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Speed Secrets

Four-inch clutches vs. mini clutches

Certainly a lighter clutch will spin up faster than a heavy clutch.  But the heavy clutch will withstand more heat.  You cannot have both.  Which is the better choice for racing?

1. Since the clutch is bolted to a very heavy crankshaft and flywheel, a few ounces of clutch weight has very little effect on the total rotating weight.  Consequently, clutch weight has nearly zero effect on acceleration.

2. A clutch is required to store heat while slipping and dissipate heat while locked up.  Mini clutches use plates that are too small to store much heat.  They also have too little surface area to quickly dissipate heat.  If a mini clutch is engaged more than once or twice per race, the friction material will fade and acceleration will suffer.

In summary, the mini clutches will be only a thousandth of a second faster on the first lap and half a second slower on every following lap.

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