Crazylegs said:
Hey guys, I imagine Zac will respond himself at some point.
I've managed to get my first trackday out of the way but I'm a bit disappointed with how the day went overall. It was ok in places and I felt confident and comfortable with the car for a tad just before lunch as I had a lot of the track to myself but overall it was too busy and I spent most of the day pulling over to the right to let quicker cars go through.
Although the engine felt strong and the car went well, it just didn't feel right handling or brake wise all day. I've butchered the hell out of the tyres which is frustrating and also towards the end of the day the right front just didn't feel right but it was fun all the same and a good experience.
I've been speaking to Carl Hammond who reckons the tyres have had an impact on the day and the RE070's just couldn't seem to hold on for long enough. I could barely get more than 4 laps out of them before having to come in which was frustrating and they've been cut up badly and also loads of burnt on rubber is smoothering them but I've had them checked by a tyre place and they're seemingly ok and not illegal, the rears seem more cut up which is odd.
I've obviously been recommended to upgrade the tyres which I will and they will be going to AD08R's at some point but not yet. So yeah, a frustrating day all round really but it was a good experience.
I think next time I do one if I can afford it I will get some separate alloys with some R888's on them, ideally a BBK and possibly a suspension refresh as I think the OEM dampers have seen better days but it is what it is.
Hi mate it's a shame a day felt pants in places but these things happen, it's all a learning curve. Until I put the DC5 on track this year I had taken a pretty long time off from trackdays and now regret doing that. Every session differs to the last and the more you do the more confident you will be (age however like in my case) has impacted on my guts in cornering at times, I remember being fearless, now I get the odd moment of (what if)....
I think as you're running braided lines, and PBS pads (I believe), the lack of brake feel etc has been caused by the tyres failing you, RE070 I have never used on track (only ever had those/similar Bridgestones as road tyres which they are great for), but on a track the temps the track generates and puts through them is not even close to a road and it wont take long for them to max out and fail and cause braking to be worse and handling also.
The shocks could be fine as could the bushes and everything could be down to the tyres. A BBK would be an upgrade but until you max out the oem calipers with a decent fluid, disc and pad setup I think it'd be a waste of money, I know many people running and who have run oem calipers and never had any fade or issues but this could also be down to how and when they use the brakes. Personally I have yet to experience any issues and I am using a setup I was worried about (Hel Lines, RBF 660 fluid, OEM discs and Dixel ES Pads all-round, this could be down to only doing brands in it and I know the track well, or it could be the ES pads are better than some said. On the road they were poor, they really do need some heat in them and I have no doubt there are much better pads but they are deff reliable and take abuse and for the cost they are good.
As said hopefully we can arrange a day to meet and do a session together and if you've not get tyres on early next year or for the next session you do then feel free to bolt my track wheels on with my track tyres and see how it goes as it's not like it'll half their life etc and not like im not going to kill them anyway
I would say AD08R's if being used on the road and track or R888R's or similar if separate wheels for track only. I went AD08R's for the price and to see if I was happy with the car's setup and I got them silly cheap.
Other option would be Showa Mugen shocks to put your spoon springs on (add that little extra drop in height and stiffness) or coilovers. For the money I would say the shocks as you're looking to enjoy it for as cheap as poss and they are a great upgrade.
Will have a look at your clips soon mate