I may have still been in some sort of stupor with disbelief. It hadn't quite sunk in yet-well, at least not until the 70-something-foot big-rig rolled up to whisk the car away. She blew up and practically jumped 10 feet in the air. She ran over through the double doors of the trailer and began hustling around the thing like a jungle gym. She was climbing over everything, pulling out drawers, examining every inch of the QMP Racing operation. I practically had to pry her out of there-carrying her over my shoulder kicking and screaming. Not only did this girl gain the respect of the hard-knock crew over at the shop, but she definitely got a vote in my book. It's one of those rare things you find. It was pure joy seeing someone, a woman, share the love and passion for this lifestyle. Some people think this is just a job. It's not-it's a way of life. We almost threw her a wrench ... almost. Maybe next time, Gloria.
Book Learnin'
As a CHP reader, you know that we put a lot of stock in dyno testing. It's one of the most valuable tools we have access to. The dyno enables us to objectively compare various parts and to measure the peak power and overall power characteristics of the engines we construct. Most importantly, dyno sessions also enable us to fine-tune engine combos and vehicles. That's why most of us head to a dyno, and Dyno Testing and Tuning, by Harold Bettes and Bill Hancock, was written to help enthusiasts make the most of that limited and expensive dyno time.
As we expected based on our experiences working with Harold on other stories, this book is exceptionally thorough, starting off with an explanation of the different types of dynos and what exactly they measure and the mathematical formulas behind the numbers.
The most valuable information, we think, comes in the middle sections of the book. The chapter on "Goals and Objectives" is very helpful, as it encourages tuners to identify exactly what they're trying to achieve during a dyno session, to set up a plan to achieve it, and to keep the proper data to chart a course toward that goal.
More practical info follows, with chapters on being prepared for a test session, as well as actual testing and tuning procedures. "Testing Tips on How to Use a Dyno" calls out various test types to achieve the best tune for a given combo-it's all valuable information that can help with setting and achieving precise goals.
Sections follow on many other issues that affect dyno sessions: "Accuracy and Repeatability," "Correction Factors," "Troubleshooting"-even the seemingly very basic is covered, down to "How to Read a Dyno Sheet." This is followed by "Tuning with Dynamometer Data," a natural progression to what most of us want to do with the data we gather during a test session.
In short, Dyno Testing and Tuning is a should-read for anyone who wants to better understand dyno testing, and a must-read for anyone who's looking to actually dive into a session in search of the best tune for their performance vehicle. Contact CarTech Books at 800.551.4754 or visit cartechbooks.com for more info.