Open Road Motorsports

Electrical Systems

All high performance vehicles (cars, bikes, boats, aircraft) rely on electrical systems to maximize their performance. ECU’s, sensors and actuators must be linked together in a reliable nature that will allow them to survive and operate under harsh conditions.

Modern vehicle designers are adding more and more electronic systems to monitor and control all aspects of vehicle operation: engine management, transmission control, differential controls, stability control systems, abs braking etc. Many of the new communication methods use a combination of digital and analog systems. This modernization can make it difficult for the enthusiast to modify or maintain their vehicles.

Most competitors, who build and service their own vehicles, are comfortable with the vehicles mechanical systems, but not everyone is as comfortable with wiring and electrical systems.

Some Frequently Asked Questions are:

• How do we design a new wiring harness?
• Where do we get sensors, connectors and wire?
• How do we integrate our new ECU into the existing engine harness?
• What is Canbus?
• What is ODBII?

Please contact us for more information.

Custom Fabrication

What do you need? We can build it or get it built for you.

We have a strong network of specialty shops for all our machining and fabrication needs.

Our experience includes:

• Vehicle Systems and Components
• Dynamometer Systems and Complete Engine Test Facilities
• Electrical Systems and Wiring Harnesses
• Custom Systems

Please contact us with all your fabrication needs.

Engine Management

There was a time when you could install a set of carbs, hook your spark plugs to a coil and head to the track. Times are changing. Electronic ignition and fuel injection is now the norm. These electronic systems are a step forward in engine control but they can be difficult to manage.

• What is an Air Fuel Ratio?
• What is the optimum Air Fuel Ratio?
• What spark advance should you run?
• What do I do when the engine doesn’t start?

This is where we come in. We have experience designing, installing and tuning engine management systems.

Our Engine Management Services include:

• Systems Design
• System Evaluation and Selection
• Installation
• Tuning (Dyno and Track)
• Troubleshooting
• Training

Please contact us with all your engine management needs.

Vehicle Testing

All top athletes, sports teams, race teams and business leaders practice. Why? Because they want to improve their performance.

Lapping is not testing!
Many recreational racers and driver’s ed participants are quite happy to load up the car, head to the track, have a great time and come home. Their goal is to have fun and they are not terribly concerned about their overall performance. For these participants, testing is not terribly important.

For many of us, taking part is not good enough. We are competitive and we want to achieve our maximum performance each and every time we are at the track. For us, effective testing is essential.

Key testing elements:

• Brake Bias
• Tire Compounds and Pressures
• Alignment Settings
• Sway bar settings
• Shocks and Springs
• Engine performance

Effective testing always starts with a plan.

1. List your requirements
• What do you want to learn?
• What are your expected results?
• How do you want to see the data?
2. Create a test plan
• Layout a detailed plan for the day
• Define what you are going to do in each session
• Make one change at a time
• Define a base line set up that can be used as a test control
• Be realistic: How much can you achieve during your test time
• Create contingency plans: weather, track conditions, damage etc
• Assign tasks to your crew
3. Identify the tools needed to execute the plan
• Chassis Adjustment Tools
• Measurement Tools
• Data Acquisition System
4. Prepare the Car Before Leaving for the Track
• Establish the Baseline Setup
5. Dry Run Before Arriving at the Track
• Ensure you know what you are doing before going to the track
• Prepare your tools
• Ensure your team members know what they are expected to do
6. Track Testing
• Testing is not Lapping
• Drive the program – Don’t get distracted
• Your first test should include establishing a baseline
• Be prepared to modify the plan (weather or incidents affect your track time)
• Drive consistently
• At the end of the test – Drive the baseline again
7. Analyze the data
• One person should be responsible for analyzing the data
• Data can be analyzed off the track
8. Record your results and establish a baseline for future reference