2012 BRZ/FR-S Stock Class Autocross Discussion

[Evil86]

Originally Posted by des

I'll offer what I can, though what RWD experience I have has been in STR rather than stock, and I'm not exactly a tuning expert.

Only change to my FRS so far is the 235/45/17 Direzzas.

The good: the car was fast right out of the box. C-Stock winner in an RX8 on Hoosiers was at 43.2; my fastest run was 44.2. (I was doing fun runs but that would have paxed 40th or so of 170, better if you adjust for street tires).

The car is much less tail happy on the Dunlops than it was stock -- even on the super-slick lot we use here in the Bay Area. I'm going to slap a rear bar on as soon as possible. And I've never driven a stock car that felt better in slaloms. On Hoosiers it would be a revelation.

I'm not sure I chose the right tire size; it's taller, which may help on faster courses but probably hurt here. There were three places I would have shifted to first in an S2000, and I was surprised at how little grunt there actually was in the FRS. A shorter tire would have made a difference.

I don't think the 235 is too wide -- especially given the car's weight. But I will definitely look at a 40 series next set.

I'm not loving the brake feel: there's no bite at all, and they took a lot of pressure to hook up well.

The car takes a beautiful set into sweepers, but just as the car begins to slide the way you'd like it to, the car abruptly changes position, as if the tires were rolling over (they weren't). A buddy who runs a motorsports shop suggested a bump stop issue ...

Next up, then: camber bolts, alignment, a more aggressive rear pad, a 16mm rear bar and bump stop cups.

Hey, that looks like my car.

[uspspro]

Oakland...
I almost went last weekend too. were there any other FRS/BRZ there?

[Evil86]

First autox will be this coming weekend at El Toro. I am running RTR, there are 18 entries, and three are FR-S drivers (two cars). I stayed with the stock size tires but went with Hankook RS3s on Kosei rims. I want to try out the production stock size (if I remember the pre-prodction size was 205) to see how the car felt. If I need to go wider, I will.

I installed the camber bolts Saturday, and took it out for a test drive on a twisty mountain road. It was plain fun. I never threw the ass out because on the road I was on, the consequences in most sections are dire if not fatal.

Today PPE Engineering yanked my muffler and fabricated a turn down that is really an exit out. They made a stainless turndown that exits out of the left hole. We all thought the car sounded great sans muffler. It had a deeper throat with a little rasp. They did the turn down for a trade. Next month they want to hoist my car up and explore my exhaust ala Perrin and see what the can develop. How can I say no?

I bought the lightest trim, dropped 27 lbs. of exhaust weight, at least twenty pound in over all rotating weight. By the time El Toro arrives, break-in will be over. Friday is test and tune so a crap load of runs on a 40 sec practice course, and Sat and Sun will be on an out freakin standing course. Hell yeah, I think this is going to be fun.

[Vanguard]

Originally Posted by Evil86

First autox will be this coming weekend at El Toro. I am running RTR, there are 18 entries, and three are FR-S drivers (two cars). I stayed with the stock size tires but went with Hankook RS3s on Kosei rims. I want to try out the production stock size (if I remember the pre-prodction size was 205) to see how the car felt. If I need to go wider, I will.

I installed the camber bolts Saturday, and took it out for a test drive on a twisty mountain road. It was plain fun. I never threw the ass out because on the road I was on, the consequences in most sections are dire if not fatal.

Today PPE Engineering yanked my muffler and fabricated a turn down that is really an exit out. They made a stainless turndown that exits out of the left hole. We all thought the car sounded great sans muffler. It had a deeper throat with a little rasp. They did the turn down for a trade. Next month they want to hoist my car up and explore my exhaust ala Perrin and see what the can develop. How can I say no?

I bought the lightest trim, dropped 27 lbs. of exhaust weight, at least twenty pound in over all rotating weight. By the time El Toro arrives, break-in will be over. Friday is test and tune so a crap load of runs on a 40 sec practice course, and Sat and Sun will be on an out freakin standing course. Hell yeah, I think this is going to be fun.

Go get it, Kev (and Matt)! Any idea who that other FR-S driver may be?

[des]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

Go get it, Kev (and Matt)! Any idea who that other FR-S driver may be?

Me! WIll see you guys this weekend. Looking forward to comparing notes.

[des]

Originally Posted by uspspro

Oakland...
I almost went last weekend too. were there any other FRS/BRZ there?

Nope. Three or four people drove my car, though ...

[Evil86]

Originally Posted by des

Me! WIll see you guys this weekend. Looking forward to comparing notes.

Are you going to there for the Test and
Tune?

[Scooby South]

those wanting to run Stock and want a decent but pricey package...
Subaru Option BBS 17x7 53...mine are running 235/40/17 RE-01r's...

Cstock Tire class

[dwx]

Wish there were a few more wheel options available in 17x7. Right now I'm looking at the Kosei K1-TS, they are <$800 17x7 +50. Don't think the Traklites are available much of anywhere right now.

[Kido1986]

Originally Posted by dwx

Wish there were a few more wheel options available in 17x7. Right now I'm looking at the Kosei K1-TS, they are <$800 17x7 +50. Don't think the Traklites are available much of anywhere right now.

Where have you found them? I can't seem to find those koseis in stock size

[dwx]

Tirerack has them but they aren't in the list of wheels for the BRZ. They are however in the list for the WRX.

http://tinyurl.com/84r5px9

[Kido1986]

Thanks.that's why I didn't see.

[Miniata]

Originally Posted by dwx

Wish there were a few more wheel options available in 17x7. Right now I'm looking at the Kosei K1-TS, they are <$800 17x7 +50.

That's what I'm planning to use on my BRZ when it gets here in a couple of weeks. I've got a set I've been using on our Forester XT for a year or two, and I'll be taking those taller tires off and putting some Star Specs on. I called Tire Rack to see if there was any reason they wouldn't fit on the BRZ since they aren't listed on the site, and they called back after talking to their tech dept and said it shouldn't be a problem.

[MTeator]

These claim to be 12.5lbs

http://www.veloxwheels.com/wheels/pg-5s-forged

[Sccabrz192]

During the break in period the shift point SUCKS because it drops you right into that dip in the powerband, otherwise this thing has not disappointed. My favorite part of this car so far has been the transmission, such a HUGE departure from the WRX trans.

Picked it up yesterday, promptly had to see how the number plates looked.

[dwx]

Originally Posted by MTeator

These claim to be 12.5lbs

http://www.veloxwheels.com/wheels/pg-5s-forged

I've found through some Interweb searching the wheels are actually 14.0lbs. Seems par for the course since someone above bought another set of them and they were slightly heavier than advertised. 14.0 is still pretty light, but I haven't found anyone selling them for <$375/wheel which is too much.

[MTeator]

Yeah, My Traklites which are the same weight were 268/ea all said and done (incl center caps & ring. I bought lug nuts separate.) I hope they make another run of them.

[raventare]

Kosei K5R 17X7 at Tire rack are also 14lbs for $199 and +48...if anyone cares they are only painted grey.

[dwx]

I saw those too but they are back ordered until August so I think I'm going to go with the K1s

There has been a lot of talk about RTR and street tires but does anyone have an idea as at as race tires go and sizing? I'm guessing 245/40 would be the best starting point but 225/40/17 may keep you out of the torque dip, with the disadvantage of maybe having to go to 3rd gear not to mention being lower profile. I ran 245/40 Hoosiers on my 06 WRX an that seemed to be the best size but it's a way different car.

[Sccabrz192]

Originally Posted by dwx

I saw those too but they are back ordered until August so I think I'm going to go with the K1s

There has been a lot of talk about RTR and street tires but does anyone have an idea as at as race tires go and sizing? I'm guessing 245/40 would be the best starting point but 225/40/17 may keep you out of the torque dip, with the disadvantage of maybe having to go to 3rd gear not to mention being lower profile. I ran 245/40 Hoosiers on my 06 WRX an that seemed to be the best size but it's a way different car.

Stick with 245s. More grip will outweigh the minimal gearing changes.

[dwx]

Yeah those are my thoughts as well. 245/40 is just a hair under the stock diameter. The only thing now I'm worried about is the K1s are +50 and with the stock offset +42 I'm hoping they fit okay. Not really wanting to run spacers. I know Bill above fit some +53s with 235s but Hoosiers are wiiiide.

[MTeator]

if you're going to run a national event or your region has fast courses, the taller tire is what you're going to want I think... 245/45 might fit with +42's. You're going to want spacers for sure with the K1's. See if you can find out the real world width difference between a 245/45 star spec and the hoosiers. The star specs fit with almost 2 fingers of clearance with a 42mm offset and before camber adjustment.