Performance Racing Cars: Modifying and Upgrading

Racing has always played a crucial role in the automotive sector. Beyond being a competitive sport with millions of views worldwide, there is so much boast by race automakers on how to make it more enjoyable on the tech front.

Automobile racing has evolved from just watching fast cars drive around tracks to understanding the series and models that make them unique. Well, they now come in different categories, and each comes with different rules and regulations.

Being one of the most eventful sports held in some of the most notable and historic tracks, you will find anything from drag racing to midget car racing. Other race forms include speedway racing, stock-car racing, NASCAR, Global Rallycross, or Grand Prix racing.

Unfortunately, most of these racing series is not available in the US. You would most likely be watching NASCAR, Global Rallycross, or Drag racing as a car enthusiast in America.

Here in this blog, we will be focusing on everything about performance driving cars, modification, and part upgrades. 

Starting Up with Your Racing Car Modifications 

Every car you see out there has gone through a rigorous process of thoughtful design to appeal to the widest audience possible and to run at different terrain. Noticeably well, you would see lots of car enthusiasts modify their cars to suit their needs. However, it is worthwhile to know that every modification comes with some compromise.

When modifying your car—be it a sports car or any kind of car, compromise should be at the forefront of your mind. An aggressively tuned car could totally ruin your experience. 

For example, an over-tune suspension would probably give the car balanced on the track. However, it could ruin your entire experience on a regular drive. An oversized tire would be okay for having a perfect grip on a surface. However, it could be your worse modification because it could cause the front end to wabble on an uneven surface.

More so, a big wheel would look good on the track but can ruin your drive quality on a normal drive. The point is, modification is okay, but you should be more realistic about what you expect from your car. 

Get your priorities right because they are some aspects of your car that can't be changed to look different from the original architecture. Things like the size, center of gravity, or chassis cannot be modified to look different from the original design.

What Modifications to Make in Your Racing Cars

Now that you have gotten your splashy-looking sporty car, I guess you must have weighed the pros and cons of your actions. Here are a few lists of possible things to modify.

Tires

Most people ignore the importance of tires. Tires can make a difference in your car's performance. If you are using those all-season tires, ditch them for a set of summer or winter tires. Quality and high-performance summer tires will improve the car's performance and grip in the summer. A winter tire works so well in the winter or whenever the weather is below 450C.

High-Temperature Fluid and Brake Pads

If you participate in a sport race on a race track or have your sporty car for race competition, chances are your brake pad doesn't hold well enough. Outside of the OEM manufactured brakes, order high-temperature brake fluid, and pad to get a more consistent and solid hold on your brakes.

Exhaust

A fine-tuning of your exhaust system is a good way to go to make your car look solid for your taste. The exhaust on its own won't add to the performance of your car, but it will surely add to your car dyno. There are lots of information on the internet about aftermarket exhaust. Try one and make sure it's a good one with a good reputation that provides a perfect exhaust system but try to avoid buying ones that drone when on high speed.

Shifters

Some cars come with an excellent short-throw shifter direct from OEMs, while some benefit from aftermarket upgrades. A good shifter can reduce through by 10-15% and increase the weight of the lever hence providing you with a more engaging feeling. For modification or upgrade purposes, rear-drive cars would find more balance in changing their shifter under the center console. For those front-drive cars, it means changing the bell crank or the length of the lever in the console. 

New Generation Vs. Old Generation Car Builds

We live in a fast-paced society where novelty and innovation are at the forefront of everyone's mind. So, the need to taste for the reliability of quality car parts and car build becomes a tool for a sense of stability and originality. 

We all know automobile manufacturers update cars every time, hence the rise of different car generations. Let's take a look at what this means. Without a doubt, you would be able to know which generation is better than the other.

Generally speaking, new generation cars have the current trend in terms of features and security. However, these cars have not been tested so much on the road. Even though the reviews are great, but they are in no way have long-term case studies.

Old Generation builds are generally not a choice for many. They are typically old and have a lot of issues that need to be corrected. The old generation has a long family history. However, they don't feel fresh compared with the new generation, especially regarding security, safety, and technology. This old generation is not totally bad. For example, the Honda Civic or the Ford Focus are great builds. However, if you need to go for any, it would be best to go for the one produced at the end of its generational cycle.

Aftermarket Vs. OEM Car Parts

Most people prefer Original Manufacturer Parts while others prefer aftermarkets replacement parts. You would most likely get aftermarket parts when you take your car to an independent dealer. However, if you take your car servicing and repair to an OEM dealer, you would be prompt to use the OEM parts.

Here, we have created a list of pros and cons to enable you to make a concise decision in choosing a part that goes into your car.

Aftermarket Parts

Aftermarket parts are those parts that are gotten or sold by the original manufacturer. However, you would need to be careful because they might void your warranty. Many mechanics would advise you to go for aftermarket parts for so many reasons. One of those reasons is that most of them perform better than the original. Get a good mechanic who knows high-quality aftermarket parts. Most of them know top automotive aftermarkets or aftermarket parts suppliers.

OEM Parts

OEM parts are those parts that come directly from the original manufacturer of your vehicle. This will be a replica of your vehicle part when they come out from the assembly line.

How To Choose Parts as A Performance Driver

It can be overwhelming for car owners when trying to get auto parts for their vehicles. Therefore, it is advisable that you leave the work for your mechanics. However, if you need to purchase it yourself, here are the basics to keep in mind.

Buying from the Right Supplier

First, you would want to research different performance parts available before deciding which supplier to buy from. This will eliminate landing yourself on suppliers that offer the opposite of what they advertise. Find auto parts stores that an extensive database that includes a wide range of automotive parts. This will enable you to search thousands of auto recyclers' inventories to find the exact part for your car.

Check for Compatibility

Compatibility is a major concern when searching for your auto parts. After doing your research, don't forget to contact the supplier to confirm the part number before placing an order. Take your time studying and understanding the different parts you find online and compare them to your vehicle model. Vehicle parts are unique to specific engines and transmission combinations.

Check for Quality

Now that you have done your research and found the part you need, the last step is to check if it's of good quality. Make sure these parts are from a reputable company and marketed by a reputable supplier. Also, make sure a standard body approves them before purchasing. These regulatory bodies include NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and CARB (California Air Resources Board)

Conclusion

Regardless of the type of upgrade or modification you need to do on your car, it would be best you do some basic research. This will help you to avoid over-tuning your car or buying the wrong car part.