Every December, over 70,000 motorsport enthusiasts flock to the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, IN where race teams and gear heads alike will see over 1,100 exhibitors in 3,300 booths for the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show. Since PRI‘s inception in 1988, Fluidampr has proudly supported the industry and each year looks forward to showcasing the latest in torsional vibration technology.
If you are not familiar with PRI, it is the premier race and performance trade show in the world for those who work in the motorsport industry. The show has moved from multiple cities over the years due to tremendous growth and now calls Indianapolis home. And let’s be honest, is there any city more fitting to call home for a performance racing show?
Maybe you’ve seen Fluidampr at the PRI show or other events throughout the country, but in case you haven’t, you might be wondering, who is Fluidampr? Established in 1985 as the performance division of Vibratech TVD. Fluidampr is a leader in viscous torsional dampers for the performance aftermarket.
What is a torsional damper? Every engine has one. What makes our Fluidampr different from other dampers on the market is the technology used to convert torsional vibrations into thermal energy (heat) protecting and prolonging the life of your engine. Fluidampr uses silicone as a damping media inside a steel housing to give a non-bonded internal inertia ring a soft spring rate that while in motion provides a movement known as shear. This technology makes for premium damping.
What is torsional vibration? Torsional vibration is the end-to-end twisting and rebounding of the rotating assembly caused by internal combustion of an engine during the firing sequence (the power stroke). Along with the crankshaft, torsional vibration can be found in camshafts as well as drivelines. This torsional vibration is evident in every engine upon start up and continues while the engine is running, and becomes harsher as the engine is under load and as power levels increase. Uncontrolled vibration can lead to excessive NVH, premature wear and even catastrophic failure.
With our engineered design and free floating inertia ring, Fluidampr performance dampers work on the broad range of frequencies produced by the harmonics of the engine. As the damper absorbs these vibrations throughout the entire RPM range, the damper turns harmonics into heat and dissipates through the outer housing.
Trusted by OEM race teams and leading engine builders, a show like PRI is paramount to attend. If you are in the performance automotive business, attending the Performance Racing Industry show that takes place each year in early December should be on the top of your list. Many race teams and engine builders who utilize Fluidampr and Vibratech TVD come by to discuss new projects, updates and old ones as well. Like many in the industry Fluidampr is always advancing.
Through the halls and in the rooms in the event center you will find all areas of motorsports. From domestic engines and applications to import, diesel, and electric. In the past few years, one area in motorsports that has grown a tremendous presence at PRI is truck and tractor pulling. More recently, pulling vehicles have made their way to the show. These impressive monsters look like they are ready for war. And just like the other areas of motorsports, Fluidampr is there with a damper for the pulling market as well.
These heavily modified tractor engines go through massive amounts of punishment for roughly 15 seconds at a time. Bigger pumps with more fuel injected into the engine, fed with a massive turbo system, it is truly an impressive site. Increased torsional vibrations created by these behemoths are like nothing a factory engine would have seen and far beyond what a stock damper can control. Fluidampr answered the call for a much needed SFI-approved performance torsional damper for this niche sport.
As we move to the future of motorsports we are sure to see more evolution in products. The Performance Racing Industry show and Fluidampr will continue to evolve and grow with what is to come. Whether its squeaking out 12,000 RPM on an internal combustion engine, the brutal torture of an engine used in drifting, or the pounding of a diesel engine, Fluidampr will help.
Fluidampr Performance dampers are proudly made in the USA with 100% U.S.-sourced materials. Visit Fluidampr.com to learn more and see our many applications.
