Unfortunately Our RX-8 is not that fast on track cf other makes
#26
Originally Posted by Gibbo
This is not a criticism of people's driving it is merely a note to point out that you will be beaten 9 times out of 10 by a driver that knows how to drive rather than by a car with more go fast options.
#27
Gibbo a 190kmh at the end of main straight of Sandown need a bit of braking distance going to turn 1 which dips down to the right. And I am using the ABS with the tail wiggling before turning in at 3rd gear.
I am braking nice and deep, my instructor Matt is saying. I am power sliding slightly and correctly with DSC off (not totally off since I still want my EBD for some strange reason - my braking still not perfect).
I am sure semi slick will give more grip for back end but it is not going to do more if you have not learnt to drive first.... After 4 track day and 1000km on the track. I think I should upgrade myself to a semi slick.
Schume will be drifiting my car and may be a second or 2 quicker - sure!
I am braking nice and deep, my instructor Matt is saying. I am power sliding slightly and correctly with DSC off (not totally off since I still want my EBD for some strange reason - my braking still not perfect).
I am sure semi slick will give more grip for back end but it is not going to do more if you have not learnt to drive first.... After 4 track day and 1000km on the track. I think I should upgrade myself to a semi slick.
Schume will be drifiting my car and may be a second or 2 quicker - sure!
Last edited by takahashi; 11-16-2004 at 07:11 PM.
#28
What tyres does the DC5 run? You really shouldn't be 2 secs slower than him unless he's on some damn good rubber. Then again I'm pretty skeptical of this "170kw"
So maybe Gibbo has a point. At first the big gains are made in the driver. I've seen exactly the same car back-to-back have a 7 second/lap difference just by changing drivers. Once you get up to a decent level the gains are much smaller. That's where tyres make a bigger difference.
The semi-slicks you're looking at are brilliant tyres. Watch the Michelins though, the M3 CSLs tear through them VERY quickly.
So maybe Gibbo has a point. At first the big gains are made in the driver. I've seen exactly the same car back-to-back have a 7 second/lap difference just by changing drivers. Once you get up to a decent level the gains are much smaller. That's where tyres make a bigger difference.
The semi-slicks you're looking at are brilliant tyres. Watch the Michelins though, the M3 CSLs tear through them VERY quickly.
#29
It is S-02... he tuned his car with Hondata and getting 170kW+ though (128 at the wheels).
They tune iVTEC as well as the open loop fuel map. It was the 5th car they tuned.
Gibbo has a big point. I first did a 1"39 in my first track day
They tune iVTEC as well as the open loop fuel map. It was the 5th car they tuned.
Gibbo has a big point. I first did a 1"39 in my first track day
#30
Originally Posted by Gibbo
The 8's lack of speed means that corner speed is critical, whilst tyres will make a difference I am a firm beleiver in picking a better line through corners and getting all your braking done in the shortest period of time. Too many drivers brake soft and long before corners. If you want to improve your times forget about extra accessories, simply practice picking your lines on corners, practice hard braking (not soft long breaks that start 100m before corners) and invest in a set of sway bars for front and back.
The 8 is a great car because it is very forgiving so make sure you learn to drive it before getting more expensive options. This is not a criticism of people's driving it is merely a note to point out that you will be beaten 9 times out of 10 by a driver that knows how to drive rather than by a car with more go fast options.
The 8 is a great car because it is very forgiving so make sure you learn to drive it before getting more expensive options. This is not a criticism of people's driving it is merely a note to point out that you will be beaten 9 times out of 10 by a driver that knows how to drive rather than by a car with more go fast options.
Gibbo, tyres ensure you stick to your chosen line, that's where the times improve. If you choose to use average tyres than you'll be sliding all over the place. Tyres also ensure that your braking systems are working to their optimum.
We have experienced 1 second lap time improvements just by getting tyre pressures jaut right when I was trying different tyre compounds on my racer.
A better cornering/braking car will often outlap a faster car.
#32
Sounds like a great day Personally, I reckon the 8 is great, straight out of the box :D -- maybe another set of tyres and better brakes if you are going to do more than, say, 3 track days a year. If you are going to do more track work than that, then personally I'd be looking at another car to do track work with. There are too many compromises in trying to make your daily drive competitive -- plus the risk you might have to bring it back one day on the back of a truck.
The 8 has copped a bit of stick for not being a 'sports' car. But, in my opinion, it is exactly that; great for a day's spirited track driving, then perfectly comfortable to drive home afterwards.....
...... wonder when the next Wakefield Track Day is coming up :p
The 8 has copped a bit of stick for not being a 'sports' car. But, in my opinion, it is exactly that; great for a day's spirited track driving, then perfectly comfortable to drive home afterwards.....
...... wonder when the next Wakefield Track Day is coming up :p
#33
BTW, on the subject of brake upgrades, Jon Waterhouse at Reliance ROtary here in Canberra told me a month or so ago he was going to be working on a Brembo upgrade for the 8's brakes. Must find out where he's up to...
#34
This was my second track day so I am still a newbie and I changed to S03's for it. I did notice improvements in lap times but that could also be because I am gaining some more experience on the track. On my first track day I was lapping at about 1.41 and this time it was low 1.38. I felt a lot more comfortable with these tyres compared to the RE040. I didn't really have the guts to turn off the DSC but I might give it a go next time.
#35
DSC all off I would say. If I had semislick I will. hehe
Talking about tyre pressure AMG. The michellin guy told me that if the air temp in the low 20s should run 43psi (when hot) but if you like some margin of error drop it down to 40psi. What do you think? I found I am more on the limit of the RE040 if I run at 43psi (hot - like at the end of 5 laps).
Talking about tyre pressure AMG. The michellin guy told me that if the air temp in the low 20s should run 43psi (when hot) but if you like some margin of error drop it down to 40psi. What do you think? I found I am more on the limit of the RE040 if I run at 43psi (hot - like at the end of 5 laps).
#36
Originally Posted by AMG
Gibbo, tyres ensure you stick to your chosen line, that's where the times improve. If you choose to use average tyres than you'll be sliding all over the place. Tyres also ensure that your braking systems are working to their optimum.
We have experienced 1 second lap time improvements just by getting tyre pressures jaut right when I was trying different tyre compounds on my racer.
A better cornering/braking car will often outlap a faster car.
We have experienced 1 second lap time improvements just by getting tyre pressures jaut right when I was trying different tyre compounds on my racer.
A better cornering/braking car will often outlap a faster car.
Don't get me wrong I am all for improvements in grip, speed and performance, however I see and hear so often of people that have a car that will perform at a high level but their own true ability is so far below that that they try to compensate by adding or blaming things when really they haven't rung the neck of what they have.
I don't want this to sound like I have reached the limits of the Rx-8 because I haven't, I have a lot of improvement to go however I understand my most significant gains have come through technique and not through modification.
#39
i agree with gibbo,
and in fact if you were more inclined to switch off the dsc with semi slicks think about this. You probably be going faster and be more out of control when you start to slide/spin... So in fact maybe the dsc would be better off on the standard tyres and maybe on with the semi-slicks. It is what many people comment on with the m3csl/michelin semi-slicks.
fatmarco
and in fact if you were more inclined to switch off the dsc with semi slicks think about this. You probably be going faster and be more out of control when you start to slide/spin... So in fact maybe the dsc would be better off on the standard tyres and maybe on with the semi-slicks. It is what many people comment on with the m3csl/michelin semi-slicks.
fatmarco
#40
If I were to do performance modifications to improve track times (without FI), it will be in the following order:
1. Springs/shocks/sway bars
2. Tyres
3. Brakes
oops, forgot, hymee exhaust is number 1.
1. Springs/shocks/sway bars
2. Tyres
3. Brakes
oops, forgot, hymee exhaust is number 1.
#41
Originally Posted by AMG
...
oops, forgot, hymee exhaust is number 1.
oops, forgot, hymee exhaust is number 1.
Originally Posted by fatmarco
You probably be going faster and be more out of control when you start to slide/spin... So in fact maybe the dsc would be better off on the standard tyres and maybe on with the semi-slicks. It is what many people comment on with the m3csl/michelin semi-slicks.
I think the tyre pressure is vital(no matter you're on semi slick or OEM tyres). There are some OEM tyres that are not forgiving, that the skid is on/off thing. Which some driver on the day from DC5R and WRX commented RE040 as such tyres.
AMG is that right and which tyre do you think worth as a semi slick for instance?
#42
Originally Posted by nojooc
So Schumacher driving your RX8 will be faster than you in a 360 Modena?
No offence to any of the budding racing drivers out there , however overestimating your abilities on the track is not a wise move .
Gibbo i agree 100% driver ability is upmost for best result , tyres brakes whilst important you have to have the ability to know when and how to use them .
cheers
michael
#43
Originally Posted by takahashi
Yes Hymee exhaust can produce sounds waves that propagate you forward... or can push the car behind you further back :p
but DSC all off I will **** my pants off if I went in to a corner too quickly and I have the light brake at mid corner.
AMG is that right and which tyre do you think worth as a semi slick for instance?
Semi slicks.....Dunlop D98J!
#45
Originally Posted by rpm_pwr
I find all this talk of 'drifting' round corners deeply disturbing.
Drifting is ok on the track and skid pad.... :D
#46
I have owned many cars in my life but I can safely say that the RX-8 is the only car I have ever owned that has made me want to be come a better driver. I want to know it limits, I want to know my limits and then I want to build on them.
I have added the sports exhaust and the piggy back ecu in anticipation of FI, however my next spend will be sway bars and adjustable suspension. I will go semi slicks on my stock mags when the current tyres pack it in and then I will get new mags for everyday driving, however I want to leave my car as standard as I can till I get better so that I know when my times improve it is because I am driving better and learning the car better rather than the cars performance being the only factor.
My comments are not for everyone, and some people do want to improve their lap times any way they can, however my feeling is that I want to do it one step at a time and for it to be a real measurable improvement that I can replicate in any car not just in a car that runs slicks , sway bars, FI, lowered suspension etc etc.
I have added the sports exhaust and the piggy back ecu in anticipation of FI, however my next spend will be sway bars and adjustable suspension. I will go semi slicks on my stock mags when the current tyres pack it in and then I will get new mags for everyday driving, however I want to leave my car as standard as I can till I get better so that I know when my times improve it is because I am driving better and learning the car better rather than the cars performance being the only factor.
My comments are not for everyone, and some people do want to improve their lap times any way they can, however my feeling is that I want to do it one step at a time and for it to be a real measurable improvement that I can replicate in any car not just in a car that runs slicks , sway bars, FI, lowered suspension etc etc.
#48
Originally Posted by Gibbo
I have owned many cars in my life but I can safely say that the RX-8 is the only car I have ever owned that has made me want to be come a better driver. I want to know it limits, I want to know my limits and then I want to build on them.
I have added the sports exhaust and the piggy back ecu in anticipation of FI, however my next spend will be sway bars and adjustable suspension. I will go semi slicks on my stock mags when the current tyres pack it in and then I will get new mags for everyday driving, however I want to leave my car as standard as I can till I get better so that I know when my times improve it is because I am driving better and learning the car better rather than the cars performance being the only factor.
My comments are not for everyone, and some people do want to improve their lap times any way they can, however my feeling is that I want to do it one step at a time and for it to be a real measurable improvement that I can replicate in any car not just in a car that runs slicks , sway bars, FI, lowered suspension etc etc.
I have added the sports exhaust and the piggy back ecu in anticipation of FI, however my next spend will be sway bars and adjustable suspension. I will go semi slicks on my stock mags when the current tyres pack it in and then I will get new mags for everyday driving, however I want to leave my car as standard as I can till I get better so that I know when my times improve it is because I am driving better and learning the car better rather than the cars performance being the only factor.
My comments are not for everyone, and some people do want to improve their lap times any way they can, however my feeling is that I want to do it one step at a time and for it to be a real measurable improvement that I can replicate in any car not just in a car that runs slicks , sway bars, FI, lowered suspension etc etc.
I'm dieing to go back to the track but the hero factor on the day was way to high for me considering damage was at the grace of the insurance company and I don't reckon they would be inclined to pay out.
#49
Originally Posted by RXP33D
Well put gibbo...
Respect!!
Respect!!
1st time I did it stock
2nd time I add sway and strut and brake pads
3rd time I add exhaust, air filter, oil filter, racing brake fluids.
4th time I add piggyback.
so I guess tyre and extra set of wheel is next...
Yes insurance will not pay out accident on the track... it is a shame really, and the racing insurance is so expensive.
Consider that track day is not race day and you should be only doing 9/10th not 110%,... it is still controlled driving. It is way better than doing it on the road.
You know that insurance will not pay if you are booked speeding in an accident. So where are you going to enjoy 180kmh - yes on the track.
#50
Originally Posted by takahashi
Yes insurance will not pay out accident on the track... it is a shame really, and the racing insurance is so expensive.
Consider that track day is not race day and you should be only doing 9/10th not 110%,... it is still controlled driving. It is way better than doing it on the road.
You know that insurance will not pay if you are booked speeding in an accident. So where are you going to enjoy 180kmh - yes on the track.
I'd like to do more sprint days but 8 or 9 cars on the track at once the risk factor is too high. I'd prefer them to do 2-3 cars for 5 laps on 5 laps off.