Record/note keeping

E

Erickz

Well-known member
Any suggestions on race car record/note keeping? I have chassis setup sheets, laptime and tire temp/tire pressure sheets etc. but how does one put all that plus what gets done in the garage (vendor info, setup info, where the part got bot, etc) into a user friendly format? How do you record what works versus what doesn't work and your conclusions?
Any suggestions?
 
Here's what I started doing last year:

1) Using some online tool (I use Google Docs) I create a spreadsheet before every event. There I list all the work I have to do, as well as my final track setup. Using that I can look back and see what alignment and suspension setups I started with last year at the same track.

2) For the track, I made a double-sided note sheet. The front side has:
2.1) Track, Day, Session, Time, ambient temp, weather
2.2) checklist for getting on track (add fuel, torque wheels, charge camera batteries, etc)
2.3) Basic setup stuff (tire pressures, shock settings, spring rates on the car, etc)
2.4) Changes to be made from the last session (Went up 3 clicks of rebound, down 2 lbs of air on the right side, etc)

On the back side I have
3.2) Tire temps and pressures
3.1) Driving impressions (Loose off, pushy, I love it, whatever)
3.2) post-session weight
3.3) a section for all of the stuff from the first page, but I don't seem to fill that out often (camber, shock settings, whatever- they generally don't change during the session)

What I haven't done a good job with, is taking my track setup sheets and organizing them electronically. Basically I have to rifle through my notebook to see track notes from prior trips. I just organize the notebook by track.
 
i have an I phone app... i don't like it and keep a notebook manually... I never want to drag out a laptop...
 
Thanks for the replies (love this forum). Back in the good ol' days (pre college tuition, cancer, etc.) when I was racing more I wound up with a really huge notebook. Computers and garages kind of scare me as to the survivability of the computer - I am just thinking there is some clever way to keep a race car effort organized.
 
I use three notebooks.

One is the car's maintenance book where everything I do to the car is recorded. Setup notes, oil changes, engine changes, etc. I also staple in the tire temp sheets that we use. I write down my impressions of how it's handling, running, etc. In the back I write down things that I might need later like schematics, torque values, etc.

The second is for my crew chief. He writes lap times, things he thinks of while I'm on track, things that happen in the race (double yellow, car 42 smoking, etc), and most importantly (to me) he writes down things I want to recall later like "it's loose in 2, but tight in 4". Or "remind me to fix the rear view mirror from vibrating" - stuff that's not obvious in the garage, but that you notice when you're on track. I'm terrible at remembering those things after the event, and the log book really helps.

The third book is my track notes book. In that one I write things like: "Brake at the 2.5 for T1. Turn at the end of the left side curbing. Track out over the exit curbing. Good margaritas at Jose's".

-Kyle
 
I too have a giant notebook titled "Speed Secrets" with dividers for various types of notes.

The contents of said book were very expensive and it often stays with me, even when I'm not racing. Not because I'm protecting it, but because I'm using it. :lol:

I have an event tab which includes the supps and my master packing/car prep check list. I have check lists for my check lists, so I rarely forget anything and it keeps the stress low. I also keep a 3 hole punch in the trailer.

The set up tab has all information related to baseline and rain set up for my car including wiring diagrams and instructions for any systems on the car.

The archives tab keeps track of all of my previous event data. Shock settings, tire pressures, changes I made before each session, as well as weather and ambient temperatures. The archives also has my results, entry sheets, etc.

Then there is a tab where I keep blank forms that are a little less sophisticated than Bill's, but capture all of the information that eventually make it into the archives.

Throughout the weekend I reference the Speed Secrets book, but mainly work out of a clip board with internal storage. Then after the event I will go back and organize my paperwork and add it to the notebook.

I've thought about going digital and have seen teams use custom excel spreadsheets, but I'm a bit of a caveman with that kind of stuff and have never made the jump.

My stuff continues to evolve, but I also have been my own crew too which makes simple easier.
 
Kyle that's a great idea on the driving notes. This is the first weekend I'd by happy to repeat the results - so I found myself writing down exactly that sort of thing - 4th gear through turn 3, brake at the 3.5 marker, all that.

I think I'll put those into my big notebook. Thanks!
 
*** POST RACE DEBRIEF ***
We always had a crew meeting on the drive home, after the race. While we were all together in the truck, on the road. Someone must take notes, and be able to read them a few days later! It kept us fresh and current on what the car, driver, crew or trailer needed before, or at, the next race. It kept a shared focus on the car and our performance as a crew at the track.

The driver would list his hot items to address before, or at, the next time at the track, and what maintenance is needed in the shop. The crew would add their needs/thoughts from the weekend. Once we got home it would be put on a spreadsheet and taped to the windshield of the car. You could then walk away from it for a few days, or weeks, and pick up exactly where you were before the break. The spreadsheet tasks would be checked off as completed. And then, added to the notebook as a record of all items addressed, or still needing followup.
 
I use 1 small book.(per car, we have 5-6 that we keep going) The first few pages has the part #s and sources( with phone #s) for stuff like pads, belts headgaskets etc.
The next few pages have the basic setup notes, tire pressures spring s, mixture. timing.
Next are the per weekend/race notes. lap times, problems ,temps, track ,tires.
I make notes and run a post run "track talk around", each pass(session). We discuss each corner and if the car is good , what the driver can do for each. The book gets a summery of this.
Every page is dated. The prep list is on the tool box. the daily list is in the lid of the race box.
Going home or post race we talk about the entire package, what we used and need to replace, etc. Noted in book for NTB, need to buy, and NTD need to do.
Mon am, the car gets a leakdown, compression check, pads checked and the list for each car, is posted on the lift.
Very simple and low tech.
 
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