When should I RE-align my car for the track??

[SoCal Rebell]

It's been a year since my last track alignment (-1.77 front, -1.01 rear camber). Being an alignment is $160 do I need to re-align the car once a year (30 track days). I've had the 999 recall done (I don't think that affects the alignment), I had a new rack & pinion put in (I think that only requires a redo on the toe) otherwise I haven't banged anything hard, is there a rule of thumb as to when to align?

 

[GTS Dean]

The more you lean on the tires (especially with Hoosiers) the more your bushings will deflect. Eventually, they take a set. Go for an alignment now and it probably won't look very much like it did a year ago.

 

[Mike H]

Not sure what everyone does, but we now rescale the car every 3 races and recheck alignment specs before EVERY event. We have the alignment tools and I guess having a certified Viper tech and road racer and circle track racer as crew chief definitely has had its advantages. It has showed as we have had podium finishes in our last 3 SCCA races.

 

[MtHam ACR]

Hey Ron, how's it going?

Are you running the sport-shims removed? They're supposed to be good for another -1 deg camber. I was told no re-alignment was required, pop them in, pop them out, no worries. My alignment guy had a different opinion though. He aligned the car then I removed the shims and took it back about a week later and he said the toe was way out. So I guess the answer is leave them in or leave them out, but an easy back and forth isn't an obvious outcome.