Ponyboy

After a LONG winter, the NSX debuted with a few careful mods that were designed to enhance cornering speed, overall hp, and braking. This included some new wheels with substanially wider rubber in front and back, headers that are supposed to + hp by around 20 at the rear wheels, aluminum hat rotors, higher temp and friction pads, and lightweight seats.

The wheels look like this. 17x8.5 and 18x10.5. With Ecsta V700's they weigh exactly the same as the stock setup and would seem to promote better brake cooling.


Rotors.


Headers:


Don't have picture of the seats installed. But they weigh 11.5lbs and save 51lbs compared to the stock seats. Sweet! Only have one now - the other one is being shipped.

So a buddy and I head to the track (Hallett). He's got a '96 M3 and has never been to a track event. As a cranium cover, he brings a helicopter pilot's helmet. I can't stop laughing. Anyway, I tell him to be as inconspicous as possible. I pay for 2 sessions thinking I'll do 4 or 5 laps to heatcycle the Kumho's and use the Yok's during the second session. I get pretty antsy on the starting grid. It's been FOREVER since I was on the track and I'm thinking I've got to learn the brake and turn in pts. once again. The Recaro is feeling great b/c I don't have to hold myself in with my knees during cornering. After the third or fourth lap I'm getting a lot more confident and decide to get a little more frisky. I'm doing 120mph on the straight easy and 10-12mph faster in most of the corners! E-Yow! Last year, the quickest time was a 1:31 and a 1:37 with a passenger. Now, my time with a passenger is 1:33 flat. The car is braking great but I really wasn't stopping very aggressively. And it was still very neutral. Turn in was crisp and immediate. At the end of the first session coming out of the last corner I passed a yellow Viper who must have been pissed at that b/c he passed me on the cool down lap.

For the second session, I decided to keep the Kumho's on. I couldn't help it. I was having fun. Hopefully, that didn't jack up my whole "heatcycle" thing. Anyway, I thought I was driving much better and getting pretty good at heel-toeing. I passed a red Z06 that spun a two turns later and had a little thing w/ a red Miata that didn't want anyone to pass. He stayed in the middle of the road. I passed the yellow Viper again. Seems he had the same motto as the Miata. To be fair, he was on street tires. But then again, I have no problem letting faster cars by.

There were a bunch of awesome cars out there. A black 911 Turbo trailered in by a huge RV. Jeez, I hate those guys. A very quick yellow Z06 w/ Victo's. But he had red wheels. Ick. Looked he was sponsored by McDonalds. That yellow Viper, though piloted by a dipsh&t, was absolutely beautiful. A BMW 325 w/ a nice body kit and an RX-7. I'd really like to see more RX-7's out there. Knighty? A silver RUF RCT that runs 1:26's. Very nice. All in all, a great day at the track.

I did manage to get video of the first session. Just need to get hosted by a buddy. After watching it, I couldn't believe all the mistakes I made. Anyway, when it get's hosted I'll post the link here.


[Modified by Ponyboy, 8:17 PM 4/1/2003]

Unsung

Wow, 50lbs from seats... can't wait to see them...

EDIT: just read the rest of the post... sounds like the track was fun! Contrags on your better passenger times.


[Modified by JDM B-Series, 1:51 PM 4/1/2003]

TypeR 599

wow those are some wide wheels

can't wait to see the video

nsxxtreme

Nice job looking forward to checking out the vid.

Sukebei Oni

what size are the tires?
looks good and can't wait to see the video.

:jdmshmaydm:

Sounds nice man. Give us that video now!

Ponyboy

235/40's up front and 285/30's in back. I'd like to do some skidpad testing and tuning but dang if I can find a good place.

Vid should be up today. There are some surprises in it too.

nsxtasy

Don't the fronts rub on your fender wells?

Ponyboy

They didn't too bad on my shakedown runs but I took some precautions anyway. I took out the fender liners, sprayed some cushioney udercoat there, and banged the Hades out of the wheel wells. All fixed!

Knightsport

Yeah, yeah, I'm going to 0wn j00, but first, I have to put this spotaneously explosive car back together.

The inboard suspension isn't quite as straightforward as Dave said.

Ponyboy

Blah blah "the inboard suspension isn't quite as straightforward as Dave said" blah blah.




[Modified by Ponyboy, 8:38 PM 4/2/2003]

Knightsport

It's not MY fault I never took a welding class.

Or is it?

PoweredByPrelude

I shoulda bought the rx-7 and kept my chrysler....

Oh well. This board makes me feel poor btw , and lets see that video.

djsbon

that's like cutting me in quarters.. and saving that much weight

beautiful car.

Ponyboy

By popular demand...

Pone and the Huey Pilot

48meg

EDIT: sucka's better "right click save as!"



[Modified by Ponyboy, 4:03 PM 4/3/2003]

PoweredByPrelude

Very nice vid, you're a damn good driver. I think you owned everything out thier. Poor Prelude got passed like he was walking. We preludes need about 100 more ponies and then maybe we could look like were not movin so slow

redlineh22a

very nice

nsxxtreme

Nice save!! NSX is a Bit** to save once she starts going around
Do you have an intake the engine sounds kind of loud?


[Modified by nsxxtreme, 11:02 PM 4/3/2003]

Ponyboy

I have a cone K&N filter and a Cantrell Air Induction thingee. Funny thing is, I barely hear the engine when I'm on the track and, especially during the second session, I barely even realized I had a passenger with me.