TRG # 005: Ethanol, Electricity and the Environment

In contemporary motor racing, alternative fuels are becoming more and more of a prominent feature. A good example of this is with the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing). As of the late 2000's, NASCAR has partnered with 'American Ethanol' to promote and provide a special blend of race fuel E15 (15% ethanol). You may be familiar with similar fuels such as, E10 (up to 10% ethanol), which you may fill up your streetcar with at the pumps of your local service station, particularly if you drive a more modern automobile. The ratio of ethanol to ULP (unleaded petrol) may vary depending on what part of the world you live in. In Brazil for example, ethanol is made with sugar cane and service stations sell exclusively blends that contain up to 25% ethanol and even up to 5% water.

RELATED: Did you know? NASCAR has been the long-time leading sport in Recycling in the world!

Ethanol is a form of alcohol that you may have drunk at some point in your favourite alcoholic beverage, without even realising! The use of ethanol in automotive transportation and sport can be very beneficial to the environment, by reducing the level of carbon monoxide emitted from tailpipes. It is also a renewable resource, as it is grown from the ground on farms throughout the Mid-west US and beyond. In the case of NASCAR; the 'American Ethanol' used also benefits the domestic economy as the product is locally produced, creating jobs and contributing to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The company 'American Ethanol' even sponsored the green flag used in officiating the start of a race or restart in 2011.

The following is a short NASCAR promotional video of its green initiatives, featuring veteran Roush-Fenway Racing driver Greg Biffle:

Another alternative 'fuel' to power racecars and streetcars alike, is electricity. Not necessarily powering a car by itself, it has been successfully used as part of a hybrid system, a good case-in-point would be the revered Audi 'R18 E-Tron Quattro' that has won many an endurance race, including the world's premier motor race multiple times, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It certainly has been the car to beat in the FIA WEC (World Endurance Championship).

Audi R18 E-tron Quattro

A hybrid drive system combines two or more distinct power delivery methods to mobilise a vehicle. There are many different combinations of hybrid vehicles; the most common being, HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicles), one that is powered by electricity and say a liquid fuel such as E10. The best selling HEV in the world is the Toyota Prius, which now maintains a good reputation as a reliable streetcar.

Perhaps as a sign of the advancement in electric vehicle technology, the FIA will be sanctioning a racing series that will be called 'Formula E', slated have its inaugural season in 2014/5.

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TRG # 004: Daytona, Drafting and Downforce

Daytona International Speedway (est. 1959), is the home of NASCAR's most prestigious race the Daytona 500 aka 'The Great American Race'. It hosts many other series and their events including the outgoing Grand-Am Rolex Sportscar series world renowned 24 Hours of Daytona and Brock Yates One Lap of America. Since 1987, the lap record was held by Bill Elliot in his Ford Thunderbird stock car; posting an average speed of 210.364 miles per hour (338.548 km/h) or a time of 42.783 seconds. Then, just recently this year of 2013, Colin Braun, driving a Michael Shank Racing USCC Ford/Riley DP smashed that record; posting a speed of 222.971 mph (358.837 km/h) or 40.364 s.

Drafting is an all important part of racing around this iconic speedway, not just for stock cars, but also for other types of racecars including sportscars. The basic concept is, by following a teammate or competitor closely, you can 'ride' the area of low air pressure immediately behind the lead car, thus allowing the chaser or 'pusher' to be able to save fuel and with their added momentum, potentially 'slingshot' around the leader to make a pass and gain that all-important position, which could mean the difference between winning and not. A good analogy for this concept is that of a boat cruising on a lake. At speed, a boat causes a significant amount of 'wake', which usually noticeably visible. The same goes for a racecar around large speedway, except that an air wake is not visible to the naked eye. Interestingly, it was said that Dale Earnhardt Sr. (the Intimidator), could 'see' the air and that is why he was so successful on the Superspeedways (2.5mi+).

Tandem drafting in NASCAR Cup racing

There are however, downsides to drafting. If you've ever watched stock car racing on television, you make have heard drivers on their team radios complaining about things such as 'Aero Loose' or 'Aero Tight'. The

reality is, sometimes drafting causes the lead car, while cornering, to become 'loose' (oversteer) and the chase car to become 'tight' (understeer), due to factors of 'drag'. This two different types of 'steer' are less than desirable handling conditions, and to this day, technology has not been able to negate these factors. This is all part of the challenge of racing on speedways and Superspeedways. Please bear in mind, this is only an introduction to these racing concepts and in order to pay them their full respect, I would probably have to write a textbook, that personally, I could probably not write.

Downforce, in introductory terms, is the the downward force of pressure created by the aerodynamic components of a racecar (eg. spoilers, splitters and dive planes). This helps the driver pilot the racecar more successfully around corners by the creation of 'Aero Grip', as opposed to (often in conjunction with) 'Mechanical Grip', which is created by the chassis (frame/suspension etc) of the car. To help one grasp this concept, look at a Formula Ford racecar; you will notice their are no 'aero' components, thus isolating the 'Mechanic Grip' factor and why Formula Ford is considered one of the best Driver Development categories in the world.

Look ma, no wings!

TRG # 003: Classes

I know it's easy to get all mixed up over the acronym alphabet soup that are the various classes of different racing series, especially in sportscar racing. Allow me to help you crack the code.

Let's start with the basics and then I'll put down some examples:

GT = Grand Touring (this one you will see a lot)

Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO):

GT1 - (one) The premier sportscar class of the FIA. A relevant series would be the FIA GT series, though many would argue, at this present time, no one is really racing true GT1 cars. General global financial malaise is often cited as the main reason for this class' downfall.

GT2/GTE/GTLM - (two/Endurance/Le Mans) GT2 is now the archaic term for what is now really considered either of the latter. You will find these cars raced not only in Europe, but also in the ALMS and upcoming USCC.

GT3 - (three) This classification is arguably emerging as the global sportscar class. Production derived race machines, that many would aspire to own for the street, piloted by professionals or amateurs. You will find this class in many series including FIA GT3 and 24H (Bathurst 12hr etc).

GT4 - (four) Closer to production, lower budget.

Endurance Sportscar racing, with P and GT racecars

International Motorsports Association 'IMSA' ["im-sah"]:

LMP1 - (Le Mans Prototype one) eg. Audi R18, bleeding edge tech.
LMP2 - (Le Mans Prototype two) various manufactures, high tech.
LMPC - (.. Challenge) spec based series, meaning all cars are the same, used as a feeder class and for driver development.
GT - (GTE) cars.
GTC - (.. Challenge) similar to LMPC but with GT cars.

Grand American Road Racing (Grand-Am):
DP - (Daytona Prototype) Not true prototypes as they traditionally shunned new tech for big pushrod V8s, Americans eh, sheesh!)
GT - An Americanized GT class (inc. tube framed not production based, like NASCAR), more power etc! Those pesky Americans, always have to be exceptional! God bless 'em!
GX - Grand Experimental, with an X, you know, to be cool. Includes diesels and other alternative fuels (now defunct).
GS - Grand Sport, production based touring cars.
ST - Street Tuner, even closer to production, to be down with the kids.

Some series have their own formulas, to make them safer for the competitors, keep cost down and improve fans with better, closer racing. For example...

British Touring Car Championship (BTCC):

NGTC - (Next Generation Touring Car)

V8 Supercars (V8SC)

CotF - (Car of the Future)

And all you need to know about NASCAR is, "there is nothing 'stock', about a 'stock car'."

TRG # 002: Bathurst and Brock

Peter Brock, 1945 - 2006, aka the 'King of the Mountain', won the Great Race nine times between 1972 and '87. To this day, he still holds the record for total number of wins of Australia's most prestigious motor race and arguably one the world's top five most prestigious motor races. He also won again at the mountain, co-driving in the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour sportscar race. In 2006, Brock was killed after losing control of his Daytona coupe, while driving the Targa West tarmac rally. A legacy of his, the 'Peter Brock Foundation', continues to operate today, aiding disadvantaged Australian youth. 

RELATED: he will be most controversially remembered for the invention and promotion of a device called the 'Energy Polarizer', a device that has been installed in a number of Holden Dealer Team (HDT) special edition models which bore his name. The device (pictured here), mounted in the engine dock, utilised crystals to improve the cars performance by "alignment of molecules". The controversial component eventually caused a temporary rift between Brock and HDT.

Stick a few of these in there and you're good to go, mate

The Night Before Bathurst 2013

It was the night before Bathurst,
And all was quiet
In this day and age,
Rarely a riot
In McPhillamy Park; after dark
We wait for the dawn,
Of the coming war
Another chance,
To settle the score

The lions roar,
We've heard before
The blue oval core,
Knocking on the door
The rising sun,
Concern for some
A star is born,
Return to form

Who will win the cup?
For the sake of their name,
The pride and the fame
Another trophy for the claim
Championship stakes,
For the least mistakes

A special place,
For this great race

TRG # 001: 'ALMS' (American Le Mans Series)

Presented by Tequila Patron (1999 - 2013), is an American racing series modeled after Le Mans style racing of France -funnily enough. It has five classes; P1, P2, PC, GT & GTC. This series makes up one half of the merger, creating the coming 2014 USCC -but we'll get more on that later, I bet you just can't wait! 

RELATED: remember this guy? Greg Pickett pictured here, racing his no. 63 Motorcraft IMSA GTU, went on to become the owner of one of the ALMS most dominant teams; Muscle Milk Pickett Racing!