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Join Dan Metz in a detailed exploration of automobile racing through this comprehensive 8-week course. Designed for enthusiasts and aspiring racers, each week covers essential topics including physics concepts, engine mechanics, suspensions, safety protocols, and racing strategies. From straight-line and circuit racing to data acquisition and human performance factors, this course provides foundational knowledge, practical skills, and insights into the sport's governing bodies. Enhance your understanding of the thrilling world of racing and get ready to hit the track!
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Automobile Racing from A to Z Instructor: Dan Metz
Course Outline: Week 1 : physics concepts Week 2 : engines, transmissions, clutches, axles, fuels Week 3 : suspensions, chassis & tires Week 4 : construction and materials Week 5 : safety, costs and governing bodies Week 6: straight line racing Week 7: circuit racing Week 8: data acquisition, reading lists, places to visit, the racing line, human control performance, unanswered questions
Week 1:physics concepts massacceleration frictionmoment of inertia force torque horsepoweraerodynamic drag centrifugal forcetrack banking the car as a balance beamundersteer and oversteer coastdown testingbraking energy conversion
Week 2:Engines, transmissions, clutches and axles Engines: 4-cycle piston engine basics gas turbine engines Transmissions: manual transmissions & clutches automatic transmissions continuously-variable (CVT) transmissions Axles: spool “differentials” limited slip differentials
Week 3: tires, suspension systems and chassis design Tire characteristics: friction cornering force camber Suspension components: torsion, leaf, coil& air springs shock absorbers kinematic linkages and arrangements Chassis designs body-on-frame monocoque or unibody torsional and bending stiffness
Week 4: construction and materials Basic materials and properties: steel aluminum composites Basic joining techniques: bolting welding glueing baking
Week 5: straight-line racing Drag racing: car characteristics and classes sanctioning body (NHRA, local) track properties Land speed racing: car characteristics and classes sanctioning body (SCTA) track properties
Week 6: circuit racing Autocrossing: local, use your own car, very safe, CCSCS, PCA, etc. Karting: various classes, relatively safe, local to national, inexpen$ive IKA, local karting organizations, etc. Dirt-track racing: varous classes, requires race car, fairly safe, local to national NASCAR, etc. Oval track racing: various classes, requires race car, pretty safe, local to national NASCAR, etc. Road racing: various classes, requires race car, more dangerous, local to national NASCAR, USAC, IMSA, etc.
Week 7: safety, costs, sanctioning bodies Components of safety: car safety performance driver safety equipment track safety performance Costs: personnel equipment & cars travel Sanctioning bodies: certification, inspection, rules enforcement FIA, ACCUS, IndyCar, NHRA, NASCAR, etc.
Week 8: miscellaneous topics Limits on human control performance Identifying the racing line Data acquisition Reading list Places to visit Unanswered questions