BRZ/FR-S Track Worthiness

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Feffman

To some extent, I agree with Mike, but I'd upgrade to a better brake pad then stock, say the Carbotechs (www.CTBrakes.com) and something other then all-season tires. Don't need an "R" compound, just a better high performance street tire.

Agree. Most, if not all car insurers have included a clause that reads something to the effect of "We will not cover any incidence on a racing surface."

Feff

I'd switch pads and fluid. Novices are especially bad at dragging brakes and generating heat, sending one out with OEM pads and fluid is just bad advice IMO.

I definately agree that no suspension, power, etc mods need to be done, and in fact, I always suggest people learn their cars stock. Lower limits to learn with and it provides valuable information on what needs to be fixed once you have enough seat time.

And we won't even allow anyone with less 4 or 5 events and have been signed off for solo to run R comps. Covers up mistakes and makes the limits much higher so incidents happen a lot faster and they are harder to fix once the car exceeds those high limits.

I know you guys know all this already, it's for the others reading

Definately get HPDE insurance unless you can afford to push the car off a cliff. It's too high risk when a significant amount of financial loss is possible to do so otherwise.

[Element Tuning]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

I'd switch pads and fluid. Novices are especially bad at dragging brakes and generating heat, sending one out with OEM pads and fluid is just bad advice IMO.

I agree I've had no issues with brake fade even with stock pads and fluid but others have. I believe they aren't compressing their brake zones very well and must be dragging. I seem to use very little brake on this car but I'm also on race tires so I do have higher entry speeds and therefore have not had to scrub much speed.

With that said I did put my STi Brembos on with Hawk DTC 60s I believe and OMG I can brake so late in this car and it's just a punch and go. I don't think there is a brake marker even this late into turn one. Have a look:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYTqLQdfwdo"]Element Tuning FRS/BRZ Cat-Back Delete Summit Point 6-2012 - YouTube[/ame]

That 140 whp, 2400 lbs Miata was giving me fits on the straights. Until I found out the specs on the car I was like oh man somethings wrong with my engine.

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

I definately agree that no suspension, power, etc mods need to be done, and in fact, I always suggest people learn their cars stock. Lower limits to learn with and it provides valuable information on what needs to be fixed once you have enough seat time.

And we won't even allow anyone with less 4 or 5 events and have been signed off for solo to run R comps. Covers up mistakes and makes the limits much higher so incidents happen a lot faster and they are harder to fix once the car exceeds those high limits.

I've been pretty hard on this car so far and it never overheats and it never has brake fade. I think I did finally get some fuel starvation dropping below 1/2 tank on race tires so if running track tires and you have a long right hand sweeper, keep the tank above 1/2.

I'm concerned about oil starvation since the grip level is so high on track tires for a stock car. With that said I'm not seeing the oil consumption we get on the WRX/STi so I think due to the low crankcase pressure not as much oil is getting pushed and trapped in the heads. When we boost our FRS and fully prep it for ballistic cornering speeds we will definitely offer a dry sump kit. For now I'm keeping my AC

Thanks,
Phil Grabow

[icemang17]

I'd guess there are stock baffles in the sump......this car was designed for track duty from the very begining...they don't want to warranty blown engines.....Just like spec miata's.....their system works just fine......

[Element Tuning]

Originally Posted by icemang17

I'd guess there are stock baffles in the sump......this car was designed for track duty from the very begining...they don't want to warranty blown engines.....Just like spec miata's.....their system works just fine......

All the Imprezas have baffled pans and its adequate up to a point and i would imagine its the same on thr FRS/BRZ. I will probably get a oil pressure gauge when we modify the suspension so i can start monitoring it.

If the baffling was completely inadequate i would have already spun a bearing so for now with race tires and no suspension mods owners should feel safe.

[FRSpdDmn]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

1. Track pads, at least in the front, but possible in the rear too (less agressive of a pad though). Good brake fluid such as ATE Super Blue as well.

As a point of discussion, I would recommend upgrading the rear pads with the same compound as in front, if at all possible. First, the weight distribution and low CG of this car will allow the rear tires to do more braking. Second, there is less cooling capacity in the rear and less heat sink (smaller calipers/rotors), so they actually also need a higher heat range. Third, the car has electronic brake force distribution and will even out your braking forces anyway.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by FRSpdDmn

As a point of discussion, I would recommend upgrading the rear pads with the same compound as in front, if at all possible. First, the weight distribution and low CG of this car will allow the rear tires to do more braking. Second, there is less cooling capacity in the rear and less heat sink (smaller calipers/rotors), so they actually also need a higher heat range. Third, the car has electronic brake force distribution and will even out your braking forces anyway.

It's certaintly possible, I haven't driven the car on track yet. That hasn't been the case in my previous cars but I'm willing to give it a shot.

[FRSpdDmn]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

It's certaintly possible, I haven't driven the car on track yet. That hasn't been the case in my previous cars but I'm willing to give it a shot.

Remember that this car has a whole helluva lot more weight on the rear tires than the typical fwd car. Just mentioning that because it looks like your primary race cars have been fwd.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by FRSpdDmn

Remember that this car has a whole helluva lot more weight on the rear tires than the typical fwd car. Just mentioning that because it looks like your primary race cars have been fwd.

Agreed. I mentioned it as well in another thread on this topic I experienced it in my S2000 also though.

[icemang17]

Originally Posted by Element Tuning

All the Imprezas have baffled pans and its adequate up to a point and i would imagine its the same on thr FRS/BRZ. I will probably get a oil pressure gauge when we modify the suspension so i can start monitoring it.

If the baffling was completely inadequate i would have already spun a bearing so for now with race tires and no suspension mods owners should feel safe.

I agree.....I will be following your progress...since it appears you are one of the 1st to get out there on race tires..... I am hoping the FRS-BRZ becomes the next miata on racetracks...... I'd love to see a spec FRS class in a few years.....

[FRSpdDmn]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Agreed. I mentioned it as well in another thread on this topic I experienced it in my S2000 also though.

Gotcha. I would think that car would be similar...