I will post some more backstory on the build of the car when I get a little more time, just wanted to share our first track experience with you guys! I have included links to a couple videos from our first auto-x with our K20 CRX at the PCA vs BMW Auto-X in Zephyhills, FL. It was actually the first time we had ever driven the car more than just around the block. We placed 8th overall out of about 50-60 Porsches and BMWs, our best time was 48.8 seconds, best time of the day driven by Dan Shields(national auto-x champ) was 45.7 seconds. We had more in the car(and driver) to get us into the 47's pretty easily, but overall we were extremely please with how well the car performed without issue.

http://vimeo.com/33677029

http://vimeo.com/33594987

http://vimeo.com/33594367

http://vimeo.com/33676622

More Videos HERE.

 

thats awesome whats the brake set-up

 

Thanks! Currently, the car has Integra Discs front and rear with Hawk HP+ pads and Hawk Quiet Slot Rotors. In the past I typically ran Powerslot rotors with the Hawk pads, but the car is sponsored by Hawk directly through our company BrakesPros.com, so we went with their own rotors. The brakes worked extremely well in an auto-x situation, but we have still yet to get it out on a real road course, which is where we will see their true performance.

We are having a front right caliper issue though, we have changed out 3 different calipers on the car and nothing has changed. Its really quite odd. We are only getting half of our rotor surface in contact with the pad. The car didnt pull or brake differently than it should, we can just see the rotor is only getting wear on the outer half. Were still trying to figure it out when we get time to work on the car, but we are open to any suggestions on a fix!

 

Thats pretty strange with the pad wear. You said you changed calipers, but have you check the caliper brackets? The only thing I could think of was if the caliper pins were rocking in the bores.

Otherwise looks like a great build. Get more pics/info up here when you get a chance!

 

Funny you say that, we were talking about changing the caliper bracket out today..didnt think much could go wrong with those, but its definitely worth a shot! Ill try to post up some pictures of the rotor/pad contact too if I find time to stop by the shop.

I will post up some of our blog posts of our build progression shortly, you can also find them on blog.brakespros.com or our facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/BrakesPros.

 

Btw, is there any way to embed vimeo videos on this forum, or only youtube videos?

 

I think you just described the nature of every single piston floating caliper. I've never had a pad (when pads and rotors are new) contact the rotor evenly due to flex in the pins/caliper. After the pad wears a little I then get an even application across the rotor face.

Here I'm doing some Air-Bedding on my CRX and you'll see what I'm talking about.

http://vimeo.com/25952814


Good lookin' car btw. With that engine, a proper cage and a 35 gallon fuel cell that could be one badass enduro car!

 

wow thats a nice setup

 

Hmm..well if we cant find a replacement caliper/bracket for cheap, maybe we will just let it be and wear itself in..pretty cool video you posted there! What pads/rotors are you running there?

Thanks! You are on TR right?

 

that course looks... interesting. Slalom, followed by a slalom... into a slalom, then another slalom, then a turn around into a slalom, masked by two gates which are really just a slalom, into a slalom. Not bad for being 8th on a test day.

arentcha a little worried about how low your fuel pump (or filter) sits? Smack a cone and it drags under the car and you'll have to do some fuel repairs

I like the idea... I was interested in doing a K20 in my CRX when I had it... would have been a blast.

 

Yes, it does worry me, the car was built and still owned by a close friend of mine, he is just letting us drive and sponsor the car. The car was built like a street "track" car, but he never intended it to get used like we will be using it, so there are definitely some things that need to be changed still to make it more reliable and safer on the race track. We just got our hands on the car about a week before our first time driving it at the auto-x, so we havent had much time to work on the car or change things. The car has a fuel cell in it, so I may look into mounting it somewhere inside where the stock fuel tank was located.

 

OEM blanks (either Brembo or Chinese brand). Rules won't let us upgrade, upsize, or run anything with slots or holes (not that I'd want to).

Pads were either PFC 86's (old compound) or DTC60's from Hawk. Both of which you would want to stay away from IF autocrossing or daily driving. These are both high temp racing pads.

Since I can't drive this car on the street and often times can't bed them before a session I just do this. If you have the possibility of driving the car on the street it's always easier to bed that way, and probably safer/more effective.

A good transfer layer goes a LONG way when racing.


BTW: if you ever try air bedding, be safe! Also there's necessarily a need to make them "glow" like that, especially if you have a lower temp pad. Just get down a good transfer layer and be done with it.

 

We are still working the bugs out of our car, so well be switching from auto-x to road course as we see fit and how our schedules look, but we plan to attend and set up the car for pretty much full road course duty. The car is no longer street legal, so it only see the track and is trailered everywhere.

Ive seen people say before that the pad will wear itself in after a track day, which is why we didnt keep bothering with it before our auto-x event. I wouldnt say we were extremely hard on the brakes for the auto-x, but we thought it would atleast be enough to make them wear evenly, guess not..

I may have both front calipers rebuilt just to ensure we have no issues down the road and for peace of mind. Ill keep in mind your air bedding process, but it sure looks quite sketchy! haha!

 

Yeah not much, those guys don't like my opinions.

 

Ha, its not the greatest forum anymore anyways..

 

Yeah thats why I have like 15 posts in 4 years lol.


Do you plan to do any track days with NASA or Chin?

 

Im sure we will run with them soon. We are looking at the Roebling Road event with the PCA club on Jan 21-22. Still not completely confirmed, still on the lookout for a good track event in January. Have any suggestions?

I looked on Chin and they dont have any events for January, NASA only has Homestead lined up for January. I have driven homestead once before, it was fun, but Id really like to go to Daytona or Sebring with the car. I heard Roebling is real fun, so figured we would give it a shot.

 

Roebling is a lot of fun.

Hooked on Driving has an event there in Jan.

PCA ugghhh

 

Yeah, I saw that as well, but its on a Friday right? Id imagine there wont be nearly as many people though right? We might have to go ahead and try that one out.

Whats your complaint on the PCA, Ive never ran with them, so dont know what to expect..there were a ton of cars signed up already though..

 

Personal exp: http://circuit-racer.com/forums/f11/...07/index3.html

 

Looks like a lot of drive time, I looked on their site and they dont have any dates listed for 2012 but I will definitely keep them in mind for future events!

Anyone have any experience with Hooked On Driving events?

 

You looking for HOD events?

The best event I have done at Roebling has been with Darkside DE, $250 for sat and sun but they only do it in Nov. and May.

Im going to get my license there in Feb. with the Buccaneer region.


Brakespros: I would imagine on a friday event like that, you would end up with a lot of track time because of the lower numbers.

 

Im basically looking for any events that allow us the most track time. I drove with NASA once at Homestead and it was only 3 15-20 minute runs max.

Ill see if the boss will let us go on a Friday, its hard to do though since our "pit crew" all work in the same company and would be hard to get everyone off at the same time, we will see though! Im definitely going to look into it!

 

Crap, just realized I was posting under my personal account.. :D

 

Thats odd, most events I have run were always 4 20ish min sessions?

NASA FL is restructuring with a new director so they might have some more events this year.

PBOC is another to look into:

Winterfest 2012 (11 Jan 2012 - 15 Jan 2012)
Track : Sebring International Raceway