RCE Tarmac 2 Review/Competition Log
 

Last year I had the privilege of working with @Racecomp Engineering to test their new Tarmac springs from the standpoint of autocross:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39418

This year I am fielding a set of their Tarmac II coilovers.

For the 2014 season, my cars primary use will be autocross and street driving. I track this car as well at SCCA Club Trials and general track days, however this year I have 5 national level autocrosses on my schedule and possibly a run at Lincoln come September. This thread will focus on the results and driving impressions of the T2's.

A few things about myself and the car. The car is underprepped. Yes, partly because of financial constraints (I'm finishing my geology degree) and partly intentional. The intentional part is the fact I hate loud cars, so the intake and the exhaust are stock. I may bolt on my Berk muffler delete if I feel like losing 26lbs, but my friends will have to get me drunk first.

SCCA STX
2013 Spec:
2013 BRZ Premium
Stock tune
TRD CAI
Koni Yellows
RCE Tarmac Springs
RCE Front sway
HVT camber plates
Moore Performance catback(Toledo)/stock catback(Wilmington)
Enkei RPF1 17x8
245/40 BFG Rivals
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps871402ce.jpg

Toledo Prosolo Results (Tarmac Springs+Koni's)
(I'm Nick Kelly)

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...psa93afc3d.png

Wilmington Championship Tour Results (Tarmac Springs+Koni's)

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...pscb6e0ca7.png

As you can see, I got slayed at Toledo. I did decently better at Wilmington but still have alot of time to make up. Still, being the only car in the field with fixed perch struts I think it held its own.

2014 Spec:
2013 BRZ Premium
EcuTek tune
Perrin inlet
Green drop in filter
RCE Tarmac II's 400/400
RCE Front sway
HVT camber plates
Whiteline front endlinks
Whiteline rear subframe inserts
Gramlights 57DR 17x9
245/40 Direzza Z2
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps66d1c14d.jpg


The first autocross of the season is in two weeks. It's the Wilmington Match Tour. I plan on dialing in the car at the event and see where its strengths and weaknesses against a formidable STX field. Two weeks after is the DC Pro Solo, so the season is hitting the ground running for me.

In addition to the incredible support from @Racecomp Engineering I would also like to acknowledge @CounterSpace Garage for all of their advice on brakes and oil (Sprint kit in my future someday!), @Turn in Concepts for there help and support with the HVT plates last year and @FT-86 SpeedFactory for always having everything I need (all the Whiteline stuff!).




Stay tuned for further updates!

White + gunmetal 57dr + Z2 = my dream :)

I'm running the T2s as well with the Raceseng CASCAMs and Shocktops. Loving the coilovers so far, but still trying to dial them in for my car. Your car looks good. I'm also way under prepped for my SM class. Hope to see you in Lincoln in September.

Ive been running the T2's since the beginning of the year and I have nothing but praise for them. Such a good quality set-up. Track they work perfectly and for street they are surprisingly comfortable with no complaints by the mrs.

I too have the Tarmac 2's on my STX BRZ.
We'll see if I can defend my 2013 regional title as well as a good result at my first national this July with them.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one beating on these things! :-)

Can't wait to see what you can do with them! Keep us posted. :)

- Andy

@forwallblakmail:
What particular ecutek tune are you using? A custom/one-off tune(where you go there and have it tuned just for you) or a "shop's pre-made/plug-n-play tune" (like ft86 stage 2, etc.)? And, what made you want to get a new tune for autoX/track? (power, response, smoothness, fixes, etc.?) ..And have you noticed a significant improvement at the autox/track with the tune? Thx :)

I haven't gotten the tune yet. Probably this Saturday. I'm taking it to TPG tuning outside of Pittsburgh. I'm not sure if he is going to flash it with EcuTek or open source it. I'll post some impressions on here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As soon as I get some time I will update this, its been awhile! Short version: A few autocross's and a track day on the Tarmac 2's. Blissfully amazing results.

@Racecomp Engineering

Resurrecting this thread from the dead!

Since the last post over a year and a half ago, I have moved from Pennsylvania to North Carolina pursuing a Master of Science in Geology at East Carolina University. I have taken full advantage of my re-location, and have been able to drive and compete on tracks with NASA that I have previously only have dreamed of: Road Atlanta and VIR being among them.

A recap:
I installed the T2's at the end of 2013. They have been on the car since, with the settings close to what RCE recommends with -3.5 degrees of camber up front and -2.5 degrees camber in the rear.

The car has been NASA TTD prepped since the beginning of 2015.

Since the beginning of 2015, I have competed in 9 events with NASA Southeast and Mid Atlantic, and I have podiumed at every single event, with 2 first places.

I have been extremely happy with my RCE T2's on both street tires and race tires. The car will be on race tires from now on as I have acquired a tow vehicle.

I'm not on here all the time, but if anyone has any questions about the suspension or NASA TT or geology (lol) please send me a message. With that, here are some pictures.

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i...00536_o-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i...0/L/bike-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i...LM_6292-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i...RA_Apex2-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i.../RA_Apex-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i.../0/L/ra4-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i.../XL/ra5-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i...P/0/L/rn-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i...L/virt3-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i.../0/L/fza-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i...C/0/L/cp-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i...C/0/L/vf-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i...XL/turn-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/NASA-TT/i...L/rearq-XL.jpg

great job man...i am digging the car...what kind of lap times have you been able to run at Road Atlanta?

i am on rce t2's as well but with stock top hats so only -2 or so degree's up front and rear...curious if getting more camber up front will dramatically improve the car...did you ever run any settings other than the -3.5/-2.5 ?

Thanks!

fastest time at Road Atlanta thus far is a 1:44.xx
Fastest at VIR is a 2:17.xx

I've kept the alignment set where it is because it seems to work as I go back and fourth between street tires and race tires, but now that I'm sticking with race tires, I may take the front up to -3.8. I would invest in some top hats for some adjustability, I think you'll really like the front end grip with a little more camber.

Nice work!

And hooray for geology! :lol:

- Andy <-- knows a little bit about geology and hydrology

Thank you, and awesome!!!

I'll need a real job next May if RCE does some hydro work on the side lol!