Ice Racing Tuning Guide

Complete Suspension, Gear & Engine Setup for the Corris Rivett

AdvancedExpert LevelMechanicalLast updated: 2025-12-31

-10°C to -20°C

Peak performance

2-3 hours

Full preparation

Expert

Mechanical/Driving

Very High

Precision required

Corris Rivett Ice Racing Setup: Full Technical Breakdown

Overview

Master the art of ice racing in My Winter Car with our comprehensive technical guide. Learn thermodynamics of cold-weather tuning, optimal suspension kinematics for live axles, gear ratio selection for low-friction surfaces, and advanced driving techniques. Transform your Rivett into a precision ice racing machine.

Required Skills

•Mechanical knowledge (engine/transmission/suspension)
•Understanding of thermodynamics and friction
•RWD drift control on low-grip surfaces
•Patience for iterative tuning process
•Physics of weight transfer and momentum

You'll Learn

•Complete Corris Rivett platform analysis
•Carburetor tuning for cold air density
•Optimal final drive ratio selection (4.44 explained)
•Suspension damping strategies for ice
•Tire pressure thermodynamics
•Scandinavian Flick and left-foot braking techniques

Environmental Variables

Ice Friction Coefficient

Ice Surface0.10 - 0.15

Dry Asphaltvs 0.7-0.9 on dry asphalt

Minimal lateral force generation - must use weight transfer over tire grip

Air Density Impact

Summer (+20°C)Standard

Winter (-20°C)Dense

Dense air causes lean conditions without compensatory fueling

Corris Rivett Platform Analysis

Chassis Architecture

Base: Ford Taunus TC / Cortina Mk3
Layout: Longitudinal front-engine, RWD
Rear Suspension: Solid live rear axle with 4-link
Weight Distribution: 58/42 front-biased

Handling Characteristic

Pendulum effect on ice - heavy nose acts as pivot point

VIN Plate Decoder

NEEngine

High Performance 2.0L

Essential for competitive pace - more aggressive cam, higher compression

1Drive

RWD

Requires throttle steering techniques - superior for drifting

BTransmission

4-Speed Manual

Preferred for clutch-kick drift initiation

EAxle Ratio

4.44

The 'Holy Grail' for ice racing - maximizes wheel torque

BDifferential

LSD (Limited Slip)

Mandatory - open diff useless on ice

BSuspension

Stiffened Standard

Good baseline but inferior to aftermarket Rally Dampers

Carburetor Tuning for Cold Air

Cold air is dense - summer calibration delivers fixed fuel volume to heavier air mass

Hesitation

Lean mixture ignites slowly. On throttle snap, engine stumbles. On ice, this shifts weight forward unexpectedly, ruining drift line.

Thermal Stress

Lean combustion burns hotter despite cold ambient air. Can melt piston crowns or damage valves.

Hard Starting

Fuel condenses on cold intake manifold walls (wall wetting), failing to reach cylinders.

Tuning Procedure

Identify Screw

If screw on engine side of throttle plate - regulates fuel (loosen to richen). If on airbox side - regulates air (tighten to richen).

Vacuum Method

Engine at full temp. Adjust mixture screw for highest steady vacuum. From peak, richen by 1/4 turn for 'Winter Cushion'.

Target AFR

Aim for 12.8:1 to 13.2:1 (not 14.7:1). Richer mixture aids cylinder cooling and throttle response in cold conditions.

Cold Start Ritual

Block Heater

Must use for 20-30 minutes before cranking

Heat oil and coolant, reducing friction and battery load

Choke Management

Cranking: Fully engaged for initial start
Warmup: Gradually step down as idle stabilizes
Warning: Driving with choke on fouls spark plugs with carbon

Corris Rivett Ice Racing Setup Sheet

Component	Setting	Technical Reasoning
Engine Block	2.0L OHC (Type NE)	High-compression variant essential for torque. Requires 98 octane fuel.
Induction	Twin Barrel Carburetor	Provides superior airflow at high RPM compared to single barrel.
Carburetor Tune	13.0:1 AFR (Rich)	Adjust via Vacuum Gauge. Maximize vacuum, then +1/4 turn rich. Prevents lean stumble in dense cold air.
Final Drive	4.44 (Type E)	Shortest available ratio. Maximizes torque multiplication for 3rd/4th gear drifts.
Differential	LSD (Type B)	Limited Slip Differential. Essential for RWD traction on varying friction surfaces.
Transmission	4-Speed Manual	Longer gear spacing reduces shift frequency; simpler to keep in power band.
Tires	Studded Rally (Narrow)	Maximizes ground pressure (P=F/A) for stud penetration.
Tire Pressure	35 PSI (Cold)	Inflate to ~39 PSI in warm garage. Stiff sidewall for sharp steering response.
Front Damping (Bump)	12 Clicks (Stiff)	Prevents front-end dive; maintains geometry under braking; resists roll.
Front Rebound	10 Clicks (Med)	Keeps front tires in contact without packing down.
Rear Damping (Bump)	6 Clicks (Soft)	Promotes rear squat to increase normal force (N) on drive wheels during acceleration.
Rear Rebound	14 Clicks (Stiff)	Critical Setting. Controls the heavy live axle mass; prevents wheel hop/tramping.
Ride Height	Medium-High	Clearance is king. Prevents chassis drag in deep snow ruts which lifts wheels off ground.
Brake Bias	55% Front / 45% Rear	Rear bias increased slightly to help rotate car (trail braking) upon corner entry.
Toe Angle	0.5° Toe-In (Front)	Adds straight-line stability on ruts; prevents wandering on straights.
Camber	-1.0° to -1.5°	Slight negative camber for cornering grip, but kept modest to maximize braking contact patch.

Driving Dynamics

Scandinavian Flick

Because front tires have limited grip, steering alone often results in understeer. Must use car's inertia.

Step 1

Approach

Position car on inside of track before corner

Step 2

Feint

Steer briefly away from corner. This loads suspension on wrong side

Step 3

Turn-In

Lift off throttle (transfer weight forward) and steer sharply into corner. Energy stored in suspension from feint releases, swinging heavy rear end out

Step 4

Throttle Catch

As rear passes front, apply full throttle. LSD locks, studded tires spin, car slides through corner

Step 5

Modulation

Use 4.44 gearing to keep wheel speed high. Lift slightly for side bite, add throttle for more spin

Left-Foot Braking

Powerful tool on Corris Rivett. Keep right foot on throttle, lightly drag brake with left foot.

Weight transfers to front (aiding turn-in)

Engine remains under load (keeping revs high)

Rear brakes can help break rear traction without closing throttle

Essential for turbo-less Pinto engine to maintain momentum

Homologation & Logistics

Inspection Regulations

MWC features rigorous inspection system (katsastus)

Allowed Modifications

✓Twin Carburetors
✓Rally Shock Absorbers
✓Rally Coil Springs
✓Antennas

Prohibited/Risky

⚠Extreme weight reduction (removing doors/seats) may cause failure
⚠Emissions (AFR) tested - 'Winter Rich' tune might fail

Parts Procurement

Ordering Mechanism

Order via Amis Auto magazine or PSK catalog (parent's garage or mechanic shop)

Critical Note

Must wait for NPC on phone to finish talking before hanging up. Hanging up too early cancels order.

Delivery Time

2 in-game days to arrive at post office

Strategy

Strategic planning essential - if crash breaks control arm Friday, miss weekend rally. Stockpile common failure points (suspension arms, head gaskets).

Technical Glossary

Stoichiometry

Ideal chemical ratio of air to fuel (14.7:1 for gasoline)

Wall Wetting

Condensation of fuel on cold intake manifold walls, causing lean mixtures

Live Axle

Dependent suspension system where rear wheels are connected by rigid tube

Unsprung Mass

Weight of components not supported by suspension springs (wheels, tires, brakes, axle)

Hysteresis

Energy lost as heat when tire deforms and recovers

Bernoulli's Principle

Principle explaining how carburetors use pressure differentials to meter fuel

Critical Warnings

⚠NEVER run lean in winter conditions - dense air + lean mixture = detonation risk
⚠Soft rear compression is critical - stiff rear causes tire skip and zero traction
⚠LSD is mandatory - open differential useless on ice ('one-wheel peel')
⚠Over-inflate tires in garage - 40°C temperature drop = 4-6 PSI loss
⚠Rear rebound must be stiff - soft rebound causes axle tramp and wheel hop

Pro Tips

✓4.44 final drive ratio is the 'Holy Grail' - allows throttle steering in 3rd/4th gear
✓Target 13.0:1 AFR for winter, not 14.7:1 - richer mixture prevents hesitation
✓Use narrowest studded tires available - higher pressure per square inch = deeper stud penetration
✓Scandinavian Flick is essential on ice - inertia creates rotation when tires can't
✓Left-foot braking maintains momentum - keep engine loaded while transferring weight
✓Rear squat under acceleration increases normal force - more weight = more traction
✓Block heater for 30 minutes before start - cold oil creates enormous crankshaft drag