Auto Racing: spring rates, springs, oval track racing

Question
Hi, I race a sierra lightening rod on a 1/4 mile short oval in england (we go the other way round) i am trying to work my spring rates out .is there a way using car overall weight and some kind of formula or is it practice and see. hope you can help.. cheers mark

Answer
yes there is and it's actually quite simple.  You'll need a set of 4 scales to measure the weight on each tire.  Racers in the US usually buy their own, a set of digital scales are a bit expensive, around $1,000 american BUT once you get good using them you can pay for them by doing other driver's cars, or keep the secret to yourself and dominate.
   With the scales under each tire (if you can get hold of those big scales used at feed mills, they work too, they need to be able to handle 1/4 of the total weight of your car), have your gas tank full, and driver in the seat (or enough weight to simulate the driver).
   Because you're going the opposite way american tracks go, you will want to achieve a balance of, 60 percent total weight on the right, 40 percent on the left.
Now, front to back, on the right, try to get 50/50 split, on the left
go for 60 percent front, 40 percent rear.
Spring rates are listed on every spring, the number represents the weight they handle.  Most high performance shops have a spring rate tester to evaluate used springs.  Personally I always had to resort to going to the yard and getting a bunch of springs from heavier and lighter cars and just do a hit and miss until I got the ratio worked out.
  Next item you'll want to buy is a pyrometer to measure tire temps.  They go for around $70.00 american.
   Right after the race measure the temps on each treadface in the middle.  If you find your left front way hotter than the rest you need to go to a heavier spring.  The whole idea is to change spring rates until you get all 4 tires to do an equal amount of work, or better put share an equal amount of load.
  Keep in mind you don't always have to keep going to the junkyard and buy a whole shop full of springs.  You can raise the spring load by cutting off a round of spring, or adding some kind of plate or shim under the spring, or those rubber spring deals that turn into the coils have the same effect without changing the ride height much.
   Keep good records, don't be afraid to just up and try a crazy hard or soft spring on and see what it does.  That's what practice racing is all about.
   This is a rather broad answer but it will get you close and eliminate major handling problems so you can concentrate on dialing in a perfect set up.
   Good luck.  I used to visit Alcombery when I was in the service, I loved England!!!