No matter how much money you have in your pockets , making your car faster , is something you can do and if you follow some written and unwritten “laws” , the result will satisfy your “petrolhead” soul .

So the time has come . The precious time you’ve dreamed for so much time , has come . You made it and you have bought the car you always wanted . Your smile is beyond the width of your mouth(!) and the Joker would be jealous for it .

Is doesn’t matter if your car is cheap or expensive , the only that matters is that , this is your dream car . After the first happiness shock , you began to show it , to your friends and surroundings ,
being so proud for it .

It is the “best car” in the entire world , and you don’t let anyone to say otherwise . This vehicle is the incarnation of your hard work and your countless hours of trying in life , to achieve your goals . And yes , you deserve it .

You went in the market and you bought the best accessories and carring “stuff” , for its protection . Wax for the exterior , wax for the leather , all the kinds of sprays for its plastic parts , all the kinds od sprays for its rubber parts .

Specific wax for the sun , other wax for the cold . Specific salve for the sea , specific polish for the mountains . You’ve read the entire manufacturer book , in a couple of hours , in order to learn everything for your car and its capabilites .

You always provide the best engine oils and other for the servises and you’ve never did something beyond the official advices .

Even if you like to drive it as faster as you can ( and ALWAYS NOT in public road ) , you’ve never missed a servise , forgot the maintenance for it , or drove it brutal . You drive fast , but also correct , so you won’t damage your car’s condition .

No cold starts with high immediate revving , no driving in the “red zone”, no shifting gears without the use of the clutch , no driving with high revs for a very long time and in bad weather conditions ( extreme temperatures) .

No driving fast with “wounded” mechanical parts as brakes , suspension , engine …. et.c . No immediate turning off the engine , after a fast ride .

If you have a turbo charged car , you should let your engine work a little before you turn it off , in order the engine oil cool the turbine a little bit . Anyway you did the best you could to keep your car in the best possible condition .

And you did a very good “job” . And you enjoyed your car , for many thousands of miles , without any problem . But the last couple of weeks , or months , a thought turns around in your “petrolhead” self . What thought is this ?

To improve your car and make it faster . You know this thought doesn’t exist in your brain only .

Many people around the globe , men or women , rich or poor , et.c are in the same “petrolhead world” .
So let’s start to see some helpful advises and mentality , in order to improve your car and give you happiness .

Helpful primary knowledge

First of all we must say that , all the vehicles in the world can be improved. Humans are the creators , humans can improve them . From hair cutting machines , to space rockets , anything can be improved . I thing this is called evolution and it can’t be stopped .

So let’s start our helpful guide to the “magic” world of Motorsport and cars . Before all we must say that , there are many types of cars and the new era of technology , has changed so many things .

Except the petrol and petroleum cars , we also have , electric , hydrogen , hybrid , solar , gas and LPG engine cars .

The new era and cars , can also be improved , but the ways for it , are very complex and we suggest you , to seek ONLY OFFICIAL solutions . Improvement solutions the car manufacturers have , and they’re willing to assist you . Trust them and don’t risk doing something you’ll regret in the future .

Of course we don’t say that other impovements , aren’t good , but the factories , ALWAYS know better . This approach , is good in general . The car factories are the only ones , who know what to do with your car , and don’t cause you any problems .

1) Petrol & Petroleum engine cars .

So in here we’ll see , what we can do to improve the petrol and petroleum cars . The motorsport world , has “tons” of experience for these kind of cars . More than a century of experience . So , grab your cup of coffee and let’s start .

We should make some crucial separations , in order to be 100% accurate and cover the whole theme .

Separation number 1 :

a) You want to improve your car in a racing absolute level , or you need improvement in a more “mortal” level , as the average people do .

Separation number 2 :

b) You want to improve your car ONLY for the straight line , or you want a complete car improvement and make it faster , for all the conditions .

For both situations , we’ll tire you again , but we must say it . The improvement solutions the official factories , suggest for your car , are the BEST you can find in the field . They have built your car and they know BETTER THAN ANYONE what to do , to evolute it with noreliability problems . Period .

The source of all the knowledge , which the other improvers “copy” and try to reach , is INSIDE the factories . Their knowledge , their mammoth experience through the centuries of racing and the technological sources the manufacturers have , cannot be overcomed , by noone .

Noone else can create a Formula 1 car , than the big factories .

Yes very elite improvers outhere exist , but the factories will always have the “last word” . We should remind you , that the best external improvers , are working closely with the factories , learning “things” and receive knowledge , directly from the “source” .

This fact gives them , colossal reliability and they know it . Having this always in our “back of our minds” , as a “lighthouse” , let’s start .

a) Improve your car in the racing level or close to it . .

If you want to improve your car , in the highest level possible , you should do what the racing teams do . The racing teams , are taking the car and they transform it , into a “cold – blooded” winning machine . They don’t care for its beauty and looks , they care only for its efficiency .

The ammount of money they have is huge , so you must be prepared to do the same . If you wish to make your car the faster possible , this is the only way .

After that you’ll know that there isn’t anything more you can do . After that you will know that you have the faster (possible) car in the world .

That noone can do more . And of course your bank account will be way more “lighter” . But you should be aware for some “sideway issues” . The racing teams , take every part of the car and make it as lighter they can , so it could make the exact miles of the race and no more !!!

They don’t care (almost) , if the car after the race will brake . They disassemble it completely , replace the broken parts and get it ready for the next race . This happens , EVERY time , in EVERY race . This is the price of being the fastest in an absolute grade .

If you want to be the faster , you must be ready to pay it . But if you want to improve your car in a more logical level , “things” are way more easier and cheaper .

The improvements you need to do is more close to our “simple” common measures . Millions of people improve their cars and if they do it correctly and with the appropriate seriousness , you won’t face problems .

b) You want to improve your car , ONLY for the straight line( Dragster) , or for all the variety of roads .

If you want to improve your car ONLY for the straight line and your target is only the straight line roads , dragster , et.c , you should focus mostly to the improvement of your engine . Your biggest ammount of money should be spend in the engine unit of your car , in order to gain horse power .

But you must be very cautious for one issue . If you deside to make your car a fast straight line car ONLY , you MUST NOT use it in the public roads ! You must use your car only , in dragster races or stuff like that , and NOT use it in the public .

Why ? Because a car with hugely big power engine , without good brakes , good suspension and in general very good homogeneity and safety , IS A DANGEROUS CAR , to use in the public roads .

So if you want to make your car a faster car ONLY for the straight line , you mustn’t use it in public , but in the safe conditions of a race track . Our hobbies mustn’t jeopardize the lives of people and we must be 1000% serious about this .

On the other hand if you want to make your car faster , use and enjoy it in all roads and circumastances , you should improve every area of the car wihtout harm , its homogeneity . You should improve it “spherical” , having in mind its best driveability and safety .

You cannot improve your engine making it reach , 500Hp , without improving totally its brake system , its suspension , aerodynamics ( as more as we can ) , its tyres and wheels , its cooling system , gear system , transmission , steering wheel system , seats to handle the biggest G forces and fluids to handle the biggest temperatures .

The improvement of your car , without harming its homogeneity and balance , should be your goal . This is the only way to be a faster car , but also a safe one . This is the only way to keep the reliability of your car in the highest level and enjoy its “company” , many , many years . To make the engine faster , you can do many “things” .

You can begin improving its “breathing” system with a better air filter , improve its exhaust system with a better exhaust , assist them with a new program for its electrical brain .

This will help a little , giving more torgue and better throttle feeling . If this isn’t enough for you , to “dive” inside your engine and change mechanical parts with better ones , is necessary .

How much better parts , it’s up to the “size” of your pockets . You can find engine parts , in a very high level and built by “exotic” materials . Carbon , titanium , Zylon ( Formula 1 use it ) , elite aluminum alloys , 3D printed parts , Chrome , vanadium and many more are available for you .

If you can afford it , you can use as many as you can and make different compinations , to make your car engine more powerful . I’ll say it again . Your “job” , will be more secure , if you ask for your car manufacturer’s opinion and suggestions .

Ask him if he has unveiled an improvement kit ready to use and share with him , your thoughts and plans for your car .

And of course the best way to put all these exotic materials inside your engine , is to assign the job to your official car agency .

We know that your enthusiasm to put in your engine : turbo , intercoolers , lighter pistons , “brutal” camshafts and stuff like that is big , but sometimes enthusiasm leads to fast mistakes .

Suspension & Brakes .

After the plans for make your engine more powerful , it’s time to improve the suspension and brakes of the car . You want to be fast , but you want to stop (!) and take the turns with safety .

Better shock absorbers , springs and adjust of the height of the car are necessity and always hearing the opinions of the specialists .

Don’t overdo things , in order to make your car beautiful only . No huge and unnecessary wheels and tyres , just for the looks . No extreme lowering through the suspension , or choise of super hard absorbers , or any other extreme action .

You’ll harm the geometry of the suspension and the behavior of the car on the road .

Putting extra hard absorbers and springs doesn’t mean that your car , can take corners faster . Most of times , exaggerations , are dangerous . After the choice of the best suspension combination , your brakes need improvement . Use the same mindset for your brakes also .

You want improvement , not flashy “coffee shop” solutions . You need the appropriate set of brake discs , pads and fluids , nothing more , nothing less .

If your brake system is in lower level from the horse power your engine has , you will have overheat problems , after some hard brakes .

If you put much higher level brakes than your engine horse power you won’t manage to bring them to the correct temperature , to work well . Attention . This is very important .

Let’s assume that i put the brakes of a 800Hp Ferrari in my 200Hp car . I’ll never make them work properly , because these high performance brakes , needs higher temperatures and my weak car cannot provide to them .

So as we have said previously , homogeneity is the key and should be our guiding lighthouse .

Transmission & Gearbox .

The last of the major mechanical parts , which needs our attention is the transmission and gearbox . If the power and the improvements , we will make to our car , can be handled by the current transmission , only by changing the valvoline fluids , it’s ok .

If not , we must consider to improve them too . By changing the entire gearbox , or parts of it and to strengthen of the differential . If needed the change of both with better quality ones , we do it .

After all these car substantial improvements , our “job” is coming to its successful end .

Our car engine is more powerful , but reliable as it was before . Our suspension , brakes , transmission ( gearbox & differential ) , is in the elite level we want , without making “discounts” in the reliability and safety behavior .

With the correct choice of wheels and tyres , we are almost done . The tyres must have the appropriate speed limit and be as “fresh” as they can be . We don’t buy old tyres , manufactured many months or maybe years ago .

And of course we don’t choose gigantic wheels , because they make our car , more “macho” . The geometry and correct operation of our suspension will vanish and affect the ” behavior ” and “holding” of our car .

The “cherry” in our cake maybe would be , 2 good front seats . The correct support , from the highest G sideway forces , helps our feeling during our driving . Yes our correct seating position , affects our capability to drive .

This is it my friend . You have made your car faster in a general and “spherical” state but your MOST IMPORTANT “mission” is this :

WE NEVER DRIVE FAST and dangerously in the public roads . Our life and the lives of the other , MUST be something we NEVER jeopardise , in order to enjoy our hobbies .

Here in Greece , we “lost” a town every single year , from road accidents . We have very serious problems with our road behavior and we “pay the price” with thousand deaths .

Always fasten your seat belts , pay the ticket of your nearest race track and enjoy , your fast car with safety . And maybe make a “present” to yourself , attenting some driving lessons from professional drivers . There are so many driving schools in every country you are , for amateur or more advanced drivers .

Former professionals racing drivers exist outhere , willing to share their knowledge and experience to you . You’ll be amazed , of how many things you’ve done wrong in your driving , and how many new “things” you’ll learn .

Drive safely .