Hey guys-
Just to let you know, this car is extremely competent and very competitive with most of the cars on the track. Stock for stock (not counting driver skill), ITR vs. RSX-S is a close call. The ITR still has more brakes (pad surface area), but powering up the straight I was able to just pull (barely) on a PY Type-R that appeared stock. The only mod I had was Carbotech Panther Plus front pads - I even ran on the shitty stock Michelins. Brakes were nothing short of great with these pads. to Andie Lin at Carbotech - great product!
Until you can get your car on the track, you will have NO idea how good this car really is. Flying at 100+ through the uphill esses is friggin incredible, and the car handles very well even without really good tires - very neutral handling and very forgiving.
Didn't try to top the car out on the straights (didn't want to abuse it too much with only 1800 miles on it ) but was at indicated 115-117 just nudging the rev limiter in 4th.
If you get the chance, sign up for a driver's ed event and see what your car can really do in a safe environment. Warning 1: Please don't get in over your head - listen to your instructor; Warning 2: this is some addictive sh-t. Save your pennies
Thanks to Brian at Hendrick for your track prep help!

 

How is the body roll in the RSX-S at the track? And did you have any points where the tail started to step out on you? Are the Carbotech Panther Plus pads a track only pad?

I'm glad to see that more and more people from Honda-tech are taking their cars out autocrossing or open tracking where Hondas are meant to be (as opposed to drag racing). Hope to see an RSX or two (hopefully including my mom's RSX) at VIR-full in February with NASA.

-G

 

The Panther Plus is a track/race derived pad compound, but it is very streetable, and many of our customers drive it on the street: (1) moderate dust and noise levels, (2) very rotor friendly, (3) broad temperature range (150F-1300F), excellent cold stopping power and initial bite.

Andie Lin

 

The Carbotech pads, even before I bedded them in at the track, showed noticeably better stopping power. As Andie says, they can be used on the street and the track, but they're a little expensive to run as a street only pad. You'll not really get to see what they can do on the street.
The body roll on the car wasn't too bad, at least from the driver's seat. Speaking of the driver's seat - as good as the seats look and feel on the street, the leather is damn slippery on the track. I'm going to have to put some kind of grippy stuff (? what the hell is "grippy stuff" ?) on the seats for the next track event.
I was really surprised at how well the car did on the track, especially compared to the cars I was running against. The handling was actually pretty good considering how little grip the Michelins provide. All of three of my instructors commented on how good the car was - and they drove an M3, a Mustang Cobra, and a Z28.

 

Did you go with all the R guys?

If so do you have any PICS?

If they set another one up again in February I think I'm gonna make it.

A.

 

Those damned leather seats are my only complaint about the RSX-S. When my mom and I were car shopping I asked the salesman if there was a way to sway the Type-S seats with a base model's cloth seats but of course he said no. I really would like the option of cloth seats for your aforementioned reason and so we don't have to worry about the odd sharp object puncturing our beautiful seats. Perhaps you could get some cloth seats from a totalled base model, or you could buy an aftermarket reclining seat.

Gerald who's starting to be jealous he didn't get to go.

 

nc-rsx-s : what was your lap times? that should tell us how the car did. thanx.

 

Mustang Cobra? Riiight

 

My pics aren't developed yet... There were a LOT of ITR's there, some stock, but most with mods. I know that at the very least I was able to pull just slightly on a stock ITR up the back straight.

Didn't take any lap times - this was my first time out on this track and first time out with this car (only has 1800 or so miles), so I was running about 8/10's on track. I'm still getting used to driving the car, and definitely didn't want to mis-shift, possibly blowing stuff up. Didn't try any very late braking, didn't try to throw the car off the track...

In February, there is another event at VIR that I'll probably attend. I'll take some times then and will definitely be more familiar with the car. Maybe go 9/10's

The best way to find out what the car will do is bring it out there, learn how to drive on the track (slow at first, speed will come with smoothness and experience), and see for yourself.

Go Acura!


[Modified by nc-rsx-s, 4:23 PM 12/11/2001]

 

Toolbox drawer liner. The stuff kicks ***. My wife uses it on the shlippery leather seats in her grocery-getter BMW 325i when she goes to the track 2x a year. It's like having a cloth seat.

Should be able to find it at Sears/Wal-Mart/K-mart.

 

Thanks for letting me by, Brian - car was running really good, and your move was the gracious thing to do - thanks.
Someone in the intermediate group was running a damn fast Accord 4-door. He was on my butt for a lap, so I let him pass. I reeled him back in the next lap and passed him back though.
The whole thing about the track events is that there are fast cars with less experienced (slower) drivers, and slow cars with very experienced (fast) drivers.
Not everyone out there was running full tilt, either, so it can be hard to judge.
I must have passed some of the BMWs several times, even passed those Shelby Cobras a few ITRs, and my buddy that had the Steeda Bullitt Mustang (supercharged), couldn't keep up with me in the esses...
I was really impressed with the Type S for my first time out.
Just got done switching back to street brake pads - easy work on this car!

 

Thanks - I'll try that stuff!

By the way - anyone who wants to check out the pics (professional) that were taken at the track, check out http://www.trakcam.com - they did an awesome job.

 

Was it a white car? If so, it was either Corey (very fast) or Morgan (pretty fast) driving.

 

If you're being held up by another car and some dude on your tail want's to come by, he has to wait! The pass always goes to the first car inline to pass, which is different from just a following car. You were right in your judgement! If the dude behind you has a spool of boost to blow, he can pass the car you passed and then you - point by's from each car for each pass, of course.

Grumpy said it best - "What do you do when a slower car like a VW GTI comes up behind you in your Viper? YOU LET HIM PASS BECAUSE HE'S OBVIOUSLY FASTER THAN YOU!"

I remember a dork in a Cobra at VIR. I had to feather the gas all through the turns, only to have him mash it to the floor down the straights. I really enjoyed the R&R time through the turns for 4 laps. I finally hot-pitted for track. Jerk.

Glad to see you made it out to an event! most fun you can have in a Civic eh!


[Modified by 98ITR461, 12:02 AM 12/13/2001]

 

Damn...I love my leather seats...Definitely don't want nothing to do with the base models fabric/cloth seats...

 

Exactly, I hate leather seats on the track.. George, did you just say home boy?

 

Hum, I'm pretty sure that was Morgan driving, with me instructing.. I had him moving pretty well, that accord is fun, I drove it in the advanced/intermediate groups a couple times.. Was able to hit 117 down the straights and I think the only cars I let by was a viper or two... Very fun..

 

Yeah - who you callin' home boy?
We were all pulling at least 1.0g corners- yeah, on stock Michelins - in the rain... yeah, that's right!

 

Hey guys...just wanted so say hi to everyone. My name is George Perinis, I was the newbie in the 200 SX -SE-R running at Summit a few weeks back. I believe Hank Fang (Type R ) reported in about our car guys seat time on November 9th.!! Anyway, i am now the owner of a black RSX Type S and will be heading out to the tracks after it is broken in... Just wanted to say Hi to all and I need to change my sig..!!

 

HI

 

Then go buy some racing seats...Simple enough

 

Welcome to the RSX club- you'll have a blast with the car. I had about 1700 miles on the car when I first brought it to the track. The only thing I did to the car was to use Carbotech Panther Plus front brake pads -- Highly Recommend These -- as I was pretty sure the stock pads wouldn't hold up. Most magazine articles/road tests you read criticize the RSX brakes. These pads would change their minds, I'm sure.

 

I heard some bad things about the brakes also, but I just came from a 200 SX SE-R and their brakes were nothing to right home about. Its hard to imagine why with 11.9inch rotors the RSX doesn't brake better. When I get to the tracks after the break-in period I will definitely get the those pads..Do you have a source to get them from.?

Also, are you on club-RSX.? I will as soon as I get registered, for some reason I can't post yet? I am GPRSX-S. See ya on the list and the track.
Gp

 

Andie at Carbotech - try carbotecheng.com
Tell him Adam sent you.

 

Just want to know when you hit 110+ in the RSX-S, what hear are you in and what rpm?
at around 110, the DC2-R would be near 4th redline and have to shift to the slow *** 5th with stock FD...just want to compare the gear ratios.

And let us know when you run your car again with better tyres...those Michellin are sure burden on the car, I think you should change the tyres b4 your brake pads.