Kenno's Mount Fuji GTS 6M

[Nardi330]

What did u used to adjust rear camber?

Thanks

[Kenno]

So, it has now been 5 weeks since I took delivery of my 86 GTS 6M on July 12. How have these 5 wks been? What's the car feel like after decent time behind the wheel? What's the difference with the MonoFlex coilovers on now?

I bought this car coming from a long line of Honda Integras. In fact, every car I had owned in my previous 17yrs of driving, was a FWD Honda (I did own a Rover Vitesse 416i, but that was just a re-badged 4-door Integra). Why Honda you might ask? Well, that can be answered with a little history lesson in F1 and just two words: Ayrton Senna. This is something I will explain later on.

So, this was to be the first RWD car I had ever owned. I had ordered the Tein MonoFlex around the same time I took delivery of the car, so I knew I had about 2.5 weeks to get used to the car and explore it stock.

Traction control on, traction control off, VSC Sport mode, I wanted to know everything about the car's handling and dynamics. After two weeks of constantly exploring the cars limits, I was impressed with just how tactile it was. The precise and informative steering combined with the progressive nature of grip, was just something I never experienced in the Integras, well, not to this high level anyway. I quickly fell in love with the ability to steer the car with the throttle as well as the steering wheel.

I believe coming from NA Integras gave me a 'heads-up' so to speak on how to get the most out of the engine. With 147kW and 205 N-m of torque I am almost exactly playing with the same power as my Type-S Integra's 154kW and 194 N-m. They even almost weigh the same too, the Integra was around 1230kg. Keep them in the correct powerband and you'll be rewarded. And here we find one of the downsides to the 86, noise. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the note of the boxer, but it just cannot compete to the K20Z1. As they say, "Life begins at 5700rpm". The other downside, is the box. The shift in the Type-S is just much more slick. Oh, and the Integra has much better rear-quarter visibility too.

So now, the MonoFlex have been on for about 2.5 weeks. This is still with the stock wheels and tyres. If the stock setup was like a knife, now it's like a surgeon's scaple. Sharp, direct, precise, focused. Now we must return to those two words I mentioned earlier: Ayrton Senna.

I'm 34 now, the exact same age as Senna that fateful day on May 1st, 1994. We almost share a birthday too, with Senna's being 4 days after mine. I was lucky enough to grow up in one of the truly great periods of Formula One racing. Senna, Mansell, Prost, Piquet, Patrese, etc. It was the time of insane turbo Formula One cars without the nanny safety rules of today. The only thing that comes close, is perhaps the Group B rally cars of the same era.

Senna was, and still is, my idol.

Screw your Jordan's, your Gretzky's, your Phelps, your Federer's. Senna gave his all and put his life on the line every single time he got behind the wheel. And he did not just have this approach to racing, it was how he lived his entire life.

Do I think I'm Senna when I get behind the wheel of the 86? Hell no. There is only one. Do I drive the car like Senna when I get behind the wheel of the 86? Hell no.

Whenever I drive, it's always a constant pursuit of perfection. Whether it be on the track, or on suburban roads. Finding the right line through a corner, making perfect shifts, etc. I'm a car enthusiast, and I love driving. I get angry at myself whenever I miss a shift point or an apex. The day I am too old to safely drive anymore and hand in my license, will be a day I will just not be able to comprehend.

Back to the topic at hand. As Chris Harris mentioned in his latest web video review, the 86 is a car you can drive at 10/10ths and will reward you all the way up through that scale. With the MonoFlex, I now have the car that allows me to truly pay homage to my idol. It's so direct and focused, it's like you are one with the car, one with the road. It is unlike anything I have ever driven. And I've driven plenty of cars over the past 17yrs, not just the Hondas I have owned.

So now I await impatiently for my Work Kiwami's to arrive from Japan. Sure, they are much larger, wider, and will provide a tonne of grip over stock. But this will only provide me with more challenges, and the pursuit of perfection will start again. Haha, it's not like it's something that ever goes away anyway, honestly

And herein, will lie the fun. I just hope Ayrton looks down on me with an approving smile.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhQLkAD7_t0"]Ayrton Senna - Famous Speech - YouTube[/ame]

[LeftFootBrake]

Thanks for the post. As an aside, if you ever decide you can cope with one of the few alternative views on Senna seek out Crashed and Byrned. It is a somewhat fun read.

And BTW, apropos Honda/Senna, driving this car very much reminds me of driving a Honda NSX.

And I'd like to comment on your approach of seeking out more grip. I'm interested in your thoughts on this as I have to say that after 3,500km the only time I could imagine wanting to add more grip is if I add more power (or I find myself in a one-off emergency threshold braking situation). I suspect it probably has too much lateral grip already for public roads.

[86 gts]

GTS looks good in red
Agree with sentiments on Senna
Grew up watching him
He stands head and shoulders above the rest
His exploits in inferior cars in the wet, were dazzling

[Nafe]

I recognise the red AE86... That's Cassian's car. Well it sued to be, does he still own it?

[Hawk77FT]

Huge fan of Senna here! He was the man, he was a demigod on the track. I miss the gold era too.

[TheDemons]

Another Senna fan here too :happy0180:
I look forward to reading you write up about the Work Kiwami's

[MarkMash]

Nice write up - How does it go on old lytton and riding rd? - spine cracking? comfy?

[Kenno]

Originally Posted by Nafe

I recognise the red AE86... That's Cassian's car. Well it used to be, does he still own it?

I'm not sure, I've forgotten what the owner's name was.

Originally Posted by MarkMash

Nice write up - How does it go on old lytton and riding rd? - spine cracking? comfy?

Not too bad. I wouldn't call it spine cracking, but it's also not exactly comfy either.

Originally Posted by LeftFootBrake

And I'd like to comment on your approach of seeking out more grip. I'm interested in your thoughts on this as I have to say that after 3,500km the only time I could imagine wanting to add more grip is if I add more power (or I find myself in a one-off emergency threshold braking situation). I suspect it probably has too much lateral grip already for public roads.

I suspect your inclinations will prove to be right as well. It will be interesting to see the difference with the new wheels and tyres.

[Kenno]

SEX HAS ARRIVED!

Wheels and tyres are booked to go on at 8am this Saturday morning, I will have pics up as soon as I get back home

18x8.5 +38 for the front:




18x9.5 +38 for the rear:





Lug nuts to match:

[TheDemons]

Nice

[os86]

nice choice on wheels, what rubber you putting on ?

[Nardi330]

Are you going to apply the sticker on the wheels? I can't make a decision lol

[nix]

Love the talk of the F1 glory days .. and NSXs .. I preferred these two though! Those rims will look awesome.



and

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Hbuydy9LI"]Nelson Piquet super out-drifting Ayrton Senna! :-) wow! - YouTube[/ame]