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| Chapter 9 |
| Small diameter
clutches for oval track racing |
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(click on any image to enlarge)
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| RAM Assault
Weapon clutch |
In oval track
racing, the ability to quickly accelerate and decelerate the engine will lead to
improved lap times. The engine
should be able to help slow the car into the turn, and accelerate quickly coming
out of the turn in order keep the engine in its optimum power band.
The further you are able to drive into the turn and have the car slow
sufficiently, and the faster you are able to have the engine accelerate into the
optimum RPM range coming out of the turn, the lower the lap time will be.
Oval track
cars use small diameter lightweight clutch assemblies. The lighter the
overall weight of the clutch, and the closer the weight of the clutch is to the
center line of the crankshaft, the faster the engine will be able to accelerate
and decelerate.
Oval track
multiple disc clutches use diaphragm covers to provide the clamping pressure.
Due to the reduced diameters of these clutches, multiple clutch discs are
required to prevent clutch slippage. The number of discs needed will be
determined by the load on the clutch, and the diameter of the assembly.
Normally, an oval track clutch uses two to three discs.
Because oval
track diaphragms are smaller in diameter, the pedal effort to disengage the
clutch will be higher. Oval track
clutches are frequently used in conjunction with hydraulic release systems in
order to relieve the pedal effort and simplify the release mechanism.
Rounded or angular contact release bearing faces will also reduce the
pedal effort required.
Because of the
very low flywheel mass, oval track clutches have poor street drivability from a
standing start and are not recommended for use in street vehicles.
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