I've gone to several HPDEs in an STI, but now I'm switching and planning to do the same in the S2000. For reference I have an '06.

The main thing concerning me is that I no longer have AWD for a crutch, and I'm not sure I'd know how to save myself if I got into a drift and got the tail pretty loose. The fact that I'm saying this probably means that I wouldn't know... heh

I've gotten the STI sideways, but that's comparing apples and oranges at this point...

So, what's my cheapest option for learning car control. Skip Barber has car control classes for around $1200, which I wouldn't mind paying, but I first need to go through another program before that to qualify for the car control class, and that's $3500 (unless I can prove enough experience to get it waived). I'm not at that point yet where I want to shell out $4-5K in formal automotive instruction (eventually, but I'd like more seat time on my own or with just random freebie HPDE instructors).

I could do an autocross, as this has been mentioned before for learning car control, but I'm not really an AX fan. I really prefer track driving. I also have a problem with cones and target fixation. I don't have this problem on the track, but something about the cones all over the place just confuses and messes me up.

I could also just show up to the track in the S2K and "wing" it. I at least know the driving lines at the tracks I'm going to and general track driving rules/ do's and don'ts.

Are there any other car control venues out there? I mainly just want to have a better feel for what to expect WHEN the back end does get loose.

FWIW to SoCal locals, I'll be going to either Buttonwillow or SOW - I don't quite have the balls for Big Willow's constant 120+ MPH sections or for ACS' roval and the friendly concrete walls.


Also, I'm still looking for what brake pads to get. I already have fluid, and I have SS lines on the way. I know most people run XP10/XP8 or even more aggressively XP12/XP10-8. I was thinking of running XP8s all around. Will this work (i know I won't have the forward bias of a 10/8 setup)? Or should I do something like XP8/AX6? Also is this viable for regular street use? I don't care about noise or dust. I don't want to go too aggressive since I don't want to have to constantly swap pads (yet), but I also don't want to go too tame since I've destroyed more aggressive street pads at the track after 3 days (on the STI that is).

I also just got the car aligned. Other than the brakes (pads, fluid, lines), everything is going to be bone stock.

Thanks for any help or advice.

 

Yea, do that.
I came from a STi, well had one then a Spec Miata, now the s. The cool thing about driving an AWD turbo car is that it makes you feel like an awesome driver. The bad thing is that is covers up a lot of your mistakes and you don't have to know how to drive at all to feel like you're flying.
I would suggest doing an autox or two to get the feeling of the car stepping out of you, something you probably never had the STi do to you. Or if you have access to a lower speed cart track that might be a good option as well. If your local track has plenty of run off that's probably fine to, but take it easy the first day or so and don't expect to be able to drive it anywhere near 10/10ths. Seeing that youre in Socal you should have a cart track or two around that you can mess around on if you're nervous about getting out on a big track right away

 

What about a skid pad session. Maybe a lot more than one day of autocross but atleast you don't spend all day for 8-60 second laps. I've been wanting to do this myself.

 

I second the skid pad suggestion. Many of the drift events have a skid pad option and some will let you do skid pad only. This is definitely the quickest way to learn how to drive your S fast without damaging it. You have to get the counter-steer-as-the-car-starts-to-come-around into "muscle memory" because it will happen on the track quicker than you can consciously do it.

I would also recommend at least a couple of auto crosses where you can intentionally push the car into slides and learn to deal with it. If you try to learn slide control on the track you'll probably bend some metal.

 

A main difference is that you have to be smoother on your steering input on turn-in. No more just throwing the car in there. Plus, the S2k doesn't understeer like a STI. You can't trail brake the S2k as hard as the STI as the S2k will over rotate and spin; the STI on the other hand will typically just push.

You're in So Cal right? Look up Speed Ventures; they're running their version of an auto-x in mid january at Autoclub. I think it's $80, and you can get at least 30 runs. If you really want to, 40+. No shagging cones either.

 

^^^ yeah, that's exactly what I'm looking at. I'll probably go to the Feb session. I still need to get my brakes all sorted out, and the Jan one is too close. That and I'm post oral surgery and will be all drugged up.


I'm looking for some skid pad sessions, but don't know where I can find that. I'll if Buttonwillow is hosting in general for some skid pad only during a track day.


I could aways just go to an empty parking lot right now too with all of the rain we're getting, that might be fun.


One last thing, any recommendations on brakes people? I know there's a ton of threads out there, but XP-8s all around ok? OR should i set some bias and do XP8/AX6? I'm not planning on swapping pads for track use only just yet, which is why i'm not gonna run XP10/XP8, unless anyone has DD experience with this. Dust and noise I don't care about either...

 

go to a deserted carpark late at night when its raining and do some figure 8's
and go do some autocross, the crappier the tires the better if you want to learn car control

 

[QUOTE=Bullwings,Dec 29 2010, 12:02 PM] I'm not planning on swapping pads for track use only just yet, which is why i'm not gonna run XP10/XP8, unless anyone has DD experience with this.

 

In general, a slip angle >15% on a dry course is an "error" and the slow way around, killing your exit speed. If you go "slow in, fast out" it'll help.

 

I think this applies for warmer climates like the OP's SoCal and Wynn's TN.

I moved the car from one garage to another in 8 degree weather and the XP10/8 didn't work at all. Like 3x stopping distances. Min working temp is claimed to be 200 degrees for the XP10s.

I wouldn't street drive on those pads in a colder climate.