Hey racing fans! Here's my latest video from Ecotrack. As you may know, I bought Forgestar's 18x9 on the front with Kumho 245/35/18 and 18x10 on the rear with 275/35/18. I'm still getting used to the Kumho's but so far the combination is much faster than my former rim/tire combinations. My previous best time at this track was 56.666 and today I ran a best of 55.668. I had the 6th fastest time of the day which is fantastic. All out race cars were there for testing etc. Faster than me: GTR with Toyo R888's. 2 full race Hondas with racing tires, an EVO (details unknown) supercharged 350Z with 295/30/18's on all corners. I'm happy for now but in search for MORE!!! Enjoy!

Les

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpztb9ApCbc

Edited to include the link ...... duh

 

Les, that looks like so much fun. It looked like like you almost lost it one time on the second turn after that hanging overhead sign thingy.
That takes ***** and guts.

 

My goal for the day was to find how much grip the tires had and to find the right starting tire pressures. This track is on the safe side. If you over cook a corner or just pull a real boner you won't do harm to the car. Now I have a better idea what the tires will take and what pressures to start at. I had a few off track moments .... but nothing dramatic. Lot's of wiggles. If you never push until you lose grip you don't know where the grip returns. These tires will let loose but regrip the moment you back off a little. Not like some tires that once they loose grip your going for a ride.

Les

 

Les thanks for sharing. The SRT sounds great. Are you doing any shifting or does the auto shift where and when you need?

 

That sound is with the cutouts closed. I only reach 3rd gear in 2 places on this track and I downshift to 2nd under braking manually. The car will do it on it's own but when I let the car downshift on it's own, occasionally it happens at a bad time in the corner which makes the car wiggle. At one point I tried to upshift early manually but it won't upshift fast enough to resolve my problem. I give the transmission programers high marks .... a 90 out of 100. My only real complaint is the lag between shifts.

Les

 

Love to hear your supercharger whine. Squirrel Crusher

 

That's awesome! I know I would definitely need cooling mods before attempting anything like that. Great job!

 

Damn, that looks like fun. Some great driving too.

 

Nice late apexes. Looks like the wheel/tire combo is paying off. Good luck staying at the limit and getting used to the new grip. I'm still two weeks out from our first event.

 

Thanks MJ. I'm doing the late apexes so I can use more of the power out of the turns. I love this car but it rolls, squats and dives so much that I feel the need. (my cut springs perhaps) My data log shows how little I'm actually at 100% throttle. My next project is to get the dive and roll under control. I ordered some spring rubbers as an experiment. If they help and I can live with the stiffness on the street, I'll most likely look for stiffer springs.

Les

 

les i know they cost a fortune but have you considered the kw variant 2? im told its pretty stiff on the street but the cats meow on the track. just a thought rob carries them

 

I've thought about them ....... and my excuse for now is they are 9 points and will move me up a class. I met a driver coach/mechanic this past weekend, gave him a ride and left him babbling. His arm was cramping from holding on ..... hehehehe. His critique was that until I eliminate the movement I can't do a whole lot more than I am already. He's going to drive my car for the parade lap in Ponce (april 17) and show me his line. I'm riding high from the praise of the car. He was shocked at the acceleration and braking on the good side. Shocked at the roll, dive and squat too. I'm thinking the cut springs have reached their limits. He didn't like the late apexes that MJ mentioned but understood why I use them. So, some sort of spring is in order. He thinks I need 700 lb in the front and 500 lb in the back. My kidneys hurt already.

Les