Lubrication?

[Courtney s]

I’ve read a lot of rules and I know everything is different but if you are an experienced host do you oil the cars? And if you do oil the cars is it just before qualifying or before qualifying and the race. Now if you do Oil the cars where do you oil them just the rear axle and the motor?

[Fast Co.]

I don't oil proxy cars before running them. If every host did that I think the cars would be over-oiled. Maybe I'm in the minority. I don't know whether other hosts oil them or not.

[SuperSlab]

I suppose I must have hosted like 25+ proxy rounds over the years and never lubricate cars. I only ever do ANY maintenance tasks due to specific issues and then only with approval of car owner and Race Director and within the rules/guidelines of the series.

[DRW21]

Interesting topic.
I have wondered about this as when my GT40 came back from the F vs F proxy the axle bushes were flogged out.
Not having smooth running bushes makes the car run rough.
I would suggest not oiling the cars is not helping any one.
Sure it can be over done but with some simple common sense all the cars would run better.

[Loan Shark]

I disagree DRW21. The point of the proxy is to build a car that will last to the end of the series. As soon as event hosts start touching the cars for anything other than repairs, then variables enter the race that can not be measured. Metering out exact amounts of oil / lubricant for each car is nearly impossible for each host to follow. The wear and tear on a car is the same for each entry as the season progresses, so that's not really a concern. Yes your car will need to be refreshed for sure. Cars that wear less or perform better at seasons end were theorically better designed/built. IMHO. This is just my $.02 worth.

[mattb]

This land barge proxy is the first I have entered. It is one track and race, not an ongoing series. My intention is the have the car fully ready. All break in, setup, and oiling will be done and I hope I have prepared the car correctly. One thing I do for new parts is to break in gears with heat, lube gears and bushings with white grease. Run just a bit. Clean excess and oil with light machine oil. Run, clean up any excess and then oiling isn't needed for a few hours. I would not want to oil proxy cars running on my track and have to clean up all the oil that may be put down.

[4424ever]

That’s pretty much what I do to send a car to the showdown except I have moved to using PTFE lube for the gears

[Mikeinclover]

I have never added3any oil to a motor, that isn't a good idea to start with let alone at every race. I don't recall ever adding oil or grease to a car unless it was making noise or I was asked to.
Mike

[F1Fan]

I disagree DRW21. The point of the proxy is to build a car that will last to the end of the series. As soon as event hosts start touching the cars for anything other than repairs, then variables enter the race that can not be measured. Metering out exact amounts of oil / lubricant for each car is nearly impossible for each host to follow. The wear and tear on a car is the same for each entry as the season progresses, so that's not really a concern. Yes your car will need to be refreshed for sure. Cars that wear less or perform better at seasons end were theorically better designed/built. IMHO. This is just my $.02 worth.

I totally agree with Matt's comment. Hosting and organizing a proxy takes a lot of time and effort and adding the extra complexity of instructions on when, who and where to lubricate a particular car I can do without. A proxy is an enduro event and there are options available that will allow a car to race without additional lubrication during a series. In fact we have seen multiple cars set lap records on different tracks and different rounds during a season without ever needing any additional service. A proxy series is also the perfect exercise in compromise, in some cases ultimate speed and performance might have to be sacrificed for reliability and lack of available maintenance.

[Loan Shark]

Thanks. 👍

[Barc 1]

WHAT!!!!??

You guys are not oiling these cars after every run. Well that explains everything. No wonder BARC entries are always running last. A dunk in fryer fat was assumed. I will have to let the engineers know.

[4424ever]

Ah that’s your secret fryer fat
Hummmm

[Fast Co.]

The secret is that it's got to be 100% vegetable oil. Don't let anyone know. 🤐

[DRW21]

Interesting, I won't ask what your thoughts are on cleaning the tires before every race then.

[Fathead59]

I thought I read somewhere here that they were using a sponge that was damped with rubbing alcohol , am I mistaken ?

[HomeRacingWorld]

For the Showdown I inspect every car carefully. I test run each one. If the car has an issue, I will contact the car owner and we will discuss recommended adjustments or repairs.

We have spare parts on the wall that are FOR our event. Anything a particular car needs, we have it and will install if required. Even a mechanical failure mid race.

Our race is two events a year. It costs more than just money to scratchbuild. I don't want an entry that won't run as much as the owner. He or she did not spend all this time and effort to build a car only to have it not perform well, or not at all.

If it needs a drop or two of oil, it will get it. Gear, guide, braid adjustments, it will get it. As long as the car owner will allow it. Have not had any objections in all the years of hosting.

I clean all tires on a sponge with a water/alcohol mix that "de-glazes" the surface and gets them as clean as possible for best performance.

[War Eagle River]

Yup, how it should be.

[mattb]

Above and beyond.