well, after re-reading Prepare to Win, one of the many little tidbits i took away was to start a logbook. now our friend carroll says to keep i think 3 seperate logbooks, one for chassis, one for the engine, and another for the transaxle. in the front of the logbook he keeps the running log, and in the back he keeps a list of every part and it's specification for the appropriate system. now i think this is probably largely excessive for the club racer. but i figured i could do something similar easily enough.

i was wondering if anybody else does such a thing, what information they keep records of, and how they have their book/s organized. i bought a nice hardbound book for like $8 at office depot, and before i start officially entering things, i figured i'd ask people at the club level how they go about it.

 

pretty much every session i record, if practical, lap times, which tires/wheels were used, date and time of day, tire temps and pressures (before and after) and stuff like tire rotations and oil changes and i stuff the alignment result sheet in between dates. of course if there was an off or something broken or anything weird worth noting. i think keeping track of the tires and engine is worth it. not much else happens with the chassis for me, and when there is a change, its noted. i kept it all in a black/white composition notebook.

 

We use several 3-ring binders. One has copies of all the parts lists (part numbers, prices, etc) and when and why installed. Other modifications to the chassis are also noted along with the routine shop items. The second binder is sanctioning body specific (SCCA or NASA) and has the CAR Logbook and Cage certificate, entry for event info and the Rules sections (ITCS or NASA H4 etc). I also keep a copy of the event timing sheets/setup data for the specific track in this binder.
I will agree with others that generally there is little else to concern yourself with. A journal/diary is a great way to remember what happened.
Happy racing

 

Some of the NorCal people might know "Joe" I dont know his last name, but he is the guy who owns several Porsches and lives in the Chico area. I think he owns a few restaurant franchises. Anyway, I was talking with a crew/ one of the Porsches he bought came with 3 5 inch thick binders of set up data.

 

I keep an excel spreadsheet of maintenance, modification and such.... dates, mileage, etc.

I'm going to be keeping a logbook which will be more personal (goals/evaluations of my own driving for each session/weekend). I dont have much need for setup data and i'm not taking laptimes now, but if I were racing I certainly would.

 

I've evolved to keeping folders for individual tracks and I use the convention of "new on top" - reading down through the folder is going back in history. I tried computerizing records at one point but gave up since it required transcribing information from one form to another, so I just punch and stack paper set-up notes, grid sheets, etc.

Admittedly, there is a LOT less information than when we used to show up at the track with the SuperVee and a couple of SS or IT cars all under our wings. Be thankful that you can't change individual ratios for each track you visit...

K

 

new on top........

it's so simple it's genius.

is there anything off the top of your heads that you wish you kept in your logbooks but don't for whatever reason?

 

I keep a standard spiral bound notebook with all of the basics- track, weather conditions, tire pressures (before and after session), shock settings, wheels and tires used, and laptimes and any other info that could be useful- new brakes, went off, etc.