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

[Sleepless]

I've seen no evidence of our cars being delicate. I've had many other cars (including some BMWs) that I've beat on at the track and the BRZ is performing for me just as well as the others. I've had mine since late Feb and have done 14 track days (advanced/race group HPDEs) and 13K miles with no issues other than clearly needing an oil cooler which I added early on. If you run hard on R-comps, you'll want better front brakes.

Edit: Love this car

[DarkSunrise]

I think if bone stock, all you need to track reliably is an oil cooler and brake pads/fluid.

I've done about a dozen track days on mine (intermediate/solo HPDE), plus a handful of autocrosses and ~15k street miles. No mechanical issues.

[kster1]

Originally Posted by Sleepless

I've seen no evidence of our cars being delicate. I've had many other cars (including some BMWs) that I've beat on at the track and the BRZ is performing for me just as well as the others. I've had mine since late Feb and have done 14 track days (advanced/race group HPDEs) and 13K miles with no issues other than clearly needing an oil cooler which I added early on. If you run hard on R-comps, you'll want better front brakes.

Edit: Love this car

Same here. I have at least 15+ events on my BRZ and no issues. FYI, I added an oil cooler and got an Ecutek tune right after I got the car.

[sw20kosh]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Are these cars really as delicate as I'm being lead to believe when used for Auto-X/HPDE work?

Been doing HPDE's for the whole car's life. Am at 56k miles and more than half of that has been boosted miles.

So far things that have broken/worn out:

Coilpack #1 (the one right above the hot over pipe)
Front Wheel studs (replaced with longer/harder ones)
Rear Axle bearing (replaced axles with DriveShaftShop axles)
Middle brake light LED circuit board.

Been lucky so far with the motor and crossing my fingers it stays together for a long time. I personally know 2 people who have blown bone stock motors at the track. But I also personally know 4 people who are boosted and are doing fine at the track beating on their cars.

[OkieSnuffBox]

This is good to know gents, thanks.


The car is stock except for the OFT Stg 1 91 oct tune.


Plans include oil cooler/ducting as mentioned, as well as a full exhaust/intake/suspension/pads.


Is a baffle or aftermarket oil pan worth the effort if using a quality oil and an oil cooler?

[Lebby83]

Will I noticed a nice difference around tracks with different/better sway bars? Car is a 2013 BRZ that is stock except for upgraded rotors/pads.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Lebby83

Will I noticed a nice difference around tracks with different/better sway bars? Car is a 2013 BRZ that is stock except for upgraded rotors/pads.

Only a change in balance.

Don't listen to any vendor that tells you getting front and rear sways will make a huge difference. They do make a difference, but nothing close to what a good set of dampers can do.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

This is good to know gents, thanks.


The car is stock except for the OFT Stg 1 91 oct tune.


Plans include oil cooler/ducting as mentioned, as well as a full exhaust/intake/suspension/pads.


Is a baffle or aftermarket oil pan worth the effort if using a quality oil and an oil cooler?

I don't believe anyone who tracks regularly locally uses an aftermarket oil pan, but good oil is pretty much universal.

I don't recommend the OFT tune, unless you have an early make that doesn't have the DI seal fix.

Bolt-ons basically do nothing; quite the opposite of the Miata.

I'd recommend you do an oil cooler and brake pads/fluid first, then camber mods, and then BBK. We can help you with all that.

[DocWalt]

I'm curious why you don't recommend the OFT tune, Mike. Have you seen issues with it on track?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

I'm curious why you don't recommend the OFT tune, Mike. Have you seen issues with it on track?

It's just not a complete tuning solution.

Would you drive on track missing 2 of your 3 mirrors? Tuning with OFT is like tuning without everything you need.

That and I've seen a lot of people get *slower* after they get an OFT.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

I don't believe anyone who tracks regularly locally uses an aftermarket oil pan, but good oil is pretty much universal.

I don't recommend the OFT tune, unless you have an early make that doesn't have the DI seal fix.

Bolt-ons basically do nothing; quite the opposite of the Miata.

I'd recommend you do an oil cooler and brake pads/fluid first, then camber mods, and then BBK. We can help you with all that.

Ok. Yeah, mine is a 2015 just picked it up in October.


Is something like a Carbotech XP12 f/r with not going to stand up to R-comps on a mostly stock car? I know there is much better feel and modulation with a BBK (my Miata has Wilwoods at all 4 corners), but $2200 buys a lot of seat time.




Also, since you're familiar with Emilio, what's the closest BRZ equivalent to his XIDA's for the Miata? I ran the XIDA's on my car at the track and they were phenomenal.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

It's just not a complete tuning solution.

Would you drive on track missing 2 of your 3 mirrors? Tuning with OFT is like tuning without everything you need.

That and I've seen a lot of people get *slower* after they get an OFT.

I'll have to say, my OFT experience has been pretty good in my completely unscientific and non-controlled testing lol. As a data point from my last track event at Summit Main:

- A guy I know with just an ECUTek tune exited T10 at 86 mph and hit 120 mph by brake marker 3.

- I'm OFT stage 2 and I exited T10 at 82 mph and hit 121 mph by brake marker 4.

He's a better driver and was on hoosiers, and I was on sumitomos, so our exit speeds are quite different, but the interesting part is the delta. He gained 34 mph on the front straight, whereas I gained 39 mph in a slightly shorter distance.

This isn't a completely controlled test, but it looks like OFT (and stage 2 exhaust mods) made a nice difference, about 5 mph over a ~2500 ft distance. He dyno'd around 185 whp on a dynojet on 93 octane. I'm going to re-dyno in a few weeks (but made 177 whp on the same dyno with stock tune + just CBE).

That said, you know your stuff Mike so I don't doubt you for a second either. One thing I suspect is that OFT base maps are somewhat aggressive and if you don't have access to good fuel, it will knock and pull timing (i.e., lose power).

[celica73]

OFT + OFH got me 3 mph at the end of the front straight at VIR (122-123 vs 119-120). In 90+ degree humid summer VA weather.

I suppose others might get different results. At least I did it with tires that were a year more worn and heat cycled.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Ok. Yeah, mine is a 2015 just picked it up in October.

Is something like a Carbotech XP12 f/r with not going to stand up to R-comps on a mostly stock car? I know there is much better feel and modulation with a BBK (my Miata has Wilwoods at all 4 corners), but $2200 buys a lot of seat time.

Also, since you're familiar with Emilio, what's the closest BRZ equivalent to his XIDA's for the Miata? I ran the XIDA's on my car at the track and they were phenomenal.

There isn't.... yet. The CSG-spec SRC is the closest, but it would tier in higher than a XIDA. However, the design philosophy behind the dampers are identical.

The XP12 will survive r-compounds, but you will go through them fairly quickly since you're pretty experienced. They won't last a full season like they will on a Miata. Getting a BBK up front will be the largest consumable cost reduction you can make. The faster guys generally go through a set of race pads in 4 days or so with street tires.

Since you do run r-comps, you'll notice we're the feature BRZ in Maxxis's testimonial video, along side Emilio.