It’s the off-season. No racing until next year.               
What’s your approach to the so-called off-season? To the race fan, it looks like the time of year that race teams kick back and catch their breath. This is a huge misconception. The off-season is the busiest, most hectic time of year for professional race teams. This also holds true for the short-track racer if he’s doing it right.
For the full-time teams it means building new cars, updating existing cars, refurbishing pit equipment and getting everything ready for the new season ahead. Engineers are designing new parts. The good teams leave no stone unturned. Proper prep and attention to detail in the off-season means a much bigger chance for success during the race season.
It’s the same for short-track racers.
Let’s touch on some of the key areas to work on during the winter months to ensure a successful race season”
The off-season is the time to tear down the car and rebuild everything. During the teardown, clean all critical suspension parts and Magnaflux anything that is a stressed part. Any aluminum or magnesium component should be Zygloed. Crack checking and close inspection should always be part of your maintenance routine.
Inspect all suspension pick-up points for wear. Rod ends and bearings wear and get sloppy. Stressed fasteners should be replaced each year. Torsion-bar bushings can wear out as well and deserve a look to make sure they’re not too sloppy.
Rear ends should be torn down, ring and pinions Magnafluxed and inspected for wear. Measure backlash and re-set. Replace bearings and seals. In the case of quick changes, mag all gears and inspect teeth for pitting.
The same needs to be carried out for transmissions and all driveline components.
Brakes are one area that many racers ignore and take for granted.
Calipers should be rebuilt with new seals and all old brake fluid should be totally cleaned from the entire system. Lines, cylinders, and calipers need to be cleaned with brake clean and dried. Brake fluid attracts and absorbs moisture. It will absorb moisture out of the air. The moisture will have a huge effect on the boiling point of the brake fluid. Even during the race season, when bleeding brakes, the fluid should be exchanged and NEVER put back in the brake reservoir when bleeding. Magnaflux rotors and indicate them to make sure they’re running true.
Obviously race engines get rebuilt but don’t forget about power steering pumps and steering gears. This is another area that often gets overlooked.
Also inspect and replace any rod ends in the steering system that may be worn.
The off-season is the time to build up your spares inventory. Having all these components built and ready to go will save time during the hectic season. Clean, inspect and Zyglo all race wheels.
If bead locks are being used, replace all bolts in the retainers. The threads get worn from all the mounting through the season.
Tools, pit equipment and trailers need to be cleaned, restocked and organized during the off-season. Good time to replace trailer tires and service wheel bearings. Service generators and air compressors.
Don’t procrastinate.
Do the work during the off-season, so that during the race season you can concentrate on the important things — like racing and winning.