Well holy crap.

Just got back from Road America (Oktoberfast, Badger Bimmers). I drove really well, and my car surprised/pased every M3/911/Ferrari/C5/NSX driver that I saw. There were other C5's and an Evo that I almost never saw. I think I was faster than the Evo this time (Blackhawk Farms with me at 210 HP he was rolling me good). I started with him right behind me one time but we never really crossed paths. There were some really fast M3's that I had a hard time with but we were pretty even until it got to the straights.

"Hey, you flew by me there, what the heck is in that thing?" I am asked for the 4th time...
"Oh, it's stock. " My answer

First day with an instructor I took it "easy" and actually just used 4th and 5th gears for the whole thing. Had plenty of torque so it helped me work on my smoothness in the corners etc. It hurt me in some places since I couldn't judge my speed as well in 4th compared to 3rd.

2nd day I decided I should use 3rd gear in the slower turns (3, 5-6, 8, Canada and 14.) Holy crap that was exciting. Ended up above 140 indicated at Canada, turn 1 and turn 5.

Lessons:
-- My car wasn't meant to have A/C (burned thru another hose on the first session).

-- Charge pipes blow off

-- never EVER buy cross-drilled rotors again; mine cracked em after 2.5 track days. I changed the fronts in 12 minutes with wife and dad turning wrenches. Thanks .RJ and others for the sage words of warning.

-- Turbo lag is just like driving an n/a Integra for 0.5 seconds.

-- I can only make it 1 session on a tank of gas. 8.5 MPG. 4.5 gallons per 30 minute session. Any less and I starve going through the carosel. EGT and A/F do evil looking things when your fuel starves. Duh. EGT's shot up to 1900 and A/F was bouncing around 17:1. Scared the crap out of me. 100 octane gas is expensive, I need to bring more Tolulene to mix my own.

-- Doubling the stock torque changes the racing line a little bit.

-- Drifting is an acceptable replacement for brakes.

-- Toyo RA1's are pretty good! (First time using them)

-- I can go through the kink at 110 if I really want to. I felt happier at 105.

-- Holy crap, the slip angles on this thing are perfect. Once the car gets planted you can steer all you need with your right foot.

-- HIgh closing speeds are interesting if you're closing at or near a turn (esp. Kink and 13)

-- You don't really have to slow down for turn 13. There's lots of track out even if you can't see it. Wheeeee!

-- I might need bigger rotors if I'm going to do this often. My Carbotech 1109/1108 pads don't grip anymore. Hmmmmmm! I flushed the brakes and the pedal got firmer, but they still don't really grab. The faces of the pads look like a cheese grater got in there in places.. not bad but not real clean. Also, my fluid was boiling a bit, it came out a really ugly brown color.

EGT's were 1650 down the straights, Oil temp never passed 265, Water temp needle never moved. Air/Fuel was 11:1, boost was right around 10 psi (11 or 12 on the first day until I got it adjusted a little better, spikes around 15 were common ).

Well, anyhow, I was probably in the 2:3x-range on a bunch of my laps. I took a little bit of video, just one lap worth, and it was a 2:52 with me totally screwing up turn 6 (and 7) and lifting down the whole front straight to cool down (had to pull off for gas... ) It's a crappy video but if someone wants to host a 13 meg file let me know. Recorded from the rear deck of the car, can't see the left side of the track or too much of anything else. I was out at the same time as my instructor and blew by his Mini Cooper S. Ha, ha. I took his friend out for a run (another intstructor) and he was blown away. He mentioned how much faster it was than his 944, and how much more of a beast it was than the R32 he drove for a lap. I let another instructor drive it for ~3 laps, he took it easy but was surprised by the go-pedal.

Whenever we-todd is up I'll put up some pictures. What a beautiful weekend (highs of 70, sunny).

Sorry for the long *** post! I'm trying to get my typing fingers back into shape for work.

-Chris

 

turbo ITR > all on the road course.........awesome story and lessons learned

 

I'really like to see videos and pics.

thanks for the review.

 

haha, i was supposed to be at that event, but i had a tire blow out, and my hubrings melted shortly before the event. however, my friend did make it there with a 300ZX TT, he was in the novice group. he took a pic of your R to show me, but told me it was a GSR anyway, he said you were doing great! lets see some movies! R!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by py01-0332 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">haha, i was supposed to be at that event, but i had a tire blow out, and my hubrings melted shortly before the event. however, my friend did make it there with a 300ZX TT, he was in the novice group. he took a pic of your R to show me, but told me it was a GSR anyway, he said you were doing great! lets see some movies! R!</TD></TR></TABLE>

I took all of my ITR stickers off. I was the only Integra out there, and I was in intermediate. There were 2 RSX's (I think), one non-S in novice, one S in intermediate with what looked like OEM tires. I never met the drivers.

Pictures will go up tonight.

 

wow man, sounds awesome. Im curious to know if youve done any bottom end work or not. boost + honda ring lands + a few track days = bye bye piston rings

 

remove the front brake backing plates.
get ' good fluid'.
get track specific brake pads.


and for the love of god turn the boost down a little.
blown motor =

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RTW DC2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wow man, sounds awesome. Im curious to know if youve done any bottom end work or not. boost + honda ring lands + a few track days = bye bye piston rings</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope, nothing.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Willard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">remove the front brake backing plates.
get ' good fluid'.
get track specific brake pads.
and for the love of god turn the boost down a little.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Do you mean the shields on the back of the rotors? Yeah, I can't remember why I still have those.
I ran Motul 600
I used Carbotech Panther XP's, 1109 front, 1108 rear. What else can I run?

Oh yeah, for turning down the boost.... naaaah!

-Chris

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ccfries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you mean the shields on the back of the rotors? </TD></TR></TABLE>
hack them off asap.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ccfries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What else can I run?</TD></TR></TABLE>
hawk blues
white wheels = go by by..

solid rotors will help with pad life.

 

Sounds like a lot of fun Chris. 140 for T1 is hella fast.

You should look into getting bigger brakes. With that much power, it wouldn't hurt to get 16" or 17" wheels also (but tire choices are gonna suck tho).

 

wow, that sounds awesome man. good job.

 

good post, thanks

 

Some pics (and short video) I promised. Sorry about video quality, transcoded to MPEG to get better compression.

Me behind some Porsches in traffic...
http://www.we-todd-did-racing....DE%3D

Me after I passed those Porsches (woulda had some more room between us except there was traffic )

http://www.we-todd-did-racing....DE%3D

Quick video of me closing on a BMW after getting a point... zooming by up the hill after 14.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing....DE%3D


Random pics:




original http://www.we-todd-did-racing....D.jpg





Modified by ccfries at 11:13 PM 9/27/2004

 

geez nice setup, all that on a Greddy kit.

they're so cheap right now I'm inclined to get one in a couple months.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ccfries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Oil temp never passed 265
</TD></TR></TABLE>

265 is a little high, don't you think? Oil starts to do bad stuff at 250. I'm not happy if mine is over 230.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dr Pooface &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">265 is a little high, don't you think? Oil starts to do bad stuff at 250. I'm not happy if mine is over 230.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why is 250 a magic number that your engine explodes at?

I dont know what my oil temps are... but in 120 deg track temps, I dont want to know.

 

your car rolls man, you have a nice set up there

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Why is 250 a magic number that your engine explodes at?

I dont know what my oil temps are... but in 120 deg track temps, I dont want to know.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, fuggit. I've heard of people runnin 280+... not that I suggest it, but it's been done.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by www.mobil1.com &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
HTHS Viscosity, mPa·s @ 150ºC ASTM D 4683 ---- 5.11
</TD></TR></TABLE>

If they're good enough to measure viscosity at 150C (300F), then hell yeah I'm gonna run it that hot

I hit 210 on the highway anyway, in mild weather (hooray for oil cooler thermostat). 265 isn't THAT much warmer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tweakmeister &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">geez nice setup, all that on a Greddy kit.

they're so cheap right now I'm inclined to get one in a couple months.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I sure don't regret getting it (not yet anyway). It is a blast. Tune the bitch and it can take 10-12 PSI for 30 minutes at a time Your mileage may vary.

 

Pics look great. Good write-up as well

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Willard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">and for the love of god turn the boost down a little.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

A little jealous are we,Willard?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dr Pooface &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

265 is a little high, don't you think? Oil starts to do bad stuff at 250. I'm not happy if mine is over 230.</TD></TR></TABLE>


.....I'd listen to the pooface, he knows his chit!

How many miles on your turbo type R, mr. poo?

And how much seat time on the road course with it?

And what's the rebuild looking like?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ccfries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
-- Doubling the stock torque changes the racing line a little bit.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No it doesn't. It changes how you get on the line.

Warren

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ccfries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, fuggit. I've heard of people runnin 280+... not that I suggest it, but it's been done.

If they're good enough to measure viscosity at 150C (300F), then hell yeah I'm gonna run it that hot

I hit 210 on the highway anyway, in mild weather (hooray for oil cooler thermostat). 265 isn't THAT much warmer.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

280F is close... very close.
It's not a matter of the oil deteriorating at high temp. It's a matter of our engines. The "magic number" for our engine is 140C (284F) before we blow a headgasket. Although it is strictly a hearsay, I would believe it cuz I don't want to find out if it's true or not.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Warren &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

No it doesn't. It changes how you get on the line.

Warren</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well to a point I agree, but a little bit later apex in a couple of corners seemed to help, like at 14 leading to the main straight... I had enough torque to take a slower entry, get the front straightened and get on the gas early... mad torque in 3rd gear vtAk yo! Well, yeah, it probably didn't change that much, but I think a later apex is faster than the line I might have taken before.