8 minute read
Performance & Racing
SAFETY SUMMIT SUPER SUCCESS
The first ever Australian Institute of Motorsport Safety (AIMSS) Motorsport Safety Summit was held in June with a number of high-profile guests tackling the biggest safety issues and showcasing the latest developments in the sport.
Hosted by RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship host, Jessica Dane, and opened by FIA President, Jean Todt, the online event presented a mixture of cutting edge discussions, panel debates and live scenarios, promoting a two-way conversation between presenters and participants. From Formula 1 stars Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Romain Grosjean to Triple Eight Race Team Principal Roland Dane and FIA Stewart, Garry Connelly, there was plenty of valuable information shared across the day. A number of important presentations were addressed throughout the summit with motorsport safety developments, rescue and medical topics all covered. AIMSS Chairman Garry Connelly said the Summit was an innovative and interactive event, designed to highlight the impressive technology and work being undertaken. “The AIMSS Motorsport Safety Summit is a wonderful initiative that will help further showcase the skills, technology and ingenuity of those working tirelessly to improve safety in our sport,” Garry said. “The Summit attracted an international faculty representing the Asia Pacific region, who are all invested in progressing motorsport safety. “We were delighted to welcome some of the biggest names in motorsport to this Summit. They all have a passion for making motorsport the safest it can be, and their unique insights were highly informative.” For more information on the Australian Institute of Motorsport Safety, visit www.aimss.com.au
COOLDRIVE AND RACER INDUSTRIES JOIN FORCES
CoolDrive Auto Parts is further expanding its motor racing interests
The company recently announced a new partnership with Racer Industries, Australia’s leading motorsport parts supplier. From 1 July 2021, all Racer Industries’ products will be available to CoolDrive’s trade customers online and via its branch network, with the automotive parts distributor to eventually take the business into its fold. “We are excited to welcome the Racer Industries business to CoolDrive,” CoolDrive Auto Parts Chief Executive Officer, John Blanchard, said. “Our passion for performance and racing products is demonstrated through our CoolDrive Racing Supercar team, but with Racer joining CoolDrive, we are able to take this to a whole new level and provide a unique offer to our existing customer base and improved service to Racer’s customer base. “CoolDrive has been expanding its performance product offering in recent years, and this move allows us to significantly expand our performance product range while adding the racing specific offering to complement it.” Racer Industries will remain a stand-alone business within CoolDrive, with its Co-Founder and Managing Director Ryan McLeod continuing to oversee its operations. “After starting Racer in 2005 with Paul Morris, this new partnership with CoolDrive offers us the opportunity to leverage off CoolDrive’s resources to really grow the Racer business to new heights,” Ryan said. “Using CoolDrive’s extensive and renowned national trade and distribution network, we will be able to offer all trade customers direct access to our range of racing products. This is an industry first in Australia and is big news for our customers and suppliers. “We see huge potential for Racer in the coming years especially in the Trade industry where CoolDrive are so well known to provide a service on a national level not many others can replicate.” Racer Industries’ Co-Founder Paul Morris echoed Ryan McLeod’s sentiments. “The Blanchard family are the people to drive Racer Industries into the future, we have parallel family and business values,” Paul said. “I’m proud of what Ryan has achieved with the business so far, his knowledge of the racing industry, combining with the CoolDrive operation is the right move for the business and our customers.” The Racer Industries’ product range covers the entire gamut of motor racing parts and components from leading brands including OMP, Sparco, Recaro, Project Mu, Racelogic, Quickcar, Longacre, Tilton, Premier, and Schroth to name a few. As part of the partnership, CoolDrive will take over distribution of Project Mu high-end braking products to further enhance its comprehensive brakes program, which currently includes other well-known brands including Bremtec, Brembo and Bosch. CoolDrive will also handle distribution of category specific items including wheels, fire systems and fuel cells for the Supercars category, where Racer Industries is the appointed supplier. CoolDrive, a family owned and operated company, has had a vested interest in Australian motorsport for decades with three generations of racers within the family and the business, and motorsport at the very foundation of the CoolDrive organisation. In 2021, CoolDrive Racing launched its own standalone team within the Supercars Championship, with the Blanchard Racing Team taking to the grid with Tim Slade at the helm. For further information, visit ishop.cooldrive.com.au
CASTROL EDGE INTRODUCES PERFORMANCE MAKERS
A new campaign for Castrol EDGE featuring Cameron Waters and Mighty Car Mods has launched
Castrol recently announced the launch of its new campaign for Castrol EDGE engine oil, dubbed ‘Performance Makers,’ which features video assets of some of its most prominent brand ambassadors pushing their performance to the very edge. The brand-new campaign sees Tickford Racing driver Cam Waters jumping behind the behind the wheel in an exciting arsenal of cars including his Supercar, his speedway Sprintcar, and his own Ford Mustang. Castrol EDGE is hard at work in all three of his rides, providing Cam with the confidence to push them right to the edge and deliver the results he needs in competition, and the performance he craves on road. Performing at the highest level of competition, Cam is no stranger to pushing the limits and neither are the team of engineers and mechanics at Tickford Racing that ensure his Supercar is always race ready. The two-time Bathurst 1000 winning squad has worked with Castrol since its debut in 2003 and exclusively uses Castrol EDGE in its Ford Mustang Supercars. Australian automotive legends and YouTubers, Mighty Car Mods, also feature in the campaign. The duo are long-time Castrol faithfuls, using products in their builds and across their many projects for over a decade. Castrol says Castrol EDGE has been an integral part of Mighty Car Mods’ process of pushing the boundaries past ‘is this possible’ to ‘should this exist.’ “Quite simply, Cameron Waters and Mighty Car Mods embody performance and are among the best at what they do,” Castrol ANZ Brand and Product Manager, Jan Willink, said. “Castrol EDGE has always played a vital role in Mighty Car Mods and Tickford Racing taking their performance to the edge with both partnerships extending well over a decade. “Whether a road car, sprintcar, or supercar, Castrol EDGE with Fluid Titanium is formulated to reduce friction and unlock performance in any vehicle. It’s just part of the reason why manufacturers, mechanics and drivers around the world choose Castrol EDGE.” A full synthetic engine oil, Castrol EDGE has been developed as Castrol’s most advanced engine oil and the product of years of development. With up to 10 percent of power in engines lost due to friction, Castrol EDGE with Fluid TITANIUM has been designed to withstand the pressure and ultimately, reduce friction by up to 20 percent compared to the same oil without Fluid TITANIUM. For more information, visit www.castrol.com.au
SINGLE OR TWIN DISC CLUTCH?
In this article, McLeod Racing – whose products are available from Rocket Industries – takes a look at this question
McLeod Racing explains that twin disc clutches dissipate heat better, which is important for a car that sees a lot of track time. On a street cruiser, your clutch shouldn’t be getting as hot as on a race car, so it says the single disc clutches, like the Street Pro or the Super Street Pro clutches, will work just fine for your 300-500 horsepower street machine. It explains a twin disc clutch can work, but you’re probably spending more money than you need to, and you never really get to take full advantage of the performance aspect of a twin disc clutch. The twin disc clutch is designed for higher horsepower applications, and for performance. Likewise, an aluminium flywheel is much lighter than a steel flywheel, and having that lightweight flywheel can help you make horsepower quicker in a racing environment. “There is no stored energy with an aluminium flywheel, so stoplight to stoplight can be a problem. You have to get the revs up before you release the clutch, or you’re likely to stall the engine.” McLeod Racing Technical Sales Manager, Billy Mieczkowski, said. “A steel flywheel is going to have better inertia, which makes it much easier on you and your clutch for regular street driving. Steel has a lot of mass and that makes it easier to engage the clutch. “An aluminium flywheel provides less driveability for a street car, and should only be used for performance applications.” A steel flywheel is still fine for a weekend warrior, or occasional autocrosser; but if you’re driving the car primarily on the street, Billy recommends the steel flywheel. For cars with upwards of 500+ horsepower, like the Demon, a twin disc clutch would be a better consideration. Not just for that additional friction material, but because it will give you more clamping force with similar pedal effort, and it also helps to dissipate the heat quicker in a racing environment – especially since the engine is typically revving much higher when the clutch is functioning. When you’re pushing down on the clutch pedal, and you have several hundred horsepower waiting for you to release that clutch, a twin disc clutch can mean a few tenths of a second. But for getting from one stop light to another, McLeod Racing would rather help you get a clutch better suited for your application. There’s nothing wrong with going big, but going smart is always the handsdown winner, it says. McLeod Racing products are available from Rocket Industries. For more information, visit www.rocketindustries.com.au
