There is nothing quite like that feeling of sitting at a traffic light and realising that the person in the lane next to you fancies himself as a bit of a racing driver. He is revving his engine and riding his clutch. You know that he fancies himself quicker than you and he intend leaving you eating his dirt as he pulls away. Being able to surprise that guy buy beating off the mark and into the sunset is a great feeling. But how do you go about turning your ordinary ride into something that packs a serious punch and which will leave every challenger in your fumes? Here are a few simple tips to help speed you up.
Clutch is king
So much about the ability to leave others in your wake is about the clutch. And it is a simple modification that you can make to your car that is unnoticeable from the outside. So many people who fancy themselves as racers will put a giant wing on the back of the car for down-force. They will drop the suspension or get fancy wheels. This is all for show. If you really want results, head to the mechanic and buy the best performance clutch you can afford. Install it, either yourself or get a mechanic to do it, and within a day you will be sending out the message that you are not to be trifled with in a street race.
Not for show
If you want to make your car perform better, then do your research. Don’t be fooled by silly, cosmetic changes. The idiot who thinks a big wing on the back of his car will make it go faster has not really understood what is going on. He thinks it looks cool, but the truth is it isn’t. If you want maximum straight-line speed, then a wing is the last thing you need. Down force is there to get you extra grip and that is something you need going into and coming out of corners. The reality is that if racing in a straight line the wing slows you down!
Use an expert
Getting your engine tuned is the job of an expert and if you really want your car to perform to its very best, then it is a great idea to seek the help and counsel of a professional mechanic. Tuning an engine is a great skill to acquire for yourself, and over time you should do your best to learn all the tricks of the trade. The great Michael Schumacher was great not just because he was an incredible driver, but because he knew engines and cars and he could help his mechanics and pit crew to get the very best out of the car. He didn’t do the work, but he knew what work needed to be done. So, learn the car and find the right mechanic to partner with. You will be amazed how much extra oomph a quality mechanic can squeeze from an engine.