First track day in my 86

[robtan]

Hello everyone,
I know there are plenty of these, but i feel the more there are the more people will buy these cars (note: i am in aerospace not car sales )

I am not new to the track, having done a few days with speed ventures and many auto x. I am not a pro nor pretend to be. I love being able to take my car to a place to let out my need for speed. Yesterday was my first event in my FRS, all I can say is WOW!!!!! Before i get into the event just a quick background on the car. Bought it three months ago, has 5000 miles on the clock, stock tires suspension, brakes, Unichip with there factory supplied maps, perrin inlet hose, HKS drop in, and after two sessions a berk muffler delete. Now for my report.

After arriving at ButtonWillow Raceway and going through the motions i got on the track. First session of the day was a brisk 37 degrees F. I left pressure at factory desired pressure and did well with a best lap time of 2:27.6 . Notes on session: Tires were fantastic for what this car was meant to be. Brakes were terrible (like you didn't already know), I experienced quick fade after a lap of extremely late breaking, Unichip was removed for a true bench mark.
Overall fantastic reinforced my love for the car.

Second session: My friends E92 328I started misfiring and my 86 went into double duty for sessions 3 & 4. I took it out with an ambient temp of about 50 degrees F. Let out a little bit of pressure (hung around 36 cold filled with nitrogen) Unichip in standard mode, berk installed. Really tried for a fast lap here. Got a fastest lap of 2:26.904 . In trying to learn the limits of the car i put it into the dirt coming off of lost hills and going into the front straight. No damage other than pride. 3 laps in i put car into VSC and thats where the fun really began. I wasn't sliding all over the place, but boy was it a blast


Third Session: Double duty began, I went out with my friend who's pos bimmer was sitting in the garage. He was screaming with joy about how much fun the car was and how he thought the car would have needed more from the aftermarket to be taken to the track. Car remain the same as session 2. He is a much better driver than I and his lap times showed it, 2:20 flat.

Fourth Session: Same story as the third, just good old fashion fun!!!!:thumb up:
My lap time was 2:21 his 2:19.

To wrap up this novel:
-Despite being "Prius Tires" we really didn't feel like they took away from anything but a few seconds on the lap times.
-Brakes are terrible, plain and simple. SS lines, new pads, and better fluid are on my shopping list.
-Unichip made a big difference on the track. I knew how much a difference it made on the street but on the track it made for a much better car. I do not attribute this to faster times just more fun.
-I didn't like ButtonWillow all that much. Just a matter of opinion. Will i go there again? Probably. Do i prefer Auto Club Speedway? Absolutely.

Still going through the pics but here is my car on the grid

[IMG]http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj621/robtan1/photo-2_zps5***7f00.jpg[/IMG]

P.S. I couldn't take that vette, but i stayed right around 3rd in my group. I put away a hertz mustang, and had consistently better times than a brand new Camaro SS.

Thanks for reading
Rob

[gbrz]

hey cool write-up.

how does the double-duty work? do you need to let any track organizers know that you and a buddy are going to share the car?

i was thinking of taking my bro in law if we could do that

[scionfrs2014]

Thank you for sharing. Hope next time I can see your video.

[ayau]

@robtan, I actually have a set of very new SS lines and track pads for sale if you're interested. Just PM me.

[DarkSunrise]

I love tracking my FR-S as well. Brake pads and fluid will definitely make a difference in terms of fade. Once I upgraded those, I only experienced very mild pad fade towards the latter half of my sessions.

Also I know you said you didn't think the stock tires held you back much, but I liked the difference upgrading to mild max performance summer tires. I found it was much easier putting power down coming out of corners without the rear end coming around. Just a thought.

I'm definitely itching to get back out there in the spring. Jealous of you folks in SoCal who can track all year long!

[robtan]

Originally Posted by gbrz

hey cool write-up.

how does the double-duty work? do you need to let any track organizers know that you and a buddy are going to share the car?

i was thinking of taking my bro in law if we could do that

All we did was come into the hot pit and swap. Id talk to whomever organizes the event you go to. They won't bite and are usually very accommodating

[mav1178]

Which config? #13 CW?

[robtan]

Yup #13. I lost it over phil hill and coming into sunset.

[robtan]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

I love tracking my FR-S as well. Brake pads and fluid will definitely make a difference in terms of fade. Once I upgraded those, I only experienced very mild pad fade towards the latter half of my sessions.

Also I know you said you didn't think the stock tires held you back much, but I liked the difference upgrading to mild max performance summer tires. I found it was much easier putting power down coming out of corners without the rear end coming around. Just a thought.

I'm definitely itching to get back out there in the spring. Jealous of you folks in SoCal who can track all year long!

I think I should have explained that in a different way. While I know tire upgrade would have helped in all departments, i don't feel like the prius tire took away from the experience i was looking to have. Plus i was kinda hoping to get the rear end loose
All of that said, i have my eye on a set of Dunlop direzza ZII's after the brakes

[TrogDor the Burninator]

Originally Posted by robtan

All of that said, i have my eye on a set of Dunlop direzza ZII's after the brakes

I have the Direzza ZIIs in 18x9 255/35 ... I REALLY liked them in my first NASA event weekend ... Drove Saturday and Sunday 4 sessions a piece ...

Obviously - heat cycling a set of tires leaves them less fun each time ...

After 2 track weekends, and daily driving, the tires are definitely less sticky and quite hard. I didn't eat up too much tread, just the heating up and down from events really ...

I know every tire does this, but just wanted to pass on my experience.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by robtan

I think I should have explained that in a different way. While I know tire upgrade would have helped in all departments, i don't feel like the prius tire took away from the experience i was looking to have.

FWIW: you ran faster times with a stock suspension/tire/brake setup (and better power) than my car with suspension/tires/brakes but stock engine.

In my (crappy) defense, I haven't been to Buttonwillow in 10 years. :P

-alex

[subwaynm]

Thanks for sharing your experience Rob. I look forward to more from your next trip.
I hope to do that one day in the Spring.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by TrogDor the Burninator

I have the Direzza ZIIs in 18x9 255/35 ... I REALLY liked them in my first NASA event weekend ... Drove Saturday and Sunday 4 sessions a piece ...

Obviously - heat cycling a set of tires leaves them less fun each time ...

After 2 track weekends, and daily driving, the tires are definitely less sticky and quite hard. I didn't eat up too much tread, just the heating up and down from events really ...

I know every tire does this, but just wanted to pass on my experience.

If you don't overheat them, they take a lot longer to heat cycle out

[TrogDor the Burninator]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

If you don't overheat them, they take a lot longer to heat cycle out

My car is NA with no power mods ... just suspension and some larger racing wheels ...

I'm also a pretty green driver ... so I wasn't exactly tearing it up !

Don't get me wrong ... they were amazing that first weekend ... and pretty close the second weekend ....

Since ... eh ...

I need some contingency money to buy tires each event!