From OPPO: Why you shouldn't modify your car for the track.

[rice_classic]

From here:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/why...ack-1532455970

I've found out lately that the biggest reason that most automotive enthusiasts shy away from the road course is because they're afraid their car isn't ready. That's the wrong way to look at it. It doesn't take a fully prepped race car for you to be a better driver, or a better defensive driver. Being on a road course teaches you more about car control than you'll be able to experience on the street, I guarantee you that. I highly recommend that every enthusiast spend at least a day learning the car's abilities in a safe and controlled environment, it also truly helps when you have an instructor coaching you on car control.
A common question I'm always asked is how do I prep my car for the road course? My response will always be the same. The more you modify a car the harder it will be to drive; you're raising the car's limits. It's the reason every magazine loves the Toyobaru twins, because the limits of the car are so low that an average Joe can reach the limits at a speed that won't kill you. Now look at a car such as the Corvette or Viper, both of those cars have their limits set so high that most magazine test drivers find it difficult to push and hold the car at its limits. An error in a car such as that could land you in the ambulance. When you look at what the car is designed for and how years of engineering went into making a masterpiece such as that, the car deserves your respect for it to be driven at the limit.
In short, you don't modify your car for your first few times attempting to reach the limits of your car. Obviously upgradingthe brake fluid, brake pads, and decent summer tires will always be a must, it's basic safety. The biggest thing that helped me become a faster driver is investing in a racing seat, having the ability to always be in the same position no matter how many g-forces are being pushed on me helped greatly. Remember that smooth is fast (http://pramoda-ravi.kinja.com/what-it-really...), and being a fast driver doesn't mean you must have a fast car.

Quick read. Thought it was some good insight. I share this opinion and would add to with... Anything you do to the car for the track also (usually) makes it worse for the street IMHO.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

From here:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/why...ack-1532455970





Quick read. Thought it was some good insight. I share this opinion and would add to with... Anything you do to the car for the track also (usually) makes it worse for the street IMHO.

I agree and stress this opinion often, with the exception of brake pads/fluid anyways.

At ITR Expo we don't let Nov/Int run r-comps, covers up too many mistakes. I've seen people who have never driven on track BUILD a full race car before ever driving on track.. not even once before. Stuff like that always surprises me.

[Kido1986]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

I agree and stress this opinion often, with the exception of brake pads/fluid anyways.

At ITR Expo we don't let Nov/Int run r-comps, covers up too many mistakes. I've seen people who have never driven on track BUILD a full race car before ever driving on track.. not even once before. Stuff like that always surprises me.

I autocross more than track (obviously, but still do both) and it amazes me that this happens. I try to get people involved and they won't until they "finished" their car (which means upgrades to a 100% running car, not building).

Run what you have. LEARN it. People watch too many Japanese time attack videos (kinda like people who watch too much porn then think that's the real deal). I tracked for my first time on a 225k mile 240sx with lowering springs. And it was awesome. No big brake kit, no special tires, no monster power.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Kido1986

(kinda like people who watch too much porn then think that's the real deal).

"But babe, this chick loved this in a porno I watched...." lol

[canu_50]

I also agree with this point!! I usually get people telling me, i can't go to the track, i only have a 2012 Civic SI, i don't have enough power nor slicks.. First thing i tell them is, beautifull, you will learn more, and one thing is for sure, i will never let a newbie go on slick on the track!!

Learn to walk before running!

I also 2nd the brake pads and fluids recommendation as beeing the first mods!!

[FRSfan111]

I did 3 HPDE days bone stock an loved it! This year I've got basic aero new pads fluids and slightly stickier wheels hopefully lol. I've already learned the limits of stock wheels. Haven't had the need to do suspension yet, I'm still lowering my times. Once in consistent then ill start toying with specifics to get even faster.

[was385]

Originally Posted by Kido1986

I autocross more than track (obviously, but still do both) and it amazes me that this happens. I try to get people involved and they won't until they "finished" their car (which means upgrades to a 100% running car, not building).

Run what you have. LEARN it. People watch too many Japanese time attack videos (kinda like people who watch too much porn then think that's the real deal). I tracked for my first time on a 225k mile 240sx with lowering springs. And it was awesome. No big brake kit, no special tires, no monster power.

Agree completely. I started AutoX last season and did a full year on stock everything (aside form exhaust and camber bolts). With that little grip, there was no covering up driver error and I definitely learned a lot more than if I was running the 245 ZIIs I will be running this year.

[fatoni]

im not entirely from the camp that mods are detrimental. i just think they should be appropriate. i think the primary issue is that people end up with a lot of power and mods that are flashy without mods that will allow for safe, reliable, consistent tracking. i only have two track days in the last 6 years and my current track car is pretty built and i feel like i can appreciate it for what it is. that being said, its still a ~130 hp miata on street tires

[ZionsWrath]

I don't think this is track specific. Modifying a car is a rabbit hole, modifying for the street might be slightly less because the performance is generally not sustained for extended periods.

If you don't have a rabbit hole full of money in your wallet, just take the blue pill.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by fatoni

im not entirely from the camp that mods are detrimental. i just think they should be appropriate. i think the primary issue is that people end up with a lot of power and mods that are flashy without mods that will allow for safe, reliable, consistent tracking. i only have two track days in the last 6 years and my current track car is pretty built and i feel like i can appreciate it for what it is. that being said, its still a ~130 hp miata on street tires

This thing is, mods almost ALWAYS slow down learning and hide mistakes. 2/3/4 way dampers are awesome, but they raise the limit and hide mistakes that are easily corrected at lower speeds. R Comps do the same thing, power makes people ignore cornering because they are still fast in straights, etc. I see it all the time with people I ride with, making basic mistakes and not even knowing it because the car is at such a high level that the driver at 10/10ths is using 5/10ths of the car.

Having said that, people can do what they want. For those that want to really learn though.. there's nothing better than a slow ass stock car.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

"But babe, this chick loved this in a porno I watched...." lol

Works every time! They believe they need to meet societal expectations so...

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

This thing is, mods almost ALWAYS slow down learning and hide mistakes. 2/3/4 way dampers are awesome, but they raise the limit and hide mistakes that are easily corrected at lower speeds. R Comps do the same thing, power makes people ignore cornering because they are still fast in straights, etc. I see it all the time with people I ride with, making basic mistakes and not even knowing it because the car is at such a high level that the driver at 10/10ths is using 5/10ths of the car.

Having said that, people can do what they want. For those that want to really learn though.. there's nothing better than a slow ass stock car.

im not going to disagree. there is a reason why im running a 15x7 instead of a 15x9 or why its on 205 re11s instsead of 225 rs3s let alone an r comp or why its on koni yellows instead of ast singles. i think that my car as it is makes for a much more enjoyable experience and because of that, i am much more inclined to get out there (i prepurchased 8 more track days as a result). i wont deny that i could possibly learn more from a lesser car as i most certainly would. where it pays off is how now i will be at the track much more frequent. i will also be invested enough to justify a datalogger and now i will have an instructor for literally hours more than i would at the rate i would go to the track before.

the majority of mods done to my miata are kind of an insurance build with longevity and consistency in mind rather than flash.

[Griever423]

I agree about the mods except for pads/fluid and TIRES. I've tracked a couple cars in stock form (STi, New Mustang) and from my experience you really need summmer tires for that kind of driving and they wear so much better than all seasons. My tires on my mustang were pretty much done from one track day at MSR here in Texas. Now I know the cars weight and my inexperience has a lot to do with that but still, I think that pads/fluid/tires is almost manditory for track days.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by fatoni

im not entirely from the camp that mods are detrimental. i just think they should be appropriate. i think the primary issue is that people end up with a lot of power and mods that are flashy without mods that will allow for safe, reliable, consistent tracking. i only have two track days in the last 6 years and my current track car is pretty built and i feel like i can appreciate it for what it is. that being said, its still a ~130 hp miata on street tires

I can agree with this.

Especially considering that we make our car-buying choices based on a test drive on a stock factory car.

That we fell in love with this platform as bone stock should say something about how much modding we ought to do when keeping close to stock power levels... just about nadda (except for track condition prep). I promise you that Subaru and Toyota engineers knew a helluvalot more about setting this car up than joe-weekend-racer.

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

"But babe, this chick loved this in a porno I watched...." lol

Doing this will lead to one being able to answer the question of "What is the sound of one hand fapping"