I came back from the track with MORE tire?

[N_I_N]

I have a 2 hour drive home from Sebring. I did my first track day in the FR-S on the stock everything. I noticed some vibration on the drive home. Now I see what it was. I had picked up all kinds of rubber from the track. I came back with more than I arrived with I think...

The car did great, and I had no issues except when I first got on track I was braking too early and too long so I had some slight fade into turn 10 once. My instructor told me to be more confident with braking and try to wait longer before hitting them - but really hit them when it's time. This should build less heat. That worked. for the rest of the day, I had no issues with my brakes. Having said that, I think I was only at about 75-80% of what the car could do so that might be why too. Taking it easy to start with...

[smbstyle]

Nice meeting you there! I was the guy at tech and registration (Scott).

Glad everything worked out stock. Driving at 7/10ths for the day is the reason why you didn't have any major issues with the brakes, which is good. Much better than paying that money trying to get one "hot lap" in the car at 10/10ths before the pads are glazed and fluid is boiled and you're day is done.

I know Ramon, one of the instructors you were talking to with the White FRS, and myself will be down there in June with our cars, and I believe we'll have a few more BRZ's/FRS's there in June as well.

[N_I_N]

I hope I can do that one too... I put my RPF1's on yesterday.

[Tt3Sheppard]

Good to know Sebring didn't toast the stock brakes and tires with moderate pushing of the car.

[N_I_N]

What I started to do was not accelerate all the way up until the last instant that I needed to brake. When approaching turns 1, 10, and 17, I would just lift a few seconds before I needed to brake and just let the engine slow me down. I would still take all the turns at 85-90% and still thoroughly enjoyed myself without killing my brakes. I did 10-16 pretty much as fast as I wanted without any special treatment.

The other thing I noticed was that other than the back straight, I could pretty much just use 3rd and 4th gear. I don't think any turns benefit from using second. Maybe the hairpin but that might be it - and even then I doubt it... Just my $0.02.

[orthojoe]

That tire slag won't be an issue once you start driving faster. The novice/intermediates always seem to have this issue. The problem goes away immediately once you start screaming around the corners and hammering the brakes. All that slag comes off quickly then. Something to shoot for.

[smbstyle]

Originally Posted by orthojoe

That tire slag won't be an issue once you start driving faster. The novice/intermediates always seem to have this issue. The problem goes away immediately once you start screaming around the corners and hammering the brakes. All that slag comes off quickly then. Something to shoot for.

No, not really; that is the marbles or "clag" being picked up on track by your hot, sticky tires.

[orthojoe]

Originally Posted by smbstyle

No, not really; that is the marbles or "clag" being picked up on track by your hot, sticky tires.

Yes. I know how that stuff gets on tires. What is your point? That tire 'clag' will come off when you drive more aggressively.

I used to have the problem when I was a novice. The wheels would start vibrating from being unbalanced. I don't have that problem anymore.

[smbstyle]

Originally Posted by orthojoe

Yes. Your point? That tire 'clag' will comes off when you drive more aggressively.

You said the issue wont be present if you drive faster; that's not correct. It's not novice drivers that pick this up, it's everyone. On the in-lap at Sebring, EVERYONE picks it up on the back straight into 17 as you pull towards the right; off the normal line where all the marbles are.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by orthojoe

That tire slag won't be an issue once you start driving faster. The novice/intermediates always seem to have this issue. The problem goes away immediately once you start screaming around the corners and hammering the brakes. All that slag comes off quickly then. Something to shoot for.

There will still be some from cool down laps, etc. I drive plenty aggressively (probably too aggressively) and I still get marbles. I do get a lot more on the wheel than the tires of course, but the tires will pick up plenty of crap during cool down, driving around paddocks, etc.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by smbstyle

You said the issue wont be present if you drive faster; that's not correct. It's not novice drivers that pick this up, it's everyone. On the in-lap at Sebring, EVERYONE picks it up on the back straight into 17 as you pull towards the right; off the normal line where all the marbles are.

This.

Hopefully I'll be there in June too, need to setup the R2s..

[smbstyle]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

This.

Hopefully I'll be there in June too, need to setup the R2s..

Nice! We've got a few people coming in June. Ramon, the instructor with a white FRS, just threw on some KWs and other goodies, and should be there too.

[orthojoe]

I guess I need to work on my cool down laps. I barely get this stuff on my tires anymore. Certainly not enough to cause vibration and unbalance the wheel like the OP.

[N_I_N]

It wasn't very pronounced, but I noticed it. I was just surprised it had not worn off after 120 miles of driving.