I was friends with most of the guys going back farther than I can remember. For the most part, several of us exchanged tuning information on a semi-regular basis, and a few of us considered ourselves part of a team when we found ourselves matched with/against each other in daily races. However, our teamwork has been taken to a new level since teams were formed and the Team WAT office was created on the TPRA forum.

While there is no standard operating procedure set in stone, there have become some routine practices over the months. First off, Clacks (the owner of Team WAT) will set up a new post for a particular race or series of races. He’ll tell us what we’re driving and where; as well as tire or tuning restrictions…most of the general stuff that’s posted on the regular forum. Sometimes, he’ll go ahead and post a tune, as well as a time he’s run. If Clacks doesn’t post a tune, it’s not long before someone else will.

That’s when all the fun starts. Clacks uses a controller, so the wheel guys try out the tune and make small adjustments for brakes and steering angle. These adjustments are soon posted, along with more target times.

Team WAT houses a pretty good stable of horses, so the times are usually pretty fast, even at the beginning. Usually, about half a dozen guys are not only adding to the original tune with their own adjustments, but as the setups becomes finely tuned, there is more instruction with how to actually drive the car. “Shift at XXXX in the first three gears, then XXXX after that.” “Keep in X gear til the turn, even if you go past redline.” “For such and such turn, the car will hold so stay high for the best exit speed.”

There are quite a few pole positions and overall event wins among the guys making the comments, so for some of us slower guys, it makes a lot of sense to listen. Sometimes guys struggle or just aren’t as fast as the others. If I post that I’m simply not getting it or just can’t see how they are going so fast, there will be replies with more tips, as well as invitations to run laps together.

I keep a library of tunes on my laptop. For the most part, it’s pretty rare that I don’t