Thanks guys. Just the info I was looking for. Didn't realize the S2000 was so competant in stock form. Sounds like Carbotech is the way to go for pads. The reason I was thinking of coilovers is the car has 67000 miles on the original shocks which is probably nearing the end of their lifespan. If I was going to change shocks I might as well go the whole way but from what I'm hearing new shocks should be enough. As far as roll bars go- SCDA and PDA say hoops are OK with hardtop, Track Daze say Hoops are good enough if they pass the broomstick test(being short I just might make it. A rollbar is definately in the future and the Hard Dog looks like the one.

 

It doesn't matter who is organizing the events, VIR and SP will require them.

 

Looks like most of my days will be at NJ Motorsports Park (45 min away)staring with a SCDA event on May 4. So far PDA and SCDA say the top and hoops is enough at this track. I would like to get to VIR or Watkins Glen this year (350 mi is a trek ). Hopefully I can get a rollbar installed before then, but I will keep in contact with the groups to see if anything changes. Thanks again for everybodies input

 

I believe it was discovered that NJMP is implementing a roll-bar rule.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showt...post&p=13593874

 

Wow! So many rules and so many interpretations. My head is spinning. It sure was easier running my RX8 at these events. I guess I'll have to make a roll bar one of my priorities since the main reason for buying the car was to track it. I'll be checking with PDA and SCDA again but it doesn't look good. Thanks for the headsup.

 

You'll find that the stock shocks/springs on the S2000 are fine for track days, as opposed to the RX-8 (which is sprung a bit soft in stock form). There are many options for upgrading your shocks if you want, but there's no real reason if you're driving the car on the street and only doing track days. I don't even know that I'd buy new shocks before your first track day; the ones in there may be fine.

Stock wheels are fine for tracking your car. If you want the bling of expensive wheels, that's fine, but there's no other reason to spend a whole bunch of money to get a few tenths faster in track days.

I also autocross my S2000, and so put in a big front sway bar. I never regretted it on the track; if you're understeering, you can always loosen the front bar. I got the medium-stiff Gendron/Small Fortune Racing bar.

Depending on the track, you may want to consider the anti-bump-steer kit.

 

It depends where you live. Most west coast tracks don't have any such rules, although some of the trackday organizers do. Seems like a lot of the east coast tracks have track restrictions, however, regardless of the organizers.

As far as I can tell, in most of the rest of the world, this concept of requiring a roll bar boggles them. They tend to have the quaint idea that people can choose their own level of risk. But then again, if you tried to sue the track for a decision you made, you would be laughed out of court.

 

It's true, even in Europe the ability to sue and win large damages for things like this is much less. Of course the gov't is a larger part of everyday life and it's always proven hard to sue the gov't and win, even in the U.S.

 

I should see you there I hope to hit all 5 of SCDA's NJMP events this year.

Rollbar rules @ NJMP is a very gray area. When I went last year, NJMP's website said convertibles need a rollbar. However, I had my hardtop on and SCDA didn't seem to enforce the NJMP rule; their rule is broomstick test on stock hoops or put a hardtop on.

But, I wouldn't rest on something like that....far too easy for something like that to swing the other way, and before you know it, you're driving home before your day even started.

 

Nothing but agreement here from most all that was said:

1. Hard Dog bar is good, easy to install and covers your HPDE needs.

2. Stock suspension is great, don't change it under the assumption it needs it. IF you feel your shocks are worn and need replacing, you could chose a coil-over setup and if you do and want to stay sub $2k, definitely the KWv3's . However I have to say the first day I ran them on default settings, I didn't feel any significant advantage over stock. What you do gain is the ability to tune (though I had some 'incidents' that never let me get that far).

3. People like the Carbotech pads, but I've preferred the Hawk HT-10's (hard on rotors, but so what) an Cobalt Friction XR2/XR3 combo. Though maybe I should try a set of Carbotech again, just to compare.

4. I agree stock wheels are fine, but going to 17's will definitely give you more choice in tires.

5. Don't mess with the sway bars until you need to. Drive it first. If you're sticking with the staggered setup (as it looks) you may be just fine. I actually went the ghetto-route and softened my rear bar (flipped the end links) because I was lifting the inside rear tire and the Torsen Diff doesn't like that.