Recording Your Settings?

[indigorallye]

How do you guys go about recording your race car settings. I'm talking about tyre pressures etc etc.
Do you just use an Excel spreadsheet or similar?
If anyone wants to e-mail me an example I would be much obliged (- mikeandjonashATaol.com )
Thanks in advance.
Mike

[lewis1]

i have a small diagram of a car made on paint in the middle of a word document with boxes at each wheel for things like camber,caster,pressures etc,
I will dig it out and email you a copy.

emailed

Edited by lewis1 on Thursday 19th November 22:58

[indigorallye]

Thaks Lewis, that's great.

[bikemonster]

Hi Mike

I started out with a notepad on which I recorded my settings, my lap times, weather and my subjective evaluation of how the car felt. But once I had arrived at a setting which I was happy with, I found myself just setting tyre pressures (always the same) and just driving the darn' thing.

This very casual approach works for me as I only ever drive the one circuit. If I were driving different venues, I may take a different approach.

FWIW, the car is a Birkin S3, a South African clone of a Lotus 7.

James

[lewis1]

hope that was what you wanted. sorry if you dont have an open wheel car!

[indigorallye]

Lol, no I don't.
I'm planning my first season next year, probably North West Sports Saloons and maybe some Tin Tops.
Will be trying to get a couple of track days in first to test differing set-ups.

[lewis1]

awesome, well if you need any advice etc feel free to email me and i will do my best to help you out. Im a mechanic by trade so i might be able to help.

[HiRich]

lewis1 said:

i have a small diagram of a car made on paint in the middle of a word document with boxes at each wheel for things like camber,caster,pressures etc,

This is the best method. It really depends on what you are going to record (and whether you have someone to help), and what you intend to do with it.
You might be heading to a standard spec sheet, in which case a graphic/table listing settings - this might be nominals, plus variations (e.g. front tyre pressure down 1 psi in the wet). Rattle something off in Word, and you can always adjust it or finalise it.
Or if you expect to adjust things more, and on the day, you might record settings and times (you'll need someone on pit wall for that). In which case, I'd use the car graphic with write-in boxes for the settings. Then a table for Lap No, time and comments (e.g. "Traffic"). Then a comments section for you to make notes on performance & handling after the session plus a list of changes to be made. Then repeat for the race. These sheets can then be reviewed next time you visit that circuit to decide your starting point settings.
If you go further, you might also add tyre temps (make a dedicated graphic for in/centre/out for each tyre, very clearly labelled), brake temps etc.

So really, understand what you intend to use it for, then rattle a design off in Word. Alternatively, as someone I won't name (but might be my brother), do nothing, up the FDR after 8 years and find another second round Brands Indy...

[lewis1]

he now has exactly what you described
car diagram with boxes for tyre pressures in and out plus table for all the common set up data.
Then a spreadsheet for the times and a comments box!