someone help im tired of getting beat how do you degree a cam or advance or retard a cam and also how do you check cam lift i run a pretty short track help me with my car please  

Your best bet for directions on how to degree a cam will be found on most of the major cam grinders web sites. Comp and crane both have articles with step by step instructions and photos to guide you along.
You will require some tools that are fairly specific to camshaft degree work ----TDC stop, degree wheel, dial indicator ect.Most cam grinders also sell a kit for this, but if you are not planning on doing this often that may prove more expensive than just taking it to your engine builder.As for how a cam is retarded or advanced will depend on your timing set, some are adjustable, some use off set keys and other will use bushings to advance(relocate cam centerline forward in the direction of cam rotation) or retard(move centerline backwards from the direction of cam rotation) usually by 1 degree increments.


 hope this helps
      Jon  

thanks jon that did help what will degreein a cam help or hurt?  

Generally when someone installs a new cam they degree it just to insure that the cam is ground correctly:valves open when they should, close when they should, and lift is where its supposed to be for that particular cam. This information will be provided with the cam from the manufacturer on "cam card". Should you discover that your cam was slightly advanced or retarded from the manufactures spec you could then use the bushings, offset keys ect... to correct its position. Some builders will install a cam on a new timing set advanced 1-2 degrees with the intent that when the chain stretches the cam will slightly retard in its position and end up about "strait up". For tuning purposes a cam can be advanced/retarded to alter the effective "power band" of an engine by a few hundred rpm. More advance= more bottom end, more retarded = top end--- to a point, but much over 5-6 degrees you probably should be looking for a new cam.Be aware that altering your cam timing will effect valve to piston clearance!!! And should be checked when ever installing a new cam, increasing rocker arm, ratio or altering cam timing.

good luck
  Jon  

thanks jon do you have any advice where i can get more power or tourque or any advice for me anything could help.  

Honestly there are so many variables that make that a tough question to answer. The class you race will likely impose various restrictions on engine size, cylinder head mods, ect... and don't forget MONEY (you know: "how fast do you want to go--how much can you spend?")
You would probably benefit the most from trying figure out what the guys running well consistently  are putting together (engine,trans,gearing) then setting up close to that. If most of the guys your racing against seem to have the same engine  builder, he's probably already got something figured to get you the most engine for your dollar in your class.

good luck
  Jon  

Well as far as what I would be looking for in a cam for a short track , would be a short duration cam with a pretty good lift. It will help alot with low rpm torque. If you have an open intake manifold rule ,I would top it off with something thats got nice long runners and maybe even a dual plane with a 1 inch spacer. Big torque gains will help the car scoot off the turns better !