Hello,
I'm getting back into track days after a long time off. While I'd like to move to a semi slick in a few years time, I want to prioritise seat time for the first years.
What's a tyre that offers good grip, can handle 15-20 minutes track sessions and still be usable on the road (mainly to and from the track and nice days on the weekend)?
Looking for a 295-305 on an 18 inch wheel.
Cheers
I'm wanting to run 19x11's on a Stang and I'm not sure whether I should run ET52's all around with a 25mm spacer/extended studs up front or get 2 at ET26 for the front.
Spacers would of course also carry the benefit of easy wheel rotation.
I've always been a bit weary of spacers for no logical reason.
So, those of you who track your cars, are spacers something to avoid or are they fine?
Hey all,
I'm wanting a reasonably modern track platform to develop and build over time. The Evo X is near the top of the list for performance per dollar, especially with the relative ease of extracting more performance out of them.
This is a car that will start as a dual purpose weekend/track car and eventually be unregistered and fully stripped and caged.
One of the first things I'd like to do is reduce weight without going to the extreme of a full strip straight away.
I'm thinking along the lines of rear seat removal, boot liner, sound deadening and the default weight reduction that comes with an aftermarket exhaust and light wheels.
With that, approximately how much can be shaved from these cars straight up without going crazy?
The gradual steps over time I have in mind are basic weight reduction, coilovers, camber plates, wheels, pads, high temp fluid and semi slicks in year 1, a stage 1 tune and upgraded brakes in year 2, front splitter and rear wing in year 3 and a full strip and cage in year 4.
Has anyone here started with an Evo X and built it into a track car? If so, how do you feels about your decision? Also, what sorts of times are you putting down and at what circuits?
Thanks
Hello,
I'm looking into a track only car from NSW that is a repaired stat write off.
Just wanting to confirm my understanding - am I right in assuming a stat write off from NSW doesn't necessarily mean it was beyond safe repair?
Thanks
Hello,
I'm considering an F80 M3 as a track car/occasional weekend car, so I'm willing to sacrifice comfort.
I'd start with pads and weight reduction. I'm wondering how much could be shaved without fully stripping the car/keeping it street legal.
So, with the interior, if I removed sound deadening, the rear seats and swapped out the front seats for lightweight buckets and eventually swapped out the factory exhaust and wheels, is getting the car down to 1400-1450kg plausible?
What else can be removed that I may not be thinking of, without tripping the computer and confusing the system?
Thanks,
Hey all,
I'm tossing up between a dedicated track car and an F80 M3.
The F80 is just about my favourite car that there is. It would also carry the advantage of being able to drive to and from the track. With coilovers, semi slicks, camber plates and upgraded pads I feel that it would make for a very decent prod sprint spec car. It would also avoid defects from Aus Police as it would meet road compliance.
This wouldn't be a daily, it'd be a car I drive to the track and back and take for a nice weekend drive when the mood strikes.
However, they cost about 55-60k AUD for a decent one. If I go the dedicated track car route, I could buy a track only stripped and caged, already built platform such as an STI or Evo for far less, probably 30-40k. I could get a tow vehicle, decent track car and trailer for the purchase price of an F80 M3.
However, I'd be on an older platform and while the AWD grip would be mind bending, I don't know if it would be as rewarding to drive. Also, looking at time attack results, fairly modestly modded M3's put up some very good times.
One thing that worries me is that I did speak to an F82 owner who said the car was somewhat boring and numb to drive and it has me wondering if it's a case of never meet your heros.
Another concern is that with these cars being quite nice, I feel like I'd be somewhat hesitant to push the hell out of it on the track. There's no insurance on the track, so if I wreck it it's a pretty significant loss. With that, my local tracks have plenty of run off room.
So, I'm looking for first hand input people who own this platform and track it. Also, as the title suggests, I'm curious on what the maintenance is like when reguarly tracked. Do they need large investments in cooling etc? Does the heavier weight result in tires and brakes being eaten up in no time?
Thanks,
Hey all,
I'm tossing up between a dedicated track car and an F80 M3.
The F80 is just about my favourite car that there is. It would also carry the advantage of being able to drive to and from the track. With coilovers, semi slicks, camber plates and upgraded pads I feel that it would make for a very decent prod sprint spec car. It would also avoid defects from Aus Police as it would meet road compliance.
This wouldn't be a daily, it'd be a car I drive to the track and back and take for a nice weekend drive when the mood strikes.
However, they cost about 55-60k AUD for a decent one. If I go the dedicated track car route, I could buy a track only stripped and caged, already built platform such as an STI or Evo for far less, probably 30-40k. I could get a tow vehicle, decent track car and trailer for the purchase price of an F80 M3.
However, I'd be on an older platform and while the AWD grip would be mind bending, I don't know if it would be as rewarding to drive. Also, looking at time attack results, fairly modestly modded M3's put up some very good times.
One thing that worries me is that I did speak to an F82 owner who said the car was somewhat boring and numb to drive and it has me wondering if it's a case of never meet your heros.
Another concern is that with these cars being quite nice, I feel like I'd be somewhat hesitant to push the hell out of it on the track. There's no insurance on the track, so if I wreck it it's a pretty significant loss. With that, my local tracks have plenty of run off room.
So, I'm looking for first hand input people who own this platform and track it. Also, as the title suggests, I'm curious on what the maintenance is like when reguarly tracked. Do they need large investments in cooling etc? Does the heavier weight result in tires and brakes being eaten up in no time?
Thanks,
Hello,
I'm looking for a dedicated track car. I'm currently looking into AWD platforms but the Corvette was suggested to me.
I must admit, I've always overlooked Corvettes and haven't ever put a second thought into them. I always thought they were for the people with a "hell yeah more horsepower" mentality who have no actual understanding of driving physics.
But, I'm realising I was wrong. A light chassis, near 50 50 weight distribution and independent suspension, in spite of being leaf springs.
Anyway, what are they like as a track car from the C5 and C6 era? For those of you who track them, what is the reliability like? What mods do they need to put down serious times? What sort of times are you putting down and at what circuits?
Also, being light, high horsepower and RWD, how prone are they to aggresive and snappy oversteer?
Thanks,
Hello,
I'm looking for a dedicated track car. I'm currently looking into AWD platforms but the Corvette was suggested to me.
I must admit, I've always overlooked Corvettes and haven't ever put a second thought into them. I always thought they were for the people with a "hell yeah more horsepower" mentality who have no actual understanding of driving physics.
But, I'm realising I was wrong. A light chassis, near 50 50 weight distribution and independent suspension, in spite of being leaf springs.
Anyway, what are they like as a track car from the C5 and C6 era? For those of you who track them, what is the reliability like? What mods do they need to put down serious times? What sort of times are you putting down and at what circuits?
Also, being light, high horsepower and RWD, how prone are they to aggresive and snappy oversteer?
Thanks,
Hello,
I'm looking for a track car that I can develop over time with. I have previous track experience in S2000's etc. and have also done countless laps of the tracks I have access to in the sim.
Anyway, I'm realising that a lightweight AWD platform has just about the highest potential ceiling, with Evos and STI's generally at the top of time attack events.
Here's where I'm tossing up - There's stripped, caged and tuned track only STI's for sale at pretty decent prices, but road doing GR/GV and even some GD series STI's can be had for even cheaper.
Local time attack has the prod sprint class, where cars still need to be street registered and can't have any aero mods and need to be on stock internals. But can run semi slicks and suspension/brake mods. I like the idea of this class as it doesn't require extreme money sent to go in and have some fun. I'd treat it as a me vs me glorified track day.
Anyway - On these platforms with a stage 1 tune with coilovers, camber plates, performance alignment, thicker sway bars and wider wheels on semi slicks, how do they feel to drive?
How reliable are they with these slight modifications? Is oil starvation an issue?
Do coilovers and proper alignment + semi slicks iron out the inherent understeer or is diff replacement a necessity as well?
If I go the road going route - I can have fun, not need a trailer + tow car, develop it to prod spec and hope it runs some pretty good times. My local track is Winton and I'd love something capable of a 1:30-1:35 range.
Or should I just go all in and buy an already track built version and tow it to and from, then enter it in the club/open class (depending which rules it falls into)?
I'm after something that can reliably do 4-5 hard laps at a time, cool down and repeat. Something that runs fairly reliably with basic maintenance/fluid changes.
I'm looking into both the STI and Evo platforms. The Subaru's are cheaper. I like the Subaru sound better. I like the looks of both equally (GD, GV or GR STI, 7-9 Evo) and I'm happy with whichever platform meets the above criteria.
I want the car to feel sharp, direct and somewhat mind bending in it's handling capabilities.
Looking for insight from actual owners. If you could tell me your spec and what sort of lap times you're putting down and at which track that will be very helpful, as well as reliably and how much maintenance you're having to do.
Thanks.
Hello,
I'm looking into a dedicated track day car. As my skills develop, I'd potentially like to go into the yearly time attack purely for the fun day out of it (me vs me approach, club sprint class depending on car spec).
I've done quite a few track days in previous street cars but this will be my first time going into a no compromise machine.
I like the idea of AWD grip on a lightweight chassis. I want mind bending cornering potential.
Stripped, caged and already built Evo platforms sell at reasonable price points and I figure it would be a much better purchase with for greater performance than a street car that costs 2-3x as much. (I was looking heavily into an F8X platform but a used Evo platform is about half the price of a lightly modded F8X).
The ones for sale that are actually stripped and caged are running in the 270-320kw range depending on the car - I'm assuming this is about the sweet spot?
Some have built bottom ends and 500kw+ but are still street cars with interiors, also I'm going to assume that's overkill and not usable on most tracks.
Of the stripped ones, some have front splitters and large rear wings and wider rubber (more time attack orientated) but are mostly on 5 and 6 platforms.
There's also stripped 7-9's but they're ex tarmac rally cars running standard bodies and aero.
I'm unsure if I should go for an older platform that's pretty well optimised as it is, or one of the newer platforms and end up with the cost of wider rubber, suspension settings and more aero over time.
So, people who have track only evos, which platform would you recommend I start with?
What's the experience of driving it like? How's the reliability with proper maintenance? Do you find yourself satisfied with the car and capability?
Thanks,
Hey all,
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I'm after a mod that represents an F80 M3 with upgraded suspension, perhaps the power of a stage 1 tune and some aero.
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I'm wanting to see what sort of lap times the F80 can do with light mods.
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If anyone knows of a good mod and can link it, please do. Even an F82 M4 mod will do.
​
Thanks
Hello,
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I'm looking for a weekend/track car to develop with. I've been testing various cars in the sim and the F80 M3 is among my favourites and on the short list.
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However, there's a bit of unease in the handling, a constant slight twitchyness that requires micro managing and I'm finding I have to be very, very gentle with throttle input on corner exit. With all that, it still puts up some very good times. Also the brakes leave just a little to be desired.
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BUT I was wondering, how true are these characteristics to the real car?
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With good coilovers, a little more camber and wider wheels/semi slicks how much does the stability improve? Maybe even a rear wing? I'd love to be able to attack corners with more confidence and just a little less delicacy.
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I'd love to start with the car stock and do these things over time and develop with it.
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Also, do most of you do track days with TC on or off?
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As for the brakes, do upgraded pads suffice or are bigger rotors needed as well?
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Also, how do you guys find the M3 as a track car/occasional weekend car? As far as my research has gone they're about the best performance per dollar in the current price range without going into a dedicated track rig such as a Radical. And they just seem like a very solid chassis/blueprint to start with.
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Again, these characteristics are based on the sim and I don't know how true they line up to the real car, but based on reviews these are common points too. So, I'd love to hear some insight from actual owners.
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Thanks,
Hello. I've been considering a dedicated track car but one thing that has stopped me is the logistics of: Driving tow vehicle to trailer storage - coming back home - getting very low car with race clutch out of my slightly slanted driveway and onto the road - loading onto trailer.
However, if I could leave the car stored on a trailer and take them to and from the track from the given storage facility, that would remove the main obstacle.
So, can a trailer be unhitched from a tow vehicle while still loaded with the vehicle?
If so, how high is the risk of tipping? Is this something a lot of people do? Are there any specific requirements to do this?
Also, to avoid flatspotting I'd just change onto storage wheels at the track before loading the car.
Thanks,
Hello,
An Evo is on the short list of cars I'm considering for a dedicated track car and I have some questions.
Please note that I'm looking at already built track ready evos, though the option of buying a street car and gradually building it over time is also a possibility.
Which platform is generally the best to build on? The Sim is all I have to go off at the moment. The 8 and 9 are probably my favourite looking but I do love the 6 too. The 6 also feels the most nimble.
Also, how reliable are these engines? The value for performance seems too good to be to true so what's the catch? How much can the power be turned up on a stock block for track use?
Yes I'm looking at already built examples, but want a general idea of where the "red flag" zone is.
And for those who track tour Evo's, please list the tracks you go to and the sort of times you're putting down so I can get more of an idea.
Cheers
Hello,
I'm wanting to get a dedicated track car to develop with and improve my own times. I have previous track experience but it has been many years aside from a lot of time spent on my local tracks in the sim.
After looking into M3's, Caymans etc. I'm finding used, already built, track ready (some ex time attack) Evos in a lower price range for much better performance.
I've tried a few Evos on the sim since the the 6 feels like it has the sharpest handling but the 9 and 10 put down better lap times. They feel very easy to drive fast, have great brakes and very good turn in for an AWD car.
Is there a reason Evos aren't suggested more as track cars? I'm struggling to find anything that comes close in performance for money. How's the reliability on a properly built one?
Of course buying a road legal one and gradually building it is a potential option too.
Anyway, with all platforms being in reasonable price ranges and within budget - I'm looking for info from people who have experience with evos on what they find to be the best overall platform.
Thanks