1st Track Day ITS - Watkins Glen

[StingertimeNC]

I'm going to be going with the Kuhmo V730's next. @Zygrene runs them, and @pointbypatrol, and both seem to like them. @pointbypatrol has runs 2:09-2:10 at VIR (full course) and no problem for 25-30 minute sessions. Good life too. VIR is pretty decent on tires though, some nice, long low G straight sections to cool things off.

I also put on my track pads and bed them, then daily for a week at least, prior to every track event. Of course drive them to and from track, etc., and I'm 2 hours away.

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[Victorofhavoc]

Good stuff, about time. I swear I thought your car was silver... but I think I also remember you saying you got another one, but can't remember the reason.

I echo everyone's sentiments about the PS4S. It's a serviceable tire on track, but as you become more comfortable they start to quickly show their limits. And yes, they need more pressure than you'd think on these 19s, even at autocross speeds.

I've also decided to eat up the OEM tires before upgrading, and landed on the RT660 myself- mostly due to available sizes in 19". Nankang CRSv2 are also still in consideration. If I get more serious I'll buy some 18s and slap Bridgestones on them... but I hear the Potenzas and Hoosiers are the new hotness so I'd have to give them some thought too.

Also 100% agreed on the seats. I am constantly trying to convince myself one way or the other that I'm either accepting to be stuck with these seats, or dead set on upgrading them. At least one of us, @dockleryxk has decided to try the FL5 seats. Others @ender_ong has gone the aftermarket route. I still don't know what I want to do, although there are plenty of very appealing aftermarket seats that have my attention. I just don't know if it's worth the cost and effort to upgrade if I'm only going to make it to the track 1-2 times a year, if that... because as much hate as these seats get, that's genuinely the only time I notice them being insufficient. They're objectively great (for me) in any other circumstance. I do wish they looked a bit better but they get the job done- unless you're on a track.

Do you lower your seat, tug the belt to lock, and then raise your seat to hold you down?

I've found this mitigates a large amount of my movement. I'm with you guys that I wish they had a bit more hip and waist hug, but once I'm in my suit the suede hangs onto me fairly well. I just couldn't even go to a partial bucket with how much I daily this car. The recaro sportster cs seats in a custom build with an airbag would be nice, but then it's like $9k for two seats... My wife would also hate me... The gti factory seats were too much bolster for her and they're only a bit more aggressive than this car.

 

[StingertimeNC]

Oh, and we have a great platform for the track, although I'm no expert. I love leaving every corner sooner than the RWD guys. With a downpipe and tune this car hangs with some fast stuff. Of course I still love to see/hear the GT3's and Z06's ripping past me when I'm out there. Those things are monsters!

 

[dockleryxk]

Good stuff, about time. I swear I thought your car was silver... but I think I also remember you saying you got another one, but can't remember the reason.

I echo everyone's sentiments about the PS4S. It's a serviceable tire on track, but as you become more comfortable they start to quickly show their limits. And yes, they need more pressure than you'd think on these 19s, even at autocross speeds.

I've also decided to eat up the OEM tires before upgrading, and landed on the RT660 myself- mostly due to available sizes in 19". Nankang CRSv2 are also still in consideration. If I get more serious I'll buy some 18s and slap Bridgestones on them... but I hear the Potenzas and Hoosiers are the new hotness so I'd have to give them some thought too.

Also 100% agreed on the seats. I am constantly trying to convince myself one way or the other that I'm either accepting to be stuck with these seats, or dead set on upgrading them. At least one of us, @dockleryxk has decided to try the FL5 seats. Others @ender_ong has gone the aftermarket route. I still don't know what I want to do, although there are plenty of very appealing aftermarket seats that have my attention. I just don't know if it's worth the cost and effort to upgrade if I'm only going to make it to the track 1-2 times a year, if that... because as much hate as these seats get, that's genuinely the only time I notice them being insufficient. They're objectively great (for me) in any other circumstance. I do wish they looked a bit better but they get the job done- unless you're on a track.

If I were going to track my car a ton, I'd get something more hardcore than FL5 seats

 

[StingertimeNC]

OH, I want to put in a harness bar and use the buckets I have. One problem is I need a little bit more seat rake and the what the front mounting bolts ar facing the front of the car make it impossible to just raise the whole mounting plate with spacers. Need to custom fab something.

Does anybody make a harness bar yet? Has to have 4 mounting points to make track organizers happy.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

OH, I want to put in a harness bar and use the buckets I have. One problem is I need a little bit more seat rake and the what the front mounting bolts ar facing the front of the car make it impossible to just raise the whole mounting plate with spacers. Need to custom fab something.

Does anybody make a harness bar yet? Has to have 4 mounting points to make track organizers happy.

Which cage/harness rulebook are you trying to fit? Some are more serious than others.

You could have a shop fab you a removable cage mount so that it's also backseat/street friendly. You don't want a half cage on the street, especially for rear passengers.

 

[StingertimeNC]

Trackdaze doesn’t care too much about how you have your car set up. Heck you can wear shorts and short sleeve shirts when you’re running with them at VIR.

Tidewater sports car club is more strict. If you have harnesses, you need the shoulder straps at less than a 20° angle.

They’re OK with harness bars provided their four point mount, and OK if your center strap is mounted to the mounting plate for the seat provided that is fixed to the car and made of steel.

I never had passengers in the backseat, so I’m not too worried about that. I do potentially have a source for fabrication assistance. He insists that I run a 2:15 on the full course before we build it. I have to get two seconds faster. Lol.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

Trackdaze doesn’t care too much about how you have your car set up. Heck you can wear shorts and short sleeve shirts when you’re running with them at VIR.

Tidewater sports car club is more strict. If you have harnesses, you need the shoulder straps at less than a 20° angle.

They’re OK with harness bars provided their four point mount, and OK if your center strap is mounted to the mounting plate for the seat provided that is fixed to the car and made of steel.

I never had passengers in the backseat, so I’m not too worried about that. I do potentially have a source for fabrication assistance. He insists that I run a 2:15 on the full course before we build it. I have to get two seconds faster. Lol.

I know we've talked about this before, but it's definitely a fast, slippery slope from "street drivable car" to "not remotely street legal and track toy only".

I'd also recommend looking at a couple other common orgs and their requirements so you're not caught off guard. One of the big ones is driver/passenger shoulder angle to strap mount like you mentioned. Some orgs will also say fixed seat only with harnesses and others will say all airbags need removed if you have a fixed safety system. Some say Hans is mandatory and others don't. I'd argue with any fixed belt system, a Hans is crucial.

Stay safe out there!

 

[StingertimeNC]

yes, definitely Hans, I actually own one already. I know what you mean on the slippery slope. I'm just not sure if the ITS is a long term car. I know myself and I get bored after a while. On the other hand, this is a great car and it's really just a good seat/harness setup away from being a fun long term track car. Maybe some more suspension tweaks, like front ball joints. A dedicated set of track wheels and tires and It's really pretty good. Just don't know If I can keep it long term.

Oh, I also want the APR wing!!

I hadn't heard that bit about full airbag removal.

With my ability to do maybe three events a year, It's hard to go too deep down the money pit with the hobby though.

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