[RXtacy]

I brought a Flir thermal imaging camera (IR) to a track day at Summit Point Shenandoah yesterday. Thought the results were pretty cool and may be interesting to some.

These pictures were taken after a session with a LOT of traffic, and after a cool down lap so don't take too much from them. I plan to update this thread going forward from various tracks (hopefully after flying laps and no cool down).

Alignment as follows:
Front Camber: -2.6
Front Toe: .05" toe out both sides
Rear Camber: -1.6
Rear Toe: .00" both sides

Start off with brakes from the 4 corners.

Driver side front


Passenger side front


Driver side rear


Passenger side rear


I believe the tire temp differential is due to not really having space to push it on this session. Will collect more data next time out.

[RUQWIKR]

Thanks for posting. Interesting info / readings.

[travislambert]

Those pictures are awesome!

[Cap'n Pete]

That's really cool (...or hot?! lol) to see! I've heard guys talk about thermal imaging, but never actually seen the end product. I know a lot of guys will simply measure tire temps, but the thermal imaging gives a way better "visual" than simply a numerical value.

[PinHead]

Great Minds Think Alike.

I've been using IR Thermometers for several years now and, as you know, can aid you in adjusting, A/F and EGT Correlation and Balancing, Intake Temps and Variations, Tire Friction Loads and Chassis Set-Up/Adjustments, High Resistance Electrical Loads/Issues, etc. AND THE REVERSE; how effective cooling systems are performing. IR Logs can also give up a heads up when a components develops an issue and you can catch it before it grenades, (like a wheel bearing).

You my friend, have stepped up with the Big Boys, (the key will be how effective you use that data and keep learning/tuning the car). Most race teams have an IR guy that only collects data.

Btw, remember to log ambient conditions.

Keep up the good work and please keep us posted.

[Uncle Sam]

How was Shenandoah with a 1LE? Specifically the tight stuff. I am reluctant to sign up for Shenandoah.

[BradfordCamaro]

Neat tool.
But I would automatically suspect that the hottest part is the rotor

[RXtacy]

Originally Posted by RUQWIKR

Thanks for posting. Interesting info / readings.

Originally Posted by travislambert

Those pictures are awesome!

Originally Posted by Cap'n Pete

That's really cool (...or hot?! lol) to see! I've heard guys talk about thermal imaging, but never actually seen the end product. I know a lot of guys will simply measure tire temps, but the thermal imaging gives a way better "visual" than simply a numerical value.

Originally Posted by PinHead

Great Minds Think Alike.

I've been using IR Thermometers for several years now and, as you know, can aid you in adjusting, A/F and EGT Correlation and Balancing, Intake Temps and Variations, Tire Friction Loads and Chassis Set-Up/Adjustments, High Resistance Electrical Loads/Issues, etc. AND THE REVERSE; how effective cooling systems are performing. IR Logs can also give up a heads up when a components develops an issue and you can catch it before it grenades, (like a wheel bearing).

You my friend, have stepped up with the Big Boys, (the key will be how effective you use that data and keep learning/tuning the car). Most race teams have an IR guy that only collects data.

Btw, remember to log ambient conditions.

Keep up the good work and please keep us posted.

True. This first run was purely to satisfy my own curiosity. I do plan to take more "scientific" data that could actually be useful going forward.

FWIW ambient was 78° and sunny.

Originally Posted by Uncle Sam

How was Shenandoah with a 1LE? Specifically the tight stuff. I am reluctant to sign up for Shenandoah.

I had fun. That was my first time on the circuit. The carousel is a trip! It's definitely a tight, technical track so our big cars aren't the perfect car for them. I do think it has a lot of opportunity to help improve ones driving though. You can kind of think of it as a autocross on steroids. I'm not sure what your track experience is like, but overall I would still recommend it and think you would have fun.

Originally Posted by BradfordCamaro

Neat tool.
But I would automatically suspect that the hottest part is the rotor

That is of course a fair assumption, but the question is how hot? Are there hot spots? Are the tires heated evenly? Are the heat exchangers working effectively? Etc, etc

[Ryephile]

Awesome post! Thanks for sharing.

[Trackpack]

What heat exchanger is on the front fascia on the lower passenger side opposite of the SS badge? Seems like that one is not like the all the rest.

[RXtacy]

Originally Posted by Trackpack

What heat exchanger is on the front fascia on the lower passenger side opposite of the SS badge? Seems like that one is not like the all the rest.

I haven't had the front end of this car apart so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that is the auxiliary radiator. However due to the angle it could also potentially be hot air radiating back out of the brake duct.

[nancygrl]

Thanks for the pictures....

[aai]

great post/pics thanks for sharing!

[RXtacy]

Update:

Did a track day at Dominion Raceway in VA on 9/17. I wouldn't say this is a particularly harsh track on brakes, but there is a ~140 - 70 braking zone off the front straight. Very little traffic for this event.

Ambient temp 83° F. Results shown after last session of the day and 1 cool down lap. Track runs counter clockwise.

Track map for reference.


Front tires, DS and PS

Data seen from Cosworth toolbox

Max Temp
DS: 192 F
PS: 208 F

Max Pressure
DS: 37.7
PS: 37.7

What's interesting here is that the max pressure didn't necessarily correspond to the same lap the max temp was seen. Also the max pressures from each side were seen at different temps. I'm not sure what's going on with that.



Rear tires DS and PS
Data seen from Cosworth toolbox

Max Temp
DS: 165 F
PS: 181 F

Max Pressure
DS: 36.5
PS: 38.3

Again max pressure and temperature occurred on different laps.



Front brakes DS and PS


Rear brakes DS and PS