The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Car Show Racing Facts

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

9 August 2006

I can't believe the time, work, and knowledge it takes to drive a race car down a quarter mile track in order to win a championship.

But after spending five or more hours talking with Jim Hayter Saturday at the 8th Annual Fred Gibb Memorial Car Show, I found out that consistant champion racers like Hayter have a drive inside them that will not let them rest until they have checked every angle about their car, the weather, the location, and the situation right up until race day.

Hayter said that things like altitude, and humidity, and air in your tires, are just a few things you consider when planning a race.

For instance, he said you will lose 75 in horsepower between here and Denver due to the change in altitude.

To race there, you must make adjustments and have a car you think will out perform the competition.

Car, tire, and auto parts manufacturers pour huge funding into racing, but according to Hayter it pays off. The racing world is responsible for producing better and safer vehicles. Cars and trucks last years longer because of better parts and motor oils and tires are all very good, Hayter said, due to racing demands. Hayter tests tires for his sponsor regulary and reports back his findings. Radial tires came about due to racing, he said.