Yesterday I did my first HPDE of the year, it was the first outing with the APR wing. While the car felt good, I just didn't have the confidence to enter some of the corners faster where it would have had an effect.

There was a ton of traffic (40+ cars, some POS slow ones too) and I didn't have more that 2-3 total clean laps, on a clean lap I ran similar times as last year. So no real improvement. But after some damper adjustments the car was pretty planted. Maybe if I could have had a few clean laps in a row I could have dropped my times a bit.

My question is how to get comfortable with the downforce, I am trying to ramp up my entry speed, but the braking foot seems to let me down.

I seem to be stuck in a rut (albeit a safe and fun one) and just need some coaching to get beyond this.

Turn 10, which leads on to main straight is one I struggle with, I was able to enter about 85MPH and exit at 80. I would like to try 90-95 but cannot seem to get it done.

Thanks,

George

 

George-

What spring rates are you running? What tires are you running and in what size?

-Pete

 

Hi Pete,

515 lbs/in front and rear, Toyo RA1's 225 front 245 rear. If anything I was getting some understeer especially entering turn 9.

 

The understeer in 9 is best dealt with by flatfooting it - it took me a long time to get to the point where I was comfortable throttle steering through there. I am getting through 10 quite a bit faster than you, but I am running 275s (Hoosiers) in the rear and no rear swaybar. Being full throttle from turn in through track out really plans the rearend. Trying the rear swaybar disconnected is a 2 minute test.

Not sure if what I am doing is really applicable, but feel free to get in touch with me via PM and maybe we can hookup to get the car sorted-out.

-Pete

 

Thanks Pete,

How long have you been running w/o the rear bar? Stock front bar? I may have to try that.

I think the driver (me) needs sorted out more than the car.

I tend to overbrake going into 10, I usually run 4th to redline just before braking.

 

no rear swaybar? how does that make the car faster?...i'm confused, I thought sway bars were a good thing for the track.

 

[QUOTE=jyeung528,May 14 2005, 02:34 PM] no rear swaybar?

 

wow.... i refuse to flatfoot through 9 at summit and i am even down on hp compared to you.


you ever see that video where the guy goes through 9 sideways and smacks the tires on the right....the car stands straight up on the rear bumper....then flops back down..... i can't seem to find the video...... that would be me flatfootin'.



I was at shenadoah yesterday...i drove over to the main course but didn't see anyone other than the Mustang R and a 2003 Cobra guy from near me.

I did see a white S2000 (i think).... and a porsche 911 that had wrecked....

 

George, see PM. I didn't want my local competitors here on the west coast to see the speed secrets I am sharing with you.

 

I'm sure the track guys will pitch in but a big reason to remove the rear bar is to allow the wheel to droop more, preventing inside wheelspin. This is accompanied with a change of springs to handle balance and roll stiffness...