HPDE experiments, results and observations

[rhyary]

Until I get my fronts back, I did few trackdays ons stock rotors but i was concerns about consuming them too quickly using Pagid RSL29 yellow.

So I invested in a Girodisk for the front.

My OEM developed a lip I can feel but when I took them off, they still showed 29.5mm. So will keep them as backup.

[rhyary]

More experiments with tires.

Since I can only take with me 2 front tires, it was important to know if these can work on the rear.

So for July 9th track day at NYST i put the rear two 295/30/19 DOT slick RR in the car, and drove to the track with FFI500 275/30/19 on the front and 285/30/19 RE-050A on the rear.

Since my front wheel is 9.5", it is even narrow than the OEM 10".

Driving to the track was uneventful, and it is a good way to bring a rear slicks to the track.

I skipped the 9am session. Track was too damp and I arrived late so took my time unloading.

My first two sessions were 10am and 11am. The 10am was still damp and the 11am was already dry track with ambient temps around 70-73*

Since I have gained my confidence in the car back I turned off traction control for the whole day. This would allow me to see how the rear moves around.

So going on 275 front and 285 rear wasn't bad. The rear rotated nicely and the car was sliding out in a neutral way. Pace was on 1:41, so not breaking any speed records.

I set the wing AOA to 8* because it was important to me to make it useful at the 8-9-10 complex which is a 105-90-70 mph slalom.

This took some straight speed off, my top speed was only at 125, were before I was able to get to 130-132 top speed.

Because I had the experience of delaminating an FFI500 on the inside, I knew to check with my hand the inside wall. You can't see it and the tire contact patch looked perfect.

Sure enough, the inside wall was a goner. So no more FFI500 for me. Perhaps it is a combination of the short side wall or this tire just not meant for heavy car.

So for my third session and the rest if the day I put the 295 RR on the rear, and moved the 285 RE-050A to the front. The rest of the day I was managing understeer at the slower corners. I needed more mechanical grip.

Perhaps I should have increase pressure at the rear or reduced pressure at the front. But I was happy driving the car with traction control off and focused more on trail braking, throttle control and placing the car at the apex at the angle I wanted.

I also started to brake deeper into turn 1, and lighter at the rest of the turns.

Picture of the FFI500 and video of 1:39 later in the day.

We had lot of rain in NY in the last couple of weeks including the night before and NYST felt less grippy than usual.

I forgot to tape the microphone to the bumper, so the sound is from the trunk and is less satisfying as usual.

[rhyary]

Crap out of my radiators.
I suppose this can be one reason my car was overheating.

Autocouture is putting it back together and it should be ready for PMP on July 30th.

[rhyary]

New front intercooler was not that expensive so a new one.
Old and new

Autocouture mounted the intercooler 2" higher, so the oil cooler gets some fresh air on the bottom.

[admranger]

Pro tip, don't blow the debris out of your rad or oil cooler with a metal tipped air gun. Always use one with a rubber protective tip so you don't put a hole in your oil cooler...or so I've been told.

[rhyary]

My rotors came back "Rebraked" from Germany looking new. Not sure exactly when I am reinstalling these, but I have 7 days coming at WGI mid to late Aug so plans to do reinstall these by mid Aug.

[rhyary]

Car is back from Autocouture and tomorrow is a big test. My "big" expectations are no suspension and overheating issues.

It would be refreshing to just drive the car.

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by rhyary

Car is back from Autocouture and tomorrow is a big test. My "big" expectations are no suspension and overheating issues.

It would be refreshing to just drive the car.

What suspension issues have you had/been having?

[rhyary]

Looks like the overheating issue has been resolved. But will see at WGI in Aug.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by rhyary

Looks like the overheating issue has been resolved. But will see at WGI in Aug.

What was the resolution?

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by DRLane

What was the resolution?

Taking the front apart, cleaning all radiators, replacing the Intercooler with a new one.

[rhyary]

Working on consistency.

8 laps, basically on 1:39.8 with one lap a Supra got in the way.

The front 285/30/19 RE-050A is yelling for grip.
The plus side is is that it survived two NYST days and probably is good for a third. As a reminder most faster tires won't last two days at NYST.

The rear 295/30/19 RR had no troubles.

Wing is on 5* AOA relative to ground

[rhyary]

NYST Turn 11 ~71mph

[rhyary]

Today Palmer Motor Sport day.
4 x 40min will test the cooling system further.

I am trying tires combination that may be my go to sizes for 2022.

I have three tires sizes I like and for different reasons.

1. 300tw tires - good for NYST
Front 285/30/19 Rear 295/30/19
PS91 is a cost effective new from TR

2. 200tw tires - good for Palmer and LRP
Front 265/35/19 Rear 275/35/19
Falken RT660 is one good choice as well as 220tw GY F1 3 (not the R)
To be confirmed

3. 100tw tires - Good for WGI
Front 265/35/19 Rear 305/30/19
GY F1 3R is a good option.
Rt660 is good option for the price

Today at Palmer I am testing F 265 and R 275

On the rear I have the 200tw Ecsta V720 275/35/19 and this will be my third track day on them. I had one day at PMP and one day at PMP and basically I like this tire. It is also available in 305/30/19 and is less than $300 at that size

On the front I have 180tw 265/35/19 MPSC2 and this tire is good but tend to fall a part. I don't expect it to last more than one day. This is not a new tire.

If I have a trouble free day, my expectation is to go below 1:50. The weather forecast is perfect 75* and sunny.

[rhyary]

Palmer Motorsport Park day was my best so far.
PB 1:48.48 (2 sec faster)
Many laps under 1:50

Managed traffic, rain and still PB.

[rhyary]

Getting ready to reinstall my front Brembo CCM-R. I decided to convert the bracket to studs vs bolts. This makes it easier to remove the caliper for checking the pads and also replacing pads on track days.

This is what it looks like

[b4hand]

Originally Posted by rhyary

Palmer Motorsport Park day was my best so far.
PB 1:48.48 (2 sec faster)
Many laps under 1:50

Managed traffic, rain and still PB.

Seems like you brake really light for most of these corners. Is it just not having confidence in the stock system?

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by b4hand

Seems like you brake really light for most of these corners. Is it just not having confidence in the stock system?

My goal from my virtual coach was to brake lighter and cary more speed. So I was not focusing on braking hard, or how deep I can brake.

With more PMP days I will combine harder braking and carry more speed.

very good observation @b4hand

[rhyary]

If my data is correct, I am getting into the ABS around 700psi. So even lower than I thought.

It is tire and surface dependent, but all four tracks NYST, PMP, LRP and WGI show ABS active between 700-750psi.

I should have paid attention to this earlier. But now I know. I am sure that with real slicks it would be higher.

[dparm]

Constantly switching tires is going to slow down technique improvement because you will be wasting mental energy managing the new traction levels. My two cents.

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by dparm

Constantly switching tires is going to slow down technique improvement because you will be wasting mental energy managing the new traction levels. My two cents.

I agree 100% but I am learning other things when I try different tires. What I am learning will make me faster in 2022, at least in theory.

I just got three new front tires to experiment with:

255/35/19 A052
265/35/19 RT660
285/30/19 Potenza SO 04 pole position (because on sale and I couldn't resist)

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by rhyary

I agree 100% but I am learning other things when I try different tires. What I am learning will make me faster in 2022, at least in theory.

I just got three new front tires to experiment with:

255/35/19 A052
265/35/19 RT660
285/30/19 Potenza SO 04 pole position (because on sale and I couldn't resist)

Do yourself a favor and don’t use the A052 at NYST