Best mods for road racing?
10-13-2015, 02:08 PM
#21
Racer
Am I wrong here, do people really reach for the extinguisher?
If I'd been on track, it wouldn't have helped at all, I agree.
10-13-2015, 02:20 PM
#22
Racer
Originally Posted by LB
Get yourself some big brakes first, but from there on out I'd be looking hard at a 6+ point NASA/SCCA legal cage to protect you in the event things go bad.
It's a bit of a irreconcilable problem the way I see it. More safety on the track equals less safety on the street.
10-13-2015, 04:02 PM
#23
A big brake kit, but one that is designed for track purposes to handle longer sessions. You have to be careful as a lot of big brake kits really are more for cosmetic purposes (middle of the road rotors, not the best calipers) as opposed to a real track setup.
Next depends on your solution to keep you butt in the seat. If going with a harness, then IMO it is mandatory to use some sort of HANS device. (watch the above car fire video an pay attention to the drivers head and neck movements as the car impacts). Now that you have a harness in the car, do you really want to be stuck in an upright position without some sort of roll over protection? Vettes are pretty strong, but at a minimum I would suggest a professionally built roll bar that will provide some roll over protection and a perfect place for the shoulder harness mounts. Harness bars are over priced IMO, for the cost of 3 harness bars you can have a quality roll bar. A cage would be best, but then you're really pushing the aspect of a comfortable street driven car.
Driver instruction is key....and the best money spent. Best way to know if you suck is put a good driver in your car. If he is 3 or 4 seconds a lap faster than what you're running, stop the mods and work on your own driver education.
I'd buy another set of tires and rims....keep the 200 wear units for the specific events requiring them or the street. I've had great luck, wear and predictability with the Nitto NT01's. As you know, it can get damn hot at Thunderhill and the NT01's seem to do well and stay predictable when others tend to get greasy in the heat.
See you at Thunderhill, that too is my home track and I'm preparing my new to me Z06....I usually run with NCRC, Checkered Flag, SFSpeed, Lotus Club, etc. You can literally do a track event every week in Nor Cal
Next depends on your solution to keep you butt in the seat. If going with a harness, then IMO it is mandatory to use some sort of HANS device. (watch the above car fire video an pay attention to the drivers head and neck movements as the car impacts). Now that you have a harness in the car, do you really want to be stuck in an upright position without some sort of roll over protection? Vettes are pretty strong, but at a minimum I would suggest a professionally built roll bar that will provide some roll over protection and a perfect place for the shoulder harness mounts. Harness bars are over priced IMO, for the cost of 3 harness bars you can have a quality roll bar. A cage would be best, but then you're really pushing the aspect of a comfortable street driven car.
Driver instruction is key....and the best money spent. Best way to know if you suck is put a good driver in your car. If he is 3 or 4 seconds a lap faster than what you're running, stop the mods and work on your own driver education.
I'd buy another set of tires and rims....keep the 200 wear units for the specific events requiring them or the street. I've had great luck, wear and predictability with the Nitto NT01's. As you know, it can get damn hot at Thunderhill and the NT01's seem to do well and stay predictable when others tend to get greasy in the heat.
See you at Thunderhill, that too is my home track and I'm preparing my new to me Z06....I usually run with NCRC, Checkered Flag, SFSpeed, Lotus Club, etc. You can literally do a track event every week in Nor Cal
10-13-2015, 09:42 PM
#25
Tech Contributor
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I see a lot of cars with fire extinguishers in them including mine but I've never see anyone use them. You are always told to get out and away from the car if on fire and let the crew deal with the fire. Which is why I will be installing a fire suppression system.
Am I wrong here, do people really reach for the extinguisher?
Am I wrong here, do people really reach for the extinguisher?
Bill
10-14-2015, 01:31 AM
#26
This is becoming a thread hijack but I have seen a race car at an HPDE event catch fire, the driver pulled the suppression system which failed to go off, and another car stopped nearby, pulled out their fire extinguisher and put the fire out. So yes, it's not a bad idea to have FEs in the car, it just might not be your car that's on fire.
Back to the regularly scheduled programming.
Back to the regularly scheduled programming.
10-14-2015, 06:43 AM
#27
Safety Car
Since we've blown this tread up already I'll add in on the fire extinguisher thing.
I don't like them. Most of them are mounted poorly. They can come loose in an accident.
If my car is on fire I'm running. One of the little questions no one at the HPDE level asks is how quickly can you get out of the car. I've raced with groups where they made me exit the car in the tech line and I was timed . Considering we had a full cage and welded doors that was interesting. My yoga classes paid off.
Here's an article i wrote a couple of years ago about fire suppression systems.
The mod threads remind me of my old club in Philly. We got t-shirts made up that said:
Don't Drive Better - Just Spend More
Richard Newton
I don't like them. Most of them are mounted poorly. They can come loose in an accident.
If my car is on fire I'm running. One of the little questions no one at the HPDE level asks is how quickly can you get out of the car. I've raced with groups where they made me exit the car in the tech line and I was timed . Considering we had a full cage and welded doors that was interesting. My yoga classes paid off.
Here's an article i wrote a couple of years ago about fire suppression systems.
The mod threads remind me of my old club in Philly. We got t-shirts made up that said:
Don't Drive Better - Just Spend More
Richard Newton
10-14-2015, 03:06 PM
#31
10-14-2015, 03:08 PM
#32
10-14-2015, 03:19 PM
#33
To directly answer your question I would have to say slicks and a BBK if we are purely speaking of mods to the car.
On a more personal note I did my first couple of DE's with a complete stock setup and quickly realized i needed better seats and a harness. This was probably the best "mod" i've done so far.
On a more personal note I did my first couple of DE's with a complete stock setup and quickly realized i needed better seats and a harness. This was probably the best "mod" i've done so far.
10-14-2015, 07:27 PM
#35
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by TraviZ06
I read that sticky but it didn't answer my original question, which mod was the best for shaving time at the track.
10-14-2015, 10:01 PM
#36
Race Director
Member Since: Oct 2000
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If you think that sounds like a lot of seat time..... it is. Which supports all those posts stating a good coach and plenty of experience. A fast car means nothing in the hands of someone that doesn't know how to use it.
And for the experience side of things, a successful hot shoe gets a sense of:
rpm sounds close to limit for shift (don't need tach or limiter cut off interfering)
suspension is under max load
tires are feeling just on the verge of not responding (sound with progressive street tires, too)
that portion of the track seems to grip better
that third gear is not enough, maybe second is better there
short shifting gets me more on that stretch
the car is settled better under braking there
car is settled better on that portion of the uphill not braking vs. braking twice
braking earlier but lighter keeps suspension under better control there
tires are pumped up too much
tires are getting greasy
tires need/can breath here
pushing or loose
.......this could go on to cover page after page............
Last edited by SouthernSon; 10-14-2015 at 10:19 PM.
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Captain Buddha (10-15-2015)
10-15-2015, 11:15 AM
#37
Drifting
Learn to recognize speed vs. line for best radius and use of track out. and THAT is a lot to learn because you have to develop a good sense of it unless you have a month to spend at a certain track with a good data logger and someone to interpret it for you. Then, learn to figure it out QUICKLY on the fly.
If you think that sounds like a lot of seat time..... it is. Which supports all those posts stating a good coach and plenty of experience. A fast car means nothing in the hands of someone that doesn't know how to use it.
And for the experience side of things, a successful hot shoe gets a sense of:
rpm sounds close to limit for shift (don't need tach or limiter cut off interfering)
suspension is under max load
tires are feeling just on the verge of not responding (sound with progressive street tires, too)
that portion of the track seems to grip better
that third gear is not enough, maybe second is better there
short shifting gets me more on that stretch
the car is settled better under braking there
car is settled better on that portion of the uphill not braking vs. braking twice
braking earlier but lighter keeps suspension under better control there
tires are pumped up too much
tires are getting greasy
tires need/can breath here
pushing or loose
.......this could go on to cover page after page............
If you think that sounds like a lot of seat time..... it is. Which supports all those posts stating a good coach and plenty of experience. A fast car means nothing in the hands of someone that doesn't know how to use it.
And for the experience side of things, a successful hot shoe gets a sense of:
rpm sounds close to limit for shift (don't need tach or limiter cut off interfering)
suspension is under max load
tires are feeling just on the verge of not responding (sound with progressive street tires, too)
that portion of the track seems to grip better
that third gear is not enough, maybe second is better there
short shifting gets me more on that stretch
the car is settled better under braking there
car is settled better on that portion of the uphill not braking vs. braking twice
braking earlier but lighter keeps suspension under better control there
tires are pumped up too much
tires are getting greasy
tires need/can breath here
pushing or loose
.......this could go on to cover page after page............
10-15-2015, 04:17 PM
#38
Drifting
Member Since: Aug 2012
Location: Clermont fl
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St. Jude Donor '13
^I agree, I've personally seen Matt ( blkbrd69 ) at Sebring, his car is a beast, but with that said, he is also very fast as in LOTS of seat time, take what the above post and others have posted also. my 2 cents hope all of this together helps you with your goal
10-15-2015, 04:48 PM
#39
Drifting
I am very much a tech guy and wrench turner. I recommend seat time and coaching over trying to improve the car. Safety and reliability then quality seat time.
Now we need go get a yellow car on track for some of that seat time and coaching.
10-15-2015, 04:54 PM
#40
Instructor
Thread Starter
Thanks, I think brakes will be my next purchase after I get my seat and harness squared away. Off topic but I got set back last night, broke my car at the track, looking to rebuild the torque tube with poly mounts and install the DTE brace.
Back on topic, along with seat time and practice, I don't see what's wrong with modding while learning. I'm honestly only making about 3 events per year for the last few years so I'm not exactly gonna get a ton of seat time in. I'd like to mod to improve the cars capability as I keep going back. I'm definitely investing in that gps timer as well. Way better than just comparing lap times according to the track gps.
Back on topic, along with seat time and practice, I don't see what's wrong with modding while learning. I'm honestly only making about 3 events per year for the last few years so I'm not exactly gonna get a ton of seat time in. I'd like to mod to improve the cars capability as I keep going back. I'm definitely investing in that gps timer as well. Way better than just comparing lap times according to the track gps.