DocWalt's WRB BRZ

[DocWalt]

New Centric rotors installed:



Swaybar installed:

[DocWalt]

After a bit of highway on-ramp/off-ramp testing... Pretty darn neutral now. There's noticeably more push on throttle, and it's less snappy off throttle. Easier to modulate right on the balance point of understeer/oversteer. VERY fun and really bodes well for the track I'll have to see how it translates to lower speed more jerky movements at autocross this weekend.

[DocWalt]

Really wet autocross today! Second time autocrossing in the rain, this time was quite a bit more successful, lol. This run was good for 3rd overall, even though it wasn't the greatest. Tons of fun at least
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1NMHEdF69A"]Central PCA AutoX 05-01-2016 Run 5 STX BRZ - YouTube[/ame]

This is what not to do... very nearly killed the finish line boxes with the side of my car.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDdNRj-WP_Y"]Slideways! - YouTube[/ame]

[DocWalt]

I had a pretty successful autocross today. It started wet but dried out. I finished first in class and fifth overall. The new swaybar made a huge difference in my confidence level, I can really throw the car around now.



My fastest run, about five tenths up on second place:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO9CJgD-yq8[/ame]

and my blooper reel... including the first time I've ever spun a car, hehe
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiw4Aa7nLuM[/ame]

[ryoma]

how do you like autocrossing compared to track days? I have never tried an autocross yet but there's more track days than autocrosses (about only 2 times a year for autocross) where I live. I have been to a few track days and have considered autocross, but I am afraid of missing cones lol. it seems a little confusing for me compared to a track where you know for sure where to go

[DocWalt]

Originally Posted by ryoma

how do you like autocrossing compared to track days? I have never tried an autocross yet but there's more track days than autocrosses (about only 2 times a year for autocross) where I live. I have been to a few track days and have considered autocross, but I am afraid of missing cones lol. it seems a little confusing for me compared to a track where you know for sure where to go

It's different, that's for sure. Track days have way more bang for the buck but the ability to abuse the car and not really worry about hitting things or breaking things is great. The competition is fantastic too! Also, only ~2 autocrosses in SoCal? Gotta be willing to drive further, there should be plenty, hehe.

I'm going to Summit Point next weekend, so I'll be on track again soon

[ryoma]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

It's different, that's for sure. Track days have way more bang for the buck but the ability to abuse the car and not really worry about hitting things or breaking things is great. The competition is fantastic too! Also, only ~2 autocrosses in SoCal? Gotta be willing to drive further, there should be plenty, hehe.

I'm going to Summit Point next weekend, so I'll be on track again soon

I'm one of the oddballs in socal since I live in the Coachella Valley (basically no where near the rest of socal). the Corvette club hosts autocross events 2 times a year locally. I guess I'll try an event next year and see how I like it. I spectated the events a few times and there's a lot of people who bring properly set up cars (and one even brought a nascar). I guess I am afraid of making a fool out of myself... I need to get over it

[DocWalt]

Originally Posted by ryoma

I'm one of the oddballs in socal since I live in the Coachella Valley (basically no where near the rest of socal). the Corvette club hosts autocross events 2 times a year locally. I guess I'll try an event next year and see how I like it. I spectated the events a few times and there's a lot of people who bring properly set up cars (and one even brought a nascar). I guess I am afraid of making a fool out of myself... I need to get over it

Go for it! Nothing to lose! I murdered some plastidip on my front lip today and that was it, lol.

[DocWalt]

After some track time, I'll simply sum up the suspension as amazing. About as neutral as I can imagine a car being and handles literally everything with aplomb.

I'm too tired right now from putting stock pads back on, but I'll have some pics and videos soon.

On that note... My brakes are trashed so I ordered the AP Sprint kit. The pedal is SUPER long right now after putting stock pads back on and the whole car vibrates nastily on the brakes. I'm not clear if I'm doing something wrong or getting weird pad transfer or what. My oil cooler is also busted (one end of it is now bent, not 100% sure what happened), a replacement core will be here to swap out this weekend.

[DocWalt]

I went to Summit Point's Shenandoah Circuit over the past weekend with Trackdaze. I had a blast! Here's an in-car video of a few laps. Not my quickest laps, but I had data or GoPro issues on the other videos...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIGPLvADzmk[/ame]


A quick compilation of videos from my buddy @PA-86 on Saturday. I got to take him for a ride on Sunday and I think he was fairly calm, all things considered, haha.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBNCYQnQrYQ[/ame]

[DocWalt]

A few more words about the suspension... It soaks up the bumpiness on Shenandoah very well even on somewhat stiff 5 clicks front and 6 clicks rear damper settings. Easily as smooth as stock was last fall even with the significantly higher forces generated. Really impressive!

The car balance is sublime now with the 20mm Whiteline front swaybar on soft, sooo easy to control the car's attitude even with a sloppy right foot. I'd likely want a touch more understeer on a faster track because as the tires got greasy the rear would start to wiggle a little around Big Bend (the fast left hand corner before the longest straight) which was a touch unnerving. It never stepped out, but I could tell it was moving around if I stayed at full throttle carrying the extra speed.

The issue with the EPAS overloading and shutting off would happen three places on track at least, worst of all in the Karussell. It may not be too obvious in the video but it was essentially flicking on and off the whole way around the banking which was killing my arms/shoulders fighting the car.

I pretty much need a harness or somehow lock the seatbelt as I can't stay in the seat anymore. This is also fairly obvious in the video...

I ruined the brakes somehow. Either I didn't let them cool long enough before parking or simply abused them too much, I'm not sure. I was cruising around the paddock for ~5 minutes after each session and parked in gear without touching the brakes or using the handbrake. I also started to fade the pads as I occasionally had to push noticeably harder to get equivalent braking.

I also wrecked an oil cooler... May have been damage from overtightening a leaking fitting last fall, but it didn't show up until this weekend.



Here are a few more pics from the weekend:

[DocWalt]

Full wet session from the track. A few moments included

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sqjbV1hTjY[/ame]

[DarkSunrise]

Didn't realize there was a GT4 out there!

[DocWalt]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Didn't realize there was a GT4 out there!

Yep, on Saturday, even in the rain. He was just fast enough that it was taking me all session to start to see him ahead of me then checkered flag. I'd have loved to catch him, hehe.