AboutDan Liddy Expertise Anything concerning race cars, 20 years competition experience, Senior
Competition Driver Instructor , car builder, mechanic, welding,
fabrication, tuning , engine modifications, set up, suspension design.
Specializing in Datsun/Nissan products. Please submit questions about RACE CARS ONLY. No street cars, no video game scenarios Thank you.
Experience I have been racing for 20 years, I have been the Central Florida SCCA Regional Championship points for 5 years running, and won the championship in my class 2 times. During my first start in the 60's I won many solo awards and the State Championship Drags. I serve as a senior instructor for SCCA, and have taught in Mercedes AMG events at Daytona, and Dodge Viper Days at Sebring International. I have been in the thick of the competition for all of my career. At one time or another I have driven race cars at speeds nearing 195 MPH. It's quite a ride !
Question GT1 road racing, what would be a suggested baseline setting for Caster, Camber, toe, and what about ackermann. Chassis is coil over design, single lower control arm w/mono-ball-rear strut design. Has double ajustable upper control arms. Uses a 8 3/4 tall 10 degree spindle. Just bought this car. need some advise. Thanks
Answer OK I would start like this:
Front Camber 2 to 2.5 Deg. Negative
Toe out of 1/8" up to 1/4", more for shorter tracks.
Ackerman you'll have to work out yourself, but sometimes you can do it on a sand lot. Turn the wheel 10 Deg. and push the car in an arc. Increase your toe out if the outside tire scrubs at the front, and decrease it if it scrubs at the rear of the tire.
Caster can be subjective. It has a dramatic effect on the stiffness of the steering. If the car is a MONSTER to steer in the paddock, but fine on the track at speed , you probably have enough caster. A lot of people shoot for over 5 deg. positive and find the driver worn out at the end of 5 test laps.
Now run some laps, take tire temps and driver input. WRITE IT ALL DOWN !!
Also ask your tire supplier what they suggest, I promise it will be different from what I have said here. I get better results out of Hoosier than Goodyear, and the Hoosier guys seem more knowledgible, at least at my tracks, (Sebring and Daytona)
Get the boook, "How To Make Your Car Handle" by Fred Puhn any bookstore shouold have it, or have the ability to order it- - -it's about $16 and worth every penny.
That should do it for starters, but feel free to write again in you need more.
