to better interior materials. The use of plastics and thinner metals to be build lighter more efficient vehicles while still protecting the driver and passengers are all tried and tested in racing. Fuel and oil containment and tires that can run 50 miles with air were also developed in racing. Last, but definitely not least, driveline performance, as racers work to squeeze out horsepower from the their engines and reduce the amount of drag from the transmission and rear-end. 

And finally, automotive manufacturers like to send young engineers to work with racing teams they sponsor to learn more about the vehicle performance. It’s considered a great assignment and we‘ve never met an engineer who didn’t later say “how great it was" to have had the exposure.


So yes, racing truly does improve the breed.

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