I'll be driving at Road America this spring, and I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions that'll improve my experience.
Current setup:
'99 GSR sedan
Tein ss coilovers
Falken Azenis 205 50-15
type R 22mm rear sway
DC rear lower bar
Intake, header, exhaust
New OEM clutch
EBC greenstuff (I'm not liking these, switching to R4-S/Axxis Ultimate combo soon)

Any suggestions for dampening settings, ride height, brake fluid, etc....welcome

thanks

 

Eat your Wheaties dude! The Kink!! This is a great track and you'll have a blast. It is kind of hard on brakes... especially turn 5 and Canada so get your brakes pads figured out. R4/Ultimates may not be enough. Ambient temps will likely be cool, so maybe you'll be OK. I like Hawk Blues or Carbotech P+. Got Ducts? Hang on and have fun!

 

Show me the way to RA! What event are you attending? Thanks.

 

If in real life its anything like Road America in SportsCar GT, then take it real easy at first on turns 5, 6 (-blind-) and 12 (Canada Corner). The Carousel is fun yet challenging with a decreasing radius towards the exit. Road America is definately the track I would love to drive on if I ever had a chance - even if it is hard on brakes and tires.

 

RA is a fun HIGH SPEED track.
Some people say it's hard on brakes but some don't.
Hard on brakes: you build up a lot of speed between turns.
Easy on brakes: you have lotsa time between turns for the brakes to cool down.

BrewCity: You can look into the BMW Club. They hold events at RA every year. A 2-day event cost about $350, not the cheapest out there, but very organized and the instructor rides with you during the whole event.

 

The event I'm attending is put on by the midwest f-body club (www.speedseekers.org)
Too bad registration is full. I'm the only Integra on the roster!

Does anyone else agree/disagree that Porterfields won't be enough pad for this track?

Thanks

 

I too would say that Porterfield R4-S wouldn't be enough. A street pad just isn't going to cut it on this track. Make sure you've got brand new DOT 4 brake fluid in the system too. Probably make sure you've got plenty of rotor too. Whatever you do, don't run the EBC Green Stuff. I've seen those fall apart at the track. Put the OEM pads back on at the very least.

There is a lot of time for the brakes to cool between corners, but the corners people have mentioned are fast in - slow around. I'm thinking 1, 5, 12 could all be concerns for you.

What about safety, do you have a roll bar? If not, don't use a harness. You could easily be reaching 120+ mph. A roll over could have devistating affects on you. RA is notorious for demolishing cars. So, don't go off in the kink...you hit one side of the kink and then you'll bounce off the wall and hit the other side. Not that the track is unsafe, but it's so fast there's a lot of chance for mistakes.

Finally, I don't know what type of sessions they have, but I might be concerned about the Falkens. I've heard mixed reports of them getting really greasy after just a few track laps. Though, as someone mentioned, you're going to be there when you'll be lucky if you see a 50 degree day. Perhaps temps won't be a problem.


[Modified by Shmeek, 8:37 PM 2/12/2003]

 

Fun! I did the touring during the Brian Redmond in 2001 (I had a Sentra at the time). This is when I learned about brake fade! I can't wait to get on that track again!

 

I guess this really depends on how you drive. I did 2 days at Road America last year, and had R4S's on the front of my Impreza, and they lasted fine. In fact, I also did 2 days at Road Altanta, plus several autocrosses, on the same R4S's. Keep in mind though, that I don't drive my street car at 10/10's on road courses because I don't want to wad it up (plus I don't have a rollbar, etc). I probably drove at 7/10's my ability (which is what the Track Time instructors suggested) and brakes weren't much of an issue for me. There are plenty of straightaways at RA to cool the brakes down.

All in all, you'll love the track, although for me the concrete walls were a little intimidating.

Pics here: http://www.pbase.com/soloracer/ra_08272002

 

I'll see you out there I'm taking over a buddys spot on the list after his firehawk just bit the dust last week. Do you know where you guys are staying? Have you been to this event before?? If you haven't you will have a blast!

 

Not sure where we're staying yet. I'll let you know when we figure it out.

Thanks to everyone else for their input

 

Yeah, I agree with both statements. I would beware of the R4S pads. I had a set in my GS-R at Blackhawk Farms and the metal backing plates softened and folded around the pistons. Definitely not up to the task. If you're going to start out with R4S, make sure you have another set with you. You might want to talk with Andie at Cobalt Friction to see what pads he recommends, and he can fix you up. He also has some great high-temperature brake fluid that's better than everything else on the market, and reasonably priced, too.

Yes, I agree, to BMW CCA events. The Windy City Chapter is at Road America every May, this year on May 3-4. The registration form is in the chapter newsletter, which isn't out yet, so join the club and the chapter and you'll get the entry form. The Badger Bimmers have an event there every October.



[Modified by nsxtasy, 11:47 PM 2/15/2003]

 

I drove Road America in 2001 for a Grand Am Cup team. The track is fast! I didnt think it was hard on brakes but then again who uses brakes? We dont need no stinking brakes! If your good and you have the ***** the kink is flat out 5th gear and on the floor. And then shove a lump of coal up your **** because its gonna come out a diamond with all the pucker factor goning flat out through the kink. Turn 1 is fast once you find the line its a nice turn to drift thru, but I think it might be turn 3 thats a little tricky you think its a fast turn and it isnt, plenty of run off but let the car do the work dont try to force it. Have fun the track is a blast one of my favorites by far....

 

No sooner did I say this, than I just received the newsletter with the registration form. The event costs $350 if you're already a member of BMW CCA; otherwise it's $400 but that includes a year's membership.

If anyone would like a copy of the registration form, IM me with your fax number.