subject: Make Any Car Faster Than It Is Right Now [print this page] As a self-proclaimed automotive journalist, I end up fielding a lot of questions about racing, the automotive world, and the motoring life in general. Questions like: Whats that on your face? Do you always drink this much? Do you smell that? Well, those questions are probably more often asked by unwitting woman who found themselves roped into a blind date with yours truly, but you get the picture. But yes, there is one single question that I get asked most often: How do I make my car go faster?
Now, there are as many answers for this question as there are dimwits eager to ask it. After all, the term faster is relative, right? Faster than what? Faster than Porsche 911 Turbo? Faster than a Ford Pinto? Or, just faster than it is right now? Ah, now thats a question with merit: How do I make my car faster than it is right now? Well sonny, Im glad you asked!
The approach to making any car faster than it is right now is 2 pronged. Reduce weight and move more air Now I know, I know. The first one sounds a little too obvious, and the second one, if not a little vague, just comes off as downright condescending. I can hear the complaints now, Move more air? What the hell does he mean by that? Lets approach each one individually.
Reduce weight. As we mentioned, this one is obvious. If your vehicle is laden with unnecessary components like an onboard portable air compressor to control air suspension, flat screen monitors in your headrests, 12-inch woofers and 300-watt amplifiers, its too fat. Itll be loud and flash for sure, but still fat. The great Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars was famous for his fast, nimble, lightweight racing cars. No matter what rolled off the assembly lines in that grand old Hethel, England factory, you could count on it be high in handling and low in weight. When asked about the design secret behind his winning racers, Mr. Chapman quickly explained, Simplify and add lightness.
Move more air. You cars motor is a big air pump. Dont argue, just accept it. It sucks air in (air intake) and pumps air out (exhaust). So, increase air coming in with a performance air intake and/or filter. Also, toss in an upgraded mass air flow sensor to handle the increased flow. Then to get all that air out quickly, bolt on a fatter exhaust. More air in, more air out, simple.
There it is; my secret 2-pronged approach to make any car faster than it is right now. Enjoy!
