Max's BRZ STX Build

[piknockout]

Good times indeed. Now instead of me copying Annie's white STi, I'm copying your blue BRZ. Hoping that I can find an SSR co-drive this year, but if not then you may see mine in grid. I will be 84 STX just so that I can stand around and harass you. :p

[blkwrxwag]

Nationals this year is going to be a last minute decision for me... wife is due to give birth in July and I haven't quite figured out whether I will be able to escape yet!

[Sccabrz192]

Originally Posted by blkwrxwag

Nationals this year is going to be a last minute decision for me... wife is due to give birth in July and I haven't quite figured out whether I will be able to escape yet!

I realize everyone is different and not knowing you or your situation at all...

but from my experience, my son was born in June this year and around April I started realizing breaching the subject of going away for a week to go play with cars in the middle of Nebraska at any point before November was going to end badly for me so now I am really looking forward to 2014!

Here's to hoping it works out better for you than it did me!

[blkwrxwag]

Yeah - it's difficult to imagine how she will be able to manage a 10 year old, two basset hounds and an enormous tortoise, all while trying to deal with a newborn without my assistance for a week. Still, hope springs eternal

[Sccabrz192]

Originally Posted by blkwrxwag

hope springs eternal

Indeed, Madness insues without.

[des]

Originally Posted by blkwrxwag

Yeah - it's difficult to imagine how she will be able to manage a 10 year old, two basset hounds and an enormous tortoise, all while trying to deal with a newborn without my assistance for a week. Still, hope springs eternal

Max, congratulations!

This is when you invite the grandmas for a visit and clear out of the way.

[blkwrxwag]

New Year update :-

Car has been at Gearhead's Garage since 12/18 for the winter break. Steve worked on the rear endlinks, modifying them to have heim joints so that they can move in 360 degrees, instead of just one plane.

He also installed some Whiteline diff bushings, the main tranny bushing and worked on the front sway bar collars to eliminate some bind.

Finally, he installed an OS Giken diff. This diff has been custom made for my car by the guys at OSG, and we shall be doing some testing on it to make sure it performs as we hope. First test will be this coming weekend at California Speedway and if I get time tomorrow, I'm going to mount up some used 255/40 17 Hancook RS3s I picked up off a forum member as I think my current tires are pretty shot.

Obligatory shot of car at Gearhead's Garage in Tustin, CA...

[blkwrxwag]

Time for an update :-

So the first event of the year with the new tires and diff went well. The tires needed a new setup on the car, with the soft sidewalled RS3 needing more camber than the Z1 SS. I was also having some problems on the bumpy lot, so spent some time tweaking on shocks to get the car to more compliant, but really didn't get that done until the very last run of the weekend.

Going into the event this weekend, I left the car on the settings from the January event and concentrated on understanding the diff better. One thing I have noticed since it was installed, is that I can get on the gas earlier and more aggressively, without the rear of the car stepping out. If I want the rear to come out, I have to "really" try. The OS Giken guys tell me that we can go more aggressive if I want to, but I think I like the current setting for the moment.

For example here is one video from the practice yesterday, and one from the championship today. You can see how stable the car is and easy to drive. It was cold this morning and it took quite a few runs before the RS3s come up to temperature. Definitely not a great tire choice, but once I had some heat, I set some really good times to win STX.

Practice :

[ame]http://youtu.be/MepQknB88A0[/ame]

Championship :

[ame]http://youtu.be/mwwEVVcqgUM[/ame]

[Wepeel]

^Nice looking runs. What spring rates are you running (or is that too sensitive to share )?

[Churg]

Max, it was great to see you at the last AutoX. (I was the first timer, slow, noob and stock WRB BRZ) Thanks for letting me ride along, that was amazing! Great to see and get some tips from you.

Quick question, though. Your headers, are they UEL or Equal Length? Because your car sounded so freakin' amazing, I was really impressed.

[blkwrxwag]

It was great meeting you as well - hope to see you out again. The headers are JDL UEL, combined with a Perrin overpipe, Perrin catted front pipe and Perrin 2.5 resonated catback. And yes, it does sound amazing, whilst being very civilized on the street.

[Churg]

Will you be out there at El Toro on the 1st? I'll finally have real wheels and tires, decided to run 17x9 RPF1's, and stuck with +45, per your suggestion, and I'll be running 245/40 Dunlop ZII's. I plan on running on the champ days after this next practice, need to get better before I start going on Sundays. Plus, El Toro is super far away from where I'm at.

[blkwrxwag]

Don't be scared of Sundays - we have a novice group and instructors. El Toro is an amazing facility.

I might be there on the 1st - I'm due to move house the following week and I'm not sure the wife will let me out all weekend!

Good choice on the wheels/tires - I want a set of those as well!

[Churg]

I actually work with Leonard, he advised that I go on Sundays, too. I might this time, I'm now addicted to this sport.

I hear having someone drive your car helps a lot, I'm going to try that next time if I can. Unfortunately, I bought an Auto, which was a terrible mistake looking back. Shifting up is great, but sometimes it stutters when I shift on the paddles back and forth.