Adjusting that track bar

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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First off, is it track bar or trackbar? I've seen it used both ways.

Anyhow, I'm not sure how many of you out there listen to your drivers scanner but I know my driver, Earnhardt Jr. was cranking on the adjuster this past weekend. It was interesting to hear him say how much of an adjustment he'd make. He'd then relay that info to Greg Ives while resetting it back to the zero position just prior to pitting. Greg would then relay what he wanted done to the crew. I have to wonder, because I know it will eventually happen..... One of these times he's not going to relay that info or forget to adjust its position back to zero. He's likely to end up in a wall. Anyway, just wondering if you hear your driver doing the same?

Decent article on this relating to last weekend race.

Post Race Notes: Earnhardt, Jr. praises new track bar
 
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dpkimmel2001 said:
First off, is it track bar or trackbar? I've seen it used both ways.

Anyhow, I'm not sure how many of you out there listen to your drivers scanner but I know my driver, Earnhardt Jr. was cranking on the adjuster this past weekend. It was interesting to hear him say how much of an adjustment he'd make. He'd then relay that info to Greg Ives while resetting it back to the zero position just prior to pitting. Greg would then relay what he wanted done to the crew. I have to wonder, because I know it will eventually happen..... One of these times he's not going to relay that info or forget to adjust its position back to zero. He's likely to end up in a wall. Anyway, just wondering if you hear your driver doing the same?

Decent article on this relating to last weekend race.

Post Race Notes: Earnhardt, Jr. praises new track bar
Click to expand...
Jeff did the same thing. The spotter reminded him to center it going into the pits. He searched around on it all day and liked it.
 
since the race officials quit watching crews tighten lug nuts, seems like there has been at least one loose wheel a race, No telling how confusing it has made adjusting the car with the driver messing with it. With some drivers I think it would be wise to have it work like the steering wheel on a kiddie ride, turn it all you want.:blush:
 
Johali said:
Jeff did the same thing. The spotter reminded him to center it going into the pits. He searched around on it all day and liked it.
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With Jr, I'm not hearing any direction from the crew chief when it comes to making that initial adjustment. It seems that he's making the decision from the seat of the car in reaction to its feel. When I first heard Larry Mac and DW talk about the change leading into Atlanta, they seemed to indicate that the crew chief would be making that call. That's not what's happening.
 
StandOnIt said:
since the race officials quit watching crews tighten lug nuts, seems like there has been at least one loose wheel a race, No telling how confusing it has made adjusting the car with the driver messing with it. With some drivers I think it would be wise to have it work like the steering wheel on a kiddie ride, turn it all you want.:blush:
Click to expand...
They may want to use that technique with the Busch brothers when they get back in the car. At least the first couple races. Neither have had much experience with that option yet.

I really think that this adjustment feature is going to work out to be a game changer as these drivers become accustomed to it.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
With Jr, I'm not hearing any direction from the crew chief when it comes to making that initial adjustment. It seems that he's making the decision from the seat of the car in reaction to its feel. When I first heard Larry Mac and DW talk about the change leading into Atlanta, they seemed to indicate that the crew chief would be making that call. That's not what's happening.
Click to expand...
As we said. Every time Jeff entered and left the pit's his adjustment was centered on zero. During the race he searched around to where he liked it and only told the CC how the car was acting so the CC could make further outside adjustments. He didn't tell the CC what in car adjustments he had made.
 
Johali said:
He didn't tell the CC what in car adjustments he had made.
Click to expand...
See, now that is opposite of what I am hearing from Jr. When he makes the change in the car he relays that to Ives along with how the car is handling. He then sets it back to zero prior to pitting. From that exchange of info, the crew then makes adjustments during the pit stop creating a new zero point on the dial. All of this is only happening under yellow conditions.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
See, now that is opposite of what I am hearing from Jr. When he makes the change in the car he relays that to Ives along with how the car is handling. He then sets it back to zero prior to pitting. From that exchange of info, the crew then makes adjustments during the pit stop creating a new zero point on the dial. All of this is only happening under yellow conditions.
Click to expand...
That is different than what Jeff is doing. He's telling the CC what It's doing at the best setting Jeff can find but not what that setting is. On one pit stop he said "It's topped out", no explanation of what it was, but the CC told the crew to make a track bar adjustment. I guess each team is treating the changes a little differently.
 
Johali said:
That is different than what Jeff is doing. He's telling the CC what It's doing at the best setting Jeff can find but not what that setting is. On one pit stop he said "It's topped out", no explanation of what it was, but the CC told the crew to make a track bar adjustment. I guess each team is treating the changes a little differently.
Click to expand...
That's weird. Jr's got numbers that he relays to Ives, 1, 2, 3, etc. I believe that they are referring to inches but I don't know for sure. I'm only thinking that is the form of measurement because that is what he refers to in that article that I posted the link to. He's using terms like +1, +4, -3....... What ever direction he turns or toggles the control.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
They may want to use that technique with the Busch brothers when they get back in the car. At least the first couple races. Neither have had much experience with that option yet.

I really think that this adjustment feature is going to work out to be a game changer as these drivers become accustomed to it.
Click to expand...

I'll agree it IS going to be a game changer, but it isn't a techno change I am all thrilled about. Not as concerned as the new lug nut ruling. This lug nut deal will be just fine until one of them gets desperate to finish and a wheel comes off and goes over the fence or thru a drivers windshield. I've seen that happen on the interstate.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
First off, is it track bar or trackbar? I've seen it used both ways.

Anyhow, I'm not sure how many of you out there listen to your drivers scanner but I know my driver, Earnhardt Jr. was cranking on the adjuster this past weekend. It was interesting to hear him say how much of an adjustment he'd make. He'd then relay that info to Greg Ives while resetting it back to the zero position just prior to pitting. Greg would then relay what he wanted done to the crew. I have to wonder, because I know it will eventually happen..... One of these times he's not going to relay that info or forget to adjust its position back to zero. He's likely to end up in a wall. Anyway, just wondering if you hear your driver doing the same?

Decent article on this relating to last weekend race.

Post Race Notes: Earnhardt, Jr. praises new track bar
Click to expand...

Yes he will. He will forget unless TJ reminds him. And I'll bet he will not be the only one.
 
StandOnIt said:
I'll agree it IS going to be a game changer, but it isn't a techno change I am all thrilled about. Not as concerned as the new lug nut ruling. This lug nut deal will be just fine until one of them gets desperate to finish and a wheel comes off and goes over the fence or thru a drivers windshield. I've seen that happen on the interstate.
Click to expand...
That's a whole other subject unrelated to the track bar adjustment. I think there's still a thread on that somewhere.
 
I'll be sure and remember to remind you as well..and we can have a mr. perfect thread spinning contest.;)
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
That's weird. Jr's got numbers that he relays to Ives, 1, 2, 3, etc. I believe that they are referring to inches but I don't know for sure. I'm only thinking that is the form of measurement because that is what he refers to in that article that I posted the link to. He's using terms like +1, +4, -3....... What ever direction he turns or toggles the control.
Click to expand...
To each his own I guess. After Jeff told him that it was topped out the CC also told the crew to put a packer in the right front and then a pit stop or two later to take it out. I don't know if a shock adjustment like that would be interactive with a track bar adjustment. Maybe I'll be better able to understand it after another race or two. I'll also pay closer attention.
 
Johali said:
To each his own I guess. After Jeff told him that it was topped out the CC also told the crew to put a packer in the right front and then a pit stop or two later to take it out. I don't know if a shock adjustment like that would be interactive with a track bar adjustment. Maybe I'll be better able to understand it after another race or two. I'll also pay closer attention.
Click to expand...

He put the packer in to get the splitter off the ground. Took the packer out after the wreck to try and lower it.
 
StandOnIt said:
since the race officials quit watching crews tighten lug nuts, seems like there has been at least one loose wheel a race, No telling how confusing it has made adjusting the car with the driver messing with it. With some drivers I think it would be wise to have it work like the steering wheel on a kiddie ride, turn it all you want.:blush:
Click to expand...

I think teams like the 2,4 and 48 will benefit from it as those drivers and CC's seem to have great communication. Do I think it will benefit someone like Stenhouse? Put it this way.....I dunno if he can even spell track bar.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I think teams like the 2,4 and 48 will benefit from it as those drivers and CC's seem to have great communication. Do I think it will benefit someone like Stenhouse? Put it this way.....I dunno if he can even spell track bar.
Click to expand...
yeah I know some of the old school crew chiefs don't want the driver messing with the car, just drive the damn thing we'll fix it. Might be the same in some pits today.
 
I'm gona fix it so the little som bit**h can't mess with it anymore

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Although it seems the drivers might be over using it, I think it's great they can adjust the track bar themselves. I see it as beneficial when they don't have to wait for the next pit stop to make this adjustment.
 
Pat said:
Although it seems the drivers might be over using it, I think it's great they can adjust the track bar themselves. I see it as beneficial when they don't have to wait for the next pit stop to make this adjustment.
Click to expand...

What have you heard that indicates that some drivers are over adjusting during races? I'm not challenging you in any way, I'm just interested to find out if crew chiefs are having to "scold" their drivers.
 
I figure drivers will play with the adjustment any time they think the car isn't to their liking (which is probably most of the time). Some drivers will figure it out and some won't. The idea that the driver zeros the adjustment when entering pit road is interesting, I wonder how much adjustment the driver has and I wonder what kind of adjustment the pit crew makes now. And I'm guessing that a crew chief will disable the control for a driver who doesn't figure it out.
 
Matthew2470 said:
What have you heard that indicates that some drivers are over adjusting during races? I'm not challenging you in any way, I'm just interested to find out if crew chiefs are having to "scold" their drivers.
Click to expand...

Just the fact that they keep changing it all during the race when before it only occurred during a few pit stops.
 
Pat said:
Just the fact that they keep changing it all during the race when before it only occurred during a few pit stops.
Click to expand...
Part of the reason that they change it during their run is the tires going away as well as the decrease in weight using the fuel. The car changes and the track changes throughout the race. Also, the pit adjustment could have been wrong to begin with.
 
I think it is fantastic tool. Say the crew turns the wrench the wrong way, the driver can undo it partly. Also by going to zero during pit stops, the crew can raise or lower the zero point according to their needs.
Comparing Juniors method to Jeff's method, just look at the standing to see what is working best.
dance_zpstfjcdqjc.gif
 
Zerkfitting said:
I figure drivers will play with the adjustment any time they think the car isn't to their liking (which is probably most of the time). Some drivers will figure it out and some won't. The idea that the driver zeros the adjustment when entering pit road is interesting, I wonder how much adjustment the driver has and I wonder what kind of adjustment the pit crew makes now. And I'm guessing that a crew chief will disable the control for a driver who doesn't figure it out.
Click to expand...
"Zero" is the new tires / full fuel load position.
 
I was listening to Danica's radio for a while and she was experimenting a lot with the track bar settings while getting/giving feedback from Danny Knost.
 
So....stupid question is stupid, but what does the track bar do?
 
SpeedPagan said:
So....stupid question is stupid, but what does the track bar do?
Click to expand...
What Does the Trackbar Do?
Suspension, TrackbarAdd comments
Aug012012
Thanks to a suggestion by reader Anthony Bardoll, I’m happy to present the first in a series of articles on car adjustments. Anthony mentioned that a lot of people do iRacing and have the ability to make the same types of adjustments in their cars that non-virtual race engineers can do. Most of the information available on these adjustments focuses on what happens when you make a change in a particular direction: if you increase parameter x, the car gets looser – but they don’t tell you why. Here’s the ‘why’ for the trackbar.

Read the rest here: http://www.buildingspeed.org/blog/2012/08/trackbar/
 
Johali said:
What Does the Trackbar Do?
Suspension, TrackbarAdd comments
Aug012012
Thanks to a suggestion by reader Anthony Bardoll, I’m happy to present the first in a series of articles on car adjustments. Anthony mentioned that a lot of people do iRacing and have the ability to make the same types of adjustments in their cars that non-virtual race engineers can do. Most of the information available on these adjustments focuses on what happens when you make a change in a particular direction: if you increase parameter x, the car gets looser – but they don’t tell you why. Here’s the ‘why’ for the trackbar.

Read the rest here: http://www.buildingspeed.org/blog/2012/08/trackbar/
Click to expand...

Thank ye.
 
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