| One of the most crucial factors that will | | | | sunroof can also be removed for a substantial |
| make a race car competitive on the race track | | | | weight savings. The rules allow the opening |
| is the weight of the race car. The typical | | | | to be covered with a metallic panel. |
| race car, however, that is used in amateur | | | | |
| auto racing is a street car that undergoes | | | | The sound deadening material under the carpet |
| modification. And one modification is the | | | | can be removed for further weight reduction |
| removal of many parts of the interior, which | | | | and for a cleaner interior appearance. Even |
| may reduce 10 to 15% of the curb weight of | | | | without the need to reduce weight, the |
| the car. When parts of the car's interior are | | | | deadening material should still go because it |
| removed, horsepower is freed up to add speed. | | | | is a hazard in the event of a fire. Removing |
| But speed is not the only basis for the | | | | the sound deadening material can be greatly |
| interior preparation of a race car. In this | | | | simplified by using dry ice. I've tried this |
| article, I will describe the preparation of | | | | in the past with minimal success but the |
| the interior of the Acura Integra that will | | | | alternative is not viable. The thought of |
| race in the Honda Challenge 2. | | | | sitting in the car for hours with a scraper |
| | | | and a torch, exposing myself to a potential |
| The Acura Integra has raced in the SSB | | | | fire hazard and toxic fumes, led me to try |
| (Showroom Stock B) category in the SCCA | | | | the dry ice again. |
| (Sports Car Club of America). The SSB rules | | | | |
| require that the majority of the interior be | | | | I've also tried wire wheels and chemical |
| intact with some allowances for installation | | | | strippers. None of these methods were as |
| of the roll cage and a racing seat. The Honda | | | | effective or as fast as dry ice. The key |
| Challenge rules allow the removal of just | | | | seems to be applying liberal amounts of dry |
| about everything with the exception of the | | | | ice over a large area and allowing it at |
| instrument panel. This meant that all of the | | | | least 4-5 minutes to work its magic. |
| carpet, front passenger seat, trim pieces, | | | | |
| and mounting brackets can be removed. The | | | | I made some cardboard dams to try and keep |
| HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air | | | | the ice in contact with the vertical surfaces |
| Conditioning) stuff under the instrument | | | | around the tunnel. This seemed to work pretty |
| panel can be removed also. This adds up to a | | | | well but may not be absolutely necessary. |
| lot of weight reduction. | | | | Once you hear the insulation start to pop and |
| | | | crack a few strikes with a dead blow hammer |
| I've talked to some guys that like to leave | | | | should be enough to dislodge the material. Be |
| these systems intact to keep the windows | | | | gentle with the hammer as the floor is |
| clear but the potential weight savings was | | | | probably less than a 1 mm thick and can be |
| too tempting and I've had good success | | | | damaged easily. The remaining residue can be |
| keeping my windows clear with anti-fog | | | | easily removed with a grinder with a sanding |
| treatments. The sunroof looks great on a | | | | or wire wheel. This process also helps to |
| sports car but unnecessary in a race car. The | | | | prepare the surface for paint application. |