There’s a certain unmistakable thrill associated with car races. When you mix speed, the element of danger, and a devil-may-care bravado that race car drivers often exhibit, you have a recipe for a popular spectator sport that viewers can’t get enough of.

How did the sport of car racing emerge? How have race cars changed over time? What improvements have allowed these cars to perform even better? We’ll cover some of these interesting points in today’s blog.

The Origins Of The Race Car And The Sport

People have always been fascinated with speed, so it’s not too surprising that modern-day racing started soon after the first successful gasoline-powered car was built in the late 1800’s. Of course, before self-powered vehicles were developed, people were racing chariots, carts, wagons, and whatever they had available at the time. It seems that the excitement of moving at great speeds combined with the question of who will win has been propelling humans for centuries!

The world’s first motoring competition took place between Paris and Rouen, France in 1894. Over a hundred competitors entered this race that stretched across approximately 140 kilometers, which is about 87 miles. France went on to organize and host a number of international races that garnered attention and helped promote the popularity of cars.

In the United States, the first official automobile race took place in Chicago in 1895. The vehicles looked nothing like today’s race cars; in fact, the motorized vehicles resembled wagons, with large spoked wheels and roofless carriages transporting one conductor and one passenger. Participants were dressed in long overcoats and stylish hats (the race took place in late fall so keeping warm was a genuine consideration), and it took almost 8 hours for the winner to complete the 55-mile course first.

Car Racing Over Time

We’ve come a long way from those humble beginnings. The original racing cars looked nothing like today’s sleek, sci-fi-looking performance vehicles that zip around corners with ease. In the early days of racing, many Paris-centric races were held, with vehicles transforming rapidly to begin resembling what we might think of as race cars today. The wheels became smaller and coated with rubber, while the vehicle itself started to adopt a more streamlined design better suited for speed. Noticeable changes were being made as early as 1903.

Purpose-built racing circuits came about shortly after distance car racing took off. The oldest car racing venue still running in the United States is the Knoxville Raceway in Iowa. While it began as a horse-racing track, it held its first automobile race in 1901. The second-oldest racing track still in existence today is the Milwaukee Mile Speedway in Wisconsin, and this one-mile stretch also had its origins as a horse-racing track.

However, the very first closed-circuit car race that officially took place in the United States happened in Rhode Island. Interestingly enough, the motorized vehicle that won this race was an electric car! Yes, electric cars have been around that long. The Riker Electric Vehicle Company built it; these early electric vehicles were referred to as horseless carriages. In fact, an early electric motor prototype dates way back to 1828!

But we digress. Getting back to race cars, it was during the 1930s that specialized racing cars were starting to be built in earnest. NASCAR was born in 1948, and branches of racing evolved over time into a number of recognized specialties that include Grand Prix world championships, speedway racing, sports-car racing, drag racing, and more. All of these competitions require high-performance vehicles that are designed for both speed and safety.

Today’s High-Performance Vehicles

Both the bodies of race cars and the engines have been reworked countless times to get to the high-performance vehicles racing aficionados know and love today. Race cars have evolved into smaller, lighter vehicles that are closer to the ground.

The practice of modifying cars, including the engines, for racing purposes became popular in the United States during the 1920s when hot rods really took off. Back then, classic cars were fitted with large and powerful engines for races. Today’s engines have become even more powerful, but technological advances have enabled them to be more lightweight and compact.

The evolution of the race engine includes such highlights as:

• Higher horsepower
• Improved engine technology
• Better seals
• Stronger lightweight piston-ring technology
• Dual clutch transmissions
• Fuel injection
• Modern coatings on bearings and other components
• Smaller engine blocks
• High-performance cylinder heads
• Improved cooling methods
• Epoxies and glues for quick repairs
• High-performing silicone hoses
• Turbochargers and superchargers

As you might expect, this is just the tip of the iceberg. So many other modifications have been made to race car engines that they could fill volumes!

How Silicone Hoses Factor In

Because we are a silicone hose manufacturer and supplier, we want to spend a moment talking about how silicone hoses factor into performance vehicle engines. Silicone engine hoses offer numerous advantages for race cars, including:

• Installation ease
• Simple to replace
• Function well at high temperatures
• Resist cracking and rupturing
• Manufactured for durability
• Excellent flexibility
• Can fit into tight spaces

To Learn More About Silicone Hoses

At Flex Technologies, we’re justifiably proud of the contributions that silicone hoses have made to the world of car racing and to performance vehicles in general. We have helped numerous clients with their silicone hose requirements in many different industries, from vehicle design to food processing, and from aircraft engines to pharmaceuticals. We believe in our products and their ability to perform well under stress. We also believe in offering excellent customer service with the right technical know-how to back up our recommendations.

If you’d like to learn more about how silicone hoses can be the solution you’re looking for, get in touch with Flex Tech today. Our staff will be happy to answer your questions and offer suggestions that can help you find perfect solutions. If off-the-shelf parts aren’t enough to meet your specifications, no problem. We will work with you to customize your design. For quality silicone hoses and custom-fit solutions, contact Flex Tech!