Corner Balancing

[weidnerpaul]

Corner balancing w/o coilover adjustability...

I'd really like to corner balance the Sprite at Dans this winter but I'd have to do it with ballast, any suggestions on materials and pros/cons. I don't want to lose what acceleration I do have (putt putt) due to added weight...

Thanks,
Paul

[SmokingTires]

Same!

No coilovers, but weigh can become a factor in a car with less torque that relys on being nimble :)

[phile]

Corner balancing w/o coilover adjustability...
I'd really like to corner balance the Sprite at Dans this winter but I'd have to do it with ballast

Unless you are under the minimum weight for your class, you'd have to be psychotic to add ballast.

The front spring pans of a Sprite are bolted to the lower control arms and could be shimmed to corner-weight. Put extra-long bolts in there before taking the car to the scales. Whichever front wheel is putting too much weight down, loosen the four pan bolts until equilibrium is reached. Later you can measure the gaps between the spring pan and the control arm and have washers ground to the thickness of the average of the gaps. Then loosen all four bolts a little more. One at a time, remove each bolt, insert the washer, then replace the bolt. When all the washers are in, tighten all four bolts.

[weidnerpaul]

Unless you are under the minimum weight for your class, you'd have to be psychotic to add ballast.

The front spring pans of a Sprite are bolted to the lower control arms and could be shimmed to corner-weight. Put extra-long bolts in there before taking the car to the scales. Whichever front wheel is putting too much weight down, loosen the four pan bolts until equilibrium is reached. Later you can measure the gaps between the spring pan and the control arm and have washers ground to the thickness of the average of the gaps. Then loosen all four bolts a little more. One at a time, remove each bolt, insert the washer, then replace the bolt. When all the washers are in, tighten all four bolts.

Thanks Phil, I forgot how much you know about the Sprites...

As far as weight goes, I have no idea where the Sprite is & I've heard that they changed the prepared rules for weights, I'll pick up a 2006 book before I do anything...

BTW, is it OK if I hold onto your Kerosene heater for a while?

[SmokingTires]

^
Someone on another forum posted that a stock Sprite weighs in at 1400lbs. So if you have the ligher weight front, as well as other stripping, your probably into the 1300lb range. Adding weight would improve your handling, and possibly make you meet weight requirements! :D

[phile]

Thanks Phil, I forgot how much you know about the Sprites...

As far as weight goes, I have no idea where the Sprite is & I've heard that they changed the prepared rules for weights, I'll pick up a 2006 book before I do anything...

BTW, is it OK if I hold onto your Kerosene heater for a while?

Sure, why not? Don't forget where you got it. Well, that would be difficult with the huge "O S Ethier" painted on it.

That heater has been central to some stories since he got it about 1970. Too tired to type them now.

[MNbiker]

Paul,

Depending on what class you want to run next year, you may in fact be under weight. I believe Stock Mk 1-3 Sprites were around 1,500 lbs. I'm guessing your car will be considerably under the stock weight.

GP 1550 lbs
This is the "new" class for Sprites, MG's, and other older cars.
(I assume you have a 1275cc engine?)

DP approx. 1,400 lbs
I think you'll still be able to run DP if you want to (the rules are still in flux).
Some newer cars in the mix, and weights are lower.

If you want to run GP, I'd definitely make ballast placement part of your corner-weighting exercise.

[weidnerpaul]

Paul,

Depending on what class you want to run next year, you may in fact be under weight. I believe Stock Mk 1-3 Sprites were around 1,500 lbs. I'm guessing your car will be considerably under the stock weight.

GP 1550 lbs
This is the "new" class for Sprites, MG's, and other older cars.
(I assume you have a 1275cc engine?)

DP approx. 1,400 lbs
I think you'll still be able to run DP if you want to (the rules are still in flux).
Some newer cars in the mix, and weights are lower.

If you want to run GP, I'd definitely make ballast placement part of your corner-weighting exercise.

Thanks Steve, I'll wait for the new rules book, I wasn't aware of "GP" and need to see where the Sprite will fit best. The car is a 1275 (40 over), about 1310 CC of BRUTE power :)

BTW --- What is usually used for ballast?

[EWAustin]

For Ballast My uncle uses lead blocks that bolt to his tube chassis, but that's on a dirt track stock car.

[MNbiker]

Thanks Steve, I'll wait for the new rules book, I wasn't aware of "GP" and need to see where the Sprite will fit best. The car is a 1275 (40 over), about 1310 CC of BRUTE power :)

BTW --- What is usually used for ballast?

Yeah, the creation of GP was basically forced on the SCCA Board by a very vocal bunch of old farts driving British cars - who were afraid of the Miatas, MR2's and the like in DP. Funny thing is, a '66 Sprite won DP at Nationals this year. :rolleyes:

The most common choices for ballast include lead bars/weights and barbell plates.

[phile]

BTW --- What is usually used for ballast?

Flat metal plates mounted as low as possible. Think skid plate, probably in places you don't need a skid plate...