I'd like to start a series of threads that have a subject
line that starts "NASCAR Racing Tip:" If everyone agrees
to use the same subject line, tipseekers can weed through
the spam in r.a.s by sorting articles by subject and jumping
directly to the tips. I'd also like for other NASCAR hot
shoes out there to post their own tips as well. Everybody
here in the garage wants to go fast, let's all share the
little things we've picked up along the way. I even
volunteer to compile all of the tips and archive them on
a web page for future reference. Also, I apologize in
advance for this tip reading like a mathematics textbook,
but if you wade through it, you'll come out with a few simple
formulas that will help tremendously. With all that said:
---------------------------------------------------------
Today's tip concerns fuel mileage calculations at Talladega.
Since most good racers here can run more than one tank of
gas before needing new tires, a race a Talladega often comes
down to a fuel mileage calculation when the last caution
comes out. Here's a few simple calculations you can use
when the yellow flag flies to see if you can make it the
rest of the way or to find out how much fuel you will need
during your "splash and go pit stop" to go the distance.
When you pick up the pace car after the yellow, you should
stay in 4th gear to minimize your fuel consumption. Pause
the race with "P" if you are not running multiplayer. Hit
F3 to get fuel mileage statistics. As you cruise at the
pace speed of 90 miles per hour, your gas mileage should
"ceiling out" at 9.99 MPG, which might as well be 10 MPG.
During a race at Talladega, you usually get a shade over
6.00 miles per gallon so the laps remaining estimate being
displayed during pace laps is wrong. However, you can
quickly estimate it yourself, either in your head or with
a handy pocket calculator by using the formula:
Actual Estimated Laps = Estimated Laps * 0.6
Example:
If your laps remaining estimate says 35 laps remaining on
this tank and you are getting 9.99 MPG during a pace lap,
you can count on 35 * 0.6 = 21 laps before running dry.
A more accurate calculation uses the following:
6.00 miles 2.66 miles 2.26 laps
----------- / ------------ = ------------
gallon lap gallon
So, Actual Estimated Laps = Gallons of Fuel * 2.26
O.K. Suppose you've made this calculation and you find
that you can't finish the race on the fuel you have. You
can calculate the amount of fuel you will need by using this
formula:
Gallons Needed = Laps Remaining / 2.26
Don't forget to always round this fuel calculation up!!!
There's nothing quite as nauseating as running out of
fuel in turn one after taking the white flag.
Example:
I need to go 38 laps to finish the race, but I need to pick
up some track position in the pits. I can change just right
side tires (or no tires) and add 38 / 2.26 = 16.8 --> 17 gallons
to go the distance.
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Keep the shiny side up and I'll be waiting at the finish line
with your second place trophy!
\\|// Wallace J. Bow, ***jock
(o o) [link lost in import]
------------oOOo-(_)-oOOo----------------------------------------------
Voice: (505) 275-3969
Data/NASCAR Racing: (505) 291-6417
If you jump into a race at Taladega and you're not sure how much fuel
you need, figure one gallon for each %, i.e. five gallons for a 5% race,
ten gallons for a 10% race. There is a small error on the high side but
you won't carry a lot of unnecessarily fuel and you won't run out before
the finish.
--
Chuck Stuart - Mesquite TX USA
Hey that was helpfull!!!!!!!! Where will this webbpage be at so
I can look for further referance?
Here's my quick tip fuel calculation for Talladega. Take the number of laps
remaining and divide by two. In a 5% 9 lap race, it will take 5 gallons if you
lead and 4 gallons if you draft. At dega its always better to err on the extra
fuel. The draft doesn't allow anyone to get away from the pack.
Terry
----
"A bore is a person who deprives you of solitude without providing you with
companionship."
>Hey that was helpfull!!!!!!!! Where will this webbpage be at so
>I can look for further referance?
I'm working on it right now (Microsoft FrontPage is cool, by
the way). I think it will be ready by this weekend.
\\|// Wallace J. Bow, ***jock
(o o) [link lost in import]
------------oOOo-(_)-oOOo----------------------------------------------
Voice: (505) 275-3969
Data/NASCAR Racing: (505) 291-6417
