I've got an STR prepped S2000 that I've been auto-xing for the last couple of years, but my long term goal has been to get into Time Trials.

I was on the NASA site checking out rules/classing so if someone can check my calculations, it'd be appreciated. Here's what I've got:

BASE CLASS: TTC (minimum weight 2813)

When i corner balanced the car it was 2,650 roof off - no driver. so i'm estimating +45lbs for top and +190lbs for my ass that we're in the ballpark of 2,885lbs.

'08 CR +14 points
K&N FIPK CAI +1
PLM Header +2
T1R 70mm cat back exhaust +2
BERK HFC +1
HKS Hippermax 3 Sport Coilovers +5
SANER FSB, stock CR rear bar +2
J's racing S1 ball joints +2
949 Racing 17x9" 6ULR wheels / Hankook R-S3 255mm (all 4 corners) +2
Bump to TTB on 255mm tires -1
Flash Pro (stock ECU re-flash) +0
CR Hard top +0 (Some hard tops add points??)
Carbotech brake pads +0

Total: +30 points - puts me in TTB (But I can go up to 39 points?)

So i was looking at the rules and was thinking if i wanted to keep the car STR legal while utilizing all my TT points, that i could pick up an extra set of wheels and run on better tires - treadwear rating 50-100 (+7)

So....

1) What tire(s) would you recommend, ie: Toyo R888 / Nitto NT01 / Kuhmo V700? If i could get some feedback - tradeoffs between cost vs. performance vs. durability.

2) I should have enough points to go with the 17x10 6ULR on 275's. What kind of fender work (if any would be needed) to run a squared set-up without rubbing. Right now i've got -3.0 camber front / -2.5 camber rear (I'm not a fan of staggered tires).

3) With the hard top, do i need to install a roll bar? What about seat belts?

4)Since the car is relatively new and I'm taking wear and tear into consideration, in a typical TT event, how much seat time are we talking about? (I know nothing about how these events run).

5) How competitive can I expect this car to be in TTB? (not a major consideration at this point, considering i have limited track experience so driving skill will be the greatest limiting factor).

 

you need to be half decent on the track and get a checkride first, you would want to go to HPDE3 and get a checkride, its open passing, signup for HPDE something and come to CMP in April and find me - I think we met b4 in charlotte

 

Dan, yeah we met before, I bought my race header off you. I see from your pic that you used some of your points on a wing.

BTW, what the hell is a checkride? is there an April event at CMP?

 

A checkride is when a NASA official or instructor goes for a ride in your car to determine if you can move up in the ranks. Usually looking for safety but also speed.

 

I went 1/10th under the TTB record at sebring in my car (not on a NASA weekend) with the following.

PLM header
Test pipe
DIY exhaust
Hondata reflash
OS Giken LSD
AST Coilovers
Saner front bar
OLD 50+ heat cycles R6's 225/40 17
17x8 enkie RPF1's.
277?lbs with driver.
If it werent' for the 10 point shocks the car would be a TTC car.

Seeing as I qualified right behind a car (by a 1/10th) that did 35's at road atlanta last weekend I'm fairly certain the car would run under the TTB record at Road Atlanta too in essentially C trim. Your Coilovers and wide tires are holding you back from using other points to pull weight out. Step back to a smaller tire and mount a better tire and you'll go faster.

Anyway, point of that was that you can easily be competitive in TTB. But go for the faster tire.

 

They usually go hand in hand, if you're inconsistently fast or damn slow, its not safe for drivers around you.

 

R-888 is absolute garbage. Don't touch them. NT-01 far better.

You need to get the extra 72 lbs. out of the car. You need to be as close as humanly possible to the minimum weight with maybe 1/4 tank of gas in the car. It matters.

 

Good to see another CR owner doing TT! A few notes

1) You don't have to add +2 for 255 tires. 255 is the base class tire size. I was confused at first too being that the S2000 is staggered
2) You can't take -1 for 255 tires in TTB. It's based on your base class.
3) Consider reclassing your car as a non-CR. Play with the points and see if you can make a better classed car. For example, I totaled up your current points to 29. If you remove the front lip and take 2 points for the CR chassis bracing and 5 points for the wing, you could classify yourself as an AP2 with 22 points. Then you can replace the CR wing with a proper GT wing and still be at 22 points. Or take out the chassis bracing as well and maybe the intake or the test pipe and run TTC with 19 points. The combinations are endless. (I asked on NASA forums. The front lip takes a ton of points for a regular AP2 since I think they consider it a different fasica, lip, and canards).


Per your questions
1) Hoosiers. The contingency plan is awesome if you're competitive and the car is ridiculously fast. I run 225 R6's for 3 points and they're well worth it. Otherwise, I really liked my RA1's. I was within a quarter of a second of a TTC lap record on JUST Ra1's (stock CR) when they were 5 points. Lap record was set that day, previous session.
2) not sure
3) No. Stock seats and bar are fine. Roll bar is a good idea and can replace the chassis bracing if you do decide to class yourself as an AP2.
4) 4 or 5 15 minute sessions. Fair amount of seat time - probably a little less than a typical HPDE.
5) I know the car can be competitive in TTC. TTB as well, but I think thats where the S2000 starts to lose its advantage. You could get a good driver in an STI that has enough boost to be a problem on tracks with long straights.

 

We tested NT01's vs a Kumho XS full blown street tire on a 911 GT2 at Homestead and the Kumho's were a TICK quicker but near identical. Kumho XS takes street tire points. The Nitto's felt better and felt like they outghta be faster but lap times didn't lie.

 

Wow. You don't mean NT05's do you? Same sizes? I ran the XS before and they are really fast, but I didn't think they'd even be in the same league as a tire that claims to be r-compound.