Got a track related question? I'll try to answer.

[ayau]

I'd go slow on the shifts just to avoid DI seals failing

[track_warrior]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

The stock clutch doesn't grab hard enough to REALLY shock the gears; you'll notice a screeching noise if you do really really hard shifts. This is the clutch slightly slipping on that fast shift, which is absorbing some of the shock load.

Yeah you can definitely hear it in my car if you pay attention in the video:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOeGz2W63OM"]Scion FR-S Chasing Porsche 997 GT3 @ Circuit Of The Americas (Track) - YouTube[/ame]

[retrosmiths]

So...I bought a spare pair of stock rims and wrapped them with used 225/45 from a tire shop. Planning to use these on the track (rear tires), in the 86 Dynamic Driving Academy to be precise, which focuses on the drifting aspect.

Am I doing it right?

[retrosmiths]

Bump

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by retrosmiths

So...I bought a spare pair of stock rims and wrapped them with used 225/45 from a tire shop. Planning to use these on the track (rear tires), in the 86 Dynamic Driving Academy to be precise, which focuses on the drifting aspect.

Am I doing it right?

Whoops, missed this!

I'd recommend taking all of them! The car will easily fit 4 rims and tires in the back seats.

But you bought a pair...

Do you have a reason for wanting more rear grip on track? You're gonna understeer....

[retrosmiths]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Whoops, missed this!

I'd recommend taking all of them! The car will easily fit 4 rims and tires in the back seats.

But you bought a pair...

Do you have a reason for wanting more rear grip on track? You're gonna understeer....

Ah crap, I didn't realize that...that I actually need less grip for this drift event haha. Anyway, main thing I was concerned with is that I need a spare tire that's not a donut.

[BrianJC]

Hey CSG Mike, I got a newbie question...

I'm still trying to perfect heel toe downshifting and the way the FRS is setup I cannot do it with the outside of my foot even if my life depended on it.... so I have to actually lift my heel pivot my foot and stab the throttle with my heel. And through each gear I lift the clutch as I've seen from hundreds of videos. My question is, can you actually downshift through gears pressing in the clutch the whole time, never lifting it off (still shift through each individual gear and still blip the throttle each time you go through a gear, just not lifting the clutch until you reach the gear you want)?

Kind of a stupid question since I've never seen anyone do that... so what is the disadvantage or problems one would encounter if you never lift the clutch at the end of each blip?

[KKaWing]

Originally Posted by BrianJC

Hey CSG Mike, I got a newbie question...

I'm still trying to perfect heel toe downshifting and the way the FRS is setup I cannot do it with the outside of my foot even if my life depended on it.... so I have to actually lift my heel pivot my foot and stab the throttle with my heel. And through each gear I lift the clutch as I've seen from hundreds of videos. My question is, can you actually downshift through gears pressing in the clutch the whole time, never lifting it off (still shift through each individual gear and still blip the throttle each time you go through a gear, just not lifting the clutch until you reach the gear you want)?

Kind of a stupid question since I've never seen anyone do that... so what is the disadvantage or problems one would encounter if you never lift the clutch at the end of each blip?

Don't stab with your heel. The pedal is not nearly long enough (unless you have weird ultra flexible ankles...). You can thank unintended acceleration suits for that. Take a look at this:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxGtx9xXhlM&feature=share&list=UUgoaptaitc Spjy6cAD2IOkg"]Heel and Toe Braking - Shifting Technique Tutorial: Hooked On Driving - YouTube[/ame]

[BrianJC]

Originally Posted by KKaWing

Don't stab with your heel. The pedal is not nearly long enough (unless you have weird ultra flexible ankles...). You can thank unintended acceleration suits for that. Take a look at this:

It was my poor choice of words, I simply meant I have to blip it. So like your video, I cannot do it the way they did it. I have to do it like this video (right at the start of the video), by pivoting my foot

.

[KKaWing]

Originally Posted by BrianJC

It was my poor choice of words, I simply meant I have to blip it. So like your video, I cannot do it the way they did it. I have to do it like this video (right at the start of the video), by pivoting my foot

.

Do what feels natural for you. Every foot is different, big-foots with monster 11's sometimes blip the throttle with their toes... smaller feet do it with their heels. Some uses the side of the foot. You mentioned you had difficulty with using your heel so the next progression would be the side of your foot.

Maybe consider pedal covers, or even just a change in footwear. Narrower Pumas tend to help me with the heel aspect. Wider Timberlands let me use the side of my foot.

In the end it's more practice than anything. I posted that video just to point out you don't necessarily have to use only your heel + toe. Just make sure you have good grip on the brake pedal so your foot won't slip off and be able to manipulate the throttle without getting your foot stuck between them (aka be safe).

[forwallblakmail]

Mike, whats the cost of track time out there on the West Coast? Say a typical weekend at Willow Springs? I may be moving there in less than 2 years for grad school, and track location IS something I consider in choosing a school. I mean, thats whats really important, right? I'm from PA and I usually pay 120$ for a track day or 165$ for time trials.

Nick

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by BrianJC

Hey CSG Mike, I got a newbie question...

I'm still trying to perfect heel toe downshifting and the way the FRS is setup I cannot do it with the outside of my foot even if my life depended on it.... so I have to actually lift my heel pivot my foot and stab the throttle with my heel. And through each gear I lift the clutch as I've seen from hundreds of videos. My question is, can you actually downshift through gears pressing in the clutch the whole time, never lifting it off (still shift through each individual gear and still blip the throttle each time you go through a gear, just not lifting the clutch until you reach the gear you want)?

Kind of a stupid question since I've never seen anyone do that... so what is the disadvantage or problems one would encounter if you never lift the clutch at the end of each blip?

There's no "wrong" way to do it. Ultimately, the goal is to be able to blip the throttle while maintaining steady brake pressure. Some people use their heel on the gas pedal, while others pivot the other way and use their heel on the brake pedal.

Yes, you can go through every gate without lifting on the clutch, and that's what I actually did for a long time, until I refined my downshifts enough that I can go through every gate without affecting car balance or time.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by forwallblakmail

Mike, whats the cost of track time out there on the West Coast? Say a typical weekend at Willow Springs? I may be moving there in less than 2 years for grad school, and track location IS something I consider in choosing a school. I mean, thats whats really important, right? I'm from PA and I usually pay 120$ for a track day or 165$ for time trials.

Nick

Streets of Willow Springs: $60-140, average 100-120
Willow Springs International Raceway: $100-180, average: 130-150
Auto Club Speedway: $180-240, average: 210
Buttonwillow: $140-200, average: 160
Chuckwalla Valley Raceway: $125-200, average: 150-175
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca: $180-350, average: 300 (4 sessions)
Sonoma: $180-350, average: 300 (4 sessions)
Thunderhill: $100-200, average: 160

add 50% for any SCCA/NASA/POC/PCA/BMWCCA events.

Lower prices are during the summer when turnouts are smaller and/or when promos are going on.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by retrosmiths

So...I bought a spare pair of stock rims and wrapped them with used 225/45 from a tire shop. Planning to use these on the track (rear tires), in the 86 Dynamic Driving Academy to be precise, which focuses on the drifting aspect.

Am I doing it right?

What specific make/model tire? That's WAY more important than 225 vs 215. Are they trackworthy, have they been tracked, and if so, how many heat cycles?