USAC Sets RPM Limits For Midgets

Vukie · 10/21/10, 12:48 PM

USAC Sets RPM Limits For Midgets
by NSSN Staff

Brad Kuhn (17b) battles Caleb Armstrong earlier this season during Indiana Midget Week. USAC has mandated an RPM limit in its USAC Mopar National Midget Series. (David E. Heithaus Photo)

INDIANAPOLIS — USAC has mandated an RPM limit for engines competing in the midget division beginning next season. It has also approved the Esslinger EST as a sealed engine platform available for USAC competition.

While the move may not be popular with all competitors and all engine builders, USAC, which has seen car counts for some of its national midget events in the low teens, is clearly making an effort to reduce the costs of maintaining a midget racing engine.

According to the USAC statement, “RPM limits were achieved due to an extensive and ongoing program of data acquisition and analysis commissioned by USAC for Ilmor Engineering throughout 2010.

“Data was derived from a large number of comparable chassis dyno power curves representing the most efficient platforms, along with racing data acquired from a large variety of racing venues, including big and small ovals, dirt and pavement.”

USAC has set varied RPM limits for different types of engines:

-8,700 RPM for push-rod engines (166 c.i.)

-8,800 RPM for crossflow engines (174 c.i.)

-9,800 RPM for single overhead cam (161 c.i.).

According to USAC, these limitations result in a performance difference of less than four percent.

Additionally, the Esslinger EST has been approved as a sealed engine platform eligible for competition at all USAC midget racing events beginning with the 2011 racing season. The Esslinger EST is sealed and approved with a factory RPM limit of 9,400 RPM.

NSSN readers will recall that the 2.65-liter Esslinger EST engine was previously approved by the United States Speed Ass’n for competition next season. The engine is expected to produce 320 to 340 horsepower and sell for $22,000.

USAC will continue to monitor and evaluate RPM limits throughout the 2011 racing season, with several review points planned.

USAC personnel are currently working with the ignition suppliers (MSD and EFI) to ensure that additional costs are not incurred by midget owners for RPM controls and an easy solution for validation is provided to USAC and other sanctioning bodies for trackside evaluation.

Ilmor Engineering will conduct a seminar of their findings for interested midget teams and suppliers during the December trade shows, the time and date to be announced in the coming weeks.

“USAC has done its diligence on studying RPM limits through the Ilmor Engineering analysis,” says Dan Esslinger, president of Esslinger Engineering. “The timing is right for controlling RPM as a means to help contain cost escalation in midget racing over the years.”

http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.co...et-rpm-limits/

Seadog · 10/21/10, 1:09 PM

Paging Mr. Moore, paging Mr. Moore...

LEADERS EDGE · 10/21/10, 1:12 PM

Well....How do you do this with a motor that runs a magneto? I realize it's ancient technology(Beat you to it Keith) but they do still exist.

An absolute waste of time and energy spent on this project....but at least now it looks like something is being done and it "sounds" good.

So now....in order to run USAC....you will more than likely have to send your "box" off to MSD,EFI or whomever....and have the program dropped in. That is fine...except if the program gets cleared or corrupted and has to be reset. If they trust the teams to do it themselves you're asking for a problem and what happens if the tach's battery mysteriously fails? Will there be a connection for an official to plug into and get the reading no matter what the tach says? Can't mount the box in the ****-pit because of the fear of traction control. It will have to be checked after quals and heats as well. Will teams now have to hire a softwear engineer to cheat the system just to keep up?

The sealed motor is interesting and is fine and all of that, but 6 on one hand and a half dozen on the other. At least it's a sealed motor that actually performs.

Looks like the door has been kicked wide open for your Eco-tec Keith. Better get in there.

I hope the deal with Ilmore was a partnership....because if there was money spent.....it was wasted. Those numbers are as random and unscientific as the lottery.

$ Probably would have been better spent on a study on the inverse effect of the unlimited useage of the spec tire verses the dwindiling car count.

Vukie · 10/21/10, 1:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seadog

Paging Mr. Moore, paging Mr. Moore...

Stay on topic!

thebus79h · 10/21/10, 2:00 PM

Never worked on a midget motor a day in my life, but I do know that in the micro sprint world, if you crank a Kawasaki 636 against the box all the time, you aren't even in the powerband. Drop down a thousand RPMS or so, and you're in the ballpark then. Never know, may have just made some people faster and don't even know it.

Seadog · 10/21/10, 2:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vukie

stay on topic!

---------- Post added at 02:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:17 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEADERS EDGE

Well....How do you do this with a motor that runs a magneto? I realize it's ancient technology(Beat you to it Keith) but they do still exist.

An absolute waste of time and energy spent on this project....but at least now it looks like something is being done and it "sounds" good.

So now....in order to run USAC....you will more than likely have to send your "box" off to MSD,EFI or whomever....and have the program dropped in. That is fine...except if the program gets cleared or corrupted and has to be reset. If they trust the teams to do it themselves you're asking for a problem and what happens if the tach's battery mysteriously fails? Will there be a connection for an official to plug into and get the reading no matter what the tach says? Can't mount the box in the ****-pit because of the fear of traction control. It will have to be checked after quals and heats as well. Will teams now have to hire a softwear engineer to cheat the system just to keep up?

The sealed motor is interesting and is fine and all of that, but 6 on one hand and a half dozen on the other. At least it's a sealed motor that actually performs.

Looks like the door has been kicked wide open for your Eco-tec Keith. Better get in there.

I hope the deal with Ilmore was a partnership....because if there was money spent.....it was wasted. Those numbers are as random and unscientific as the lottery.

$ Probably would have been better spent on a study on the inverse effect of the unlimited useage of the spec tire verses the dwindiling car count.

From just a fan that knows not about this programming, but could USAC be given the program and then dowload to each car right at the track? Might eliminate some cheating. Sorry if this is an ignorant question.

D.O. · 10/21/10, 2:26 PM

Where is a Volkswagen when you need it?

Vukie · 10/21/10, 3:20 PM

Will POWERi or Badger go along with this?

jdull99 · 10/21/10, 3:24 PM

Earl told me 8400 max for #56...we are usually at 8200...with a mag...

Jason Dull
815 494 6002
jdull99@hotmail.com
jasondull.com (For all the Racing News)

Hubie · 10/21/10, 4:20 PM

should make racing easier

Really? This is it?

WOW

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10/21/10, 12:48 PM	#1 USAC Sets RPM Limits For Midgets
Vukie Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,310	USAC Sets RPM Limits For Midgets by NSSN Staff Brad Kuhn (17b) battles Caleb Armstrong earlier this season during Indiana Midget Week. USAC has mandated an RPM limit in its USAC Mopar National Midget Series. (David E. Heithaus Photo) INDIANAPOLIS — USAC has mandated an RPM limit for engines competing in the midget division beginning next season. It has also approved the Esslinger EST as a sealed engine platform available for USAC competition. While the move may not be popular with all competitors and all engine builders, USAC, which has seen car counts for some of its national midget events in the low teens, is clearly making an effort to reduce the costs of maintaining a midget racing engine. According to the USAC statement, “RPM limits were achieved due to an extensive and ongoing program of data acquisition and analysis commissioned by USAC for Ilmor Engineering throughout 2010. “Data was derived from a large number of comparable chassis dyno power curves representing the most efficient platforms, along with racing data acquired from a large variety of racing venues, including big and small ovals, dirt and pavement.” USAC has set varied RPM limits for different types of engines: -8,700 RPM for push-rod engines (166 c.i.) -8,800 RPM for crossflow engines (174 c.i.) -9,800 RPM for single overhead cam (161 c.i.). According to USAC, these limitations result in a performance difference of less than four percent. Additionally, the Esslinger EST has been approved as a sealed engine platform eligible for competition at all USAC midget racing events beginning with the 2011 racing season. The Esslinger EST is sealed and approved with a factory RPM limit of 9,400 RPM. NSSN readers will recall that the 2.65-liter Esslinger EST engine was previously approved by the United States Speed Ass’n for competition next season. The engine is expected to produce 320 to 340 horsepower and sell for $22,000. USAC will continue to monitor and evaluate RPM limits throughout the 2011 racing season, with several review points planned. USAC personnel are currently working with the ignition suppliers (MSD and EFI) to ensure that additional costs are not incurred by midget owners for RPM controls and an easy solution for validation is provided to USAC and other sanctioning bodies for trackside evaluation. Ilmor Engineering will conduct a seminar of their findings for interested midget teams and suppliers during the December trade shows, the time and date to be announced in the coming weeks. “USAC has done its diligence on studying RPM limits through the Ilmor Engineering analysis,” says Dan Esslinger, president of Esslinger Engineering. “The timing is right for controlling RPM as a means to help contain cost escalation in midget racing over the years.” http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.co...et-rpm-limits/

10/21/10, 1:09 PM	#2 Re: USAC Sets RPM Limits For Midgets
Seadog Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,136	Paging Mr. Moore, paging Mr. Moore...

10/21/10, 2:00 PM	#5 Re: USAC Sets RPM Limits For Midgets
thebus79h Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 446	Never worked on a midget motor a day in my life, but I do know that in the micro sprint world, if you crank a Kawasaki 636 against the box all the time, you aren't even in the powerband. Drop down a thousand RPMS or so, and you're in the ballpark then. Never know, may have just made some people faster and don't even know it.

10/21/10, 3:20 PM	#8 Re: USAC Sets RPM Limits For Midgets
Vukie Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,310	Will POWERi or Badger go along with this?

10/21/10, 4:20 PM	#10 Re: USAC Sets RPM Limits For Midgets
Hubie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 541	should make racing easier Really? This is it? WOW