Building for the road course...again
- Thread starter gotovato
- Start date
- Watchers 22
gotovato
Greenie Member
Fucking weird classing idk. It’s pretty shit but whatever. I did alright I guess. Learning a new track layout was fun
LOL everyone gives me shit for the plate bracket. I zip tie the transponder there it makes it easy but yes looks like shit. I always put my plates back on before leaving the track though
Lmao yup. It’s about right
i thought you were trailering now?
gotovato
Greenie Member
I am but since alot of my logging and tuning happens on the street the car is still plated and insured. Makes it easier to take it to the shop if I need to as well
Crazycanadian
Greenie Member
Being 0.111 off the stupid quick Golf R sounds like a win to me. How does the car feel with the last round of tweaks?
gotovato
Greenie Member
So it’s still not where I want it but I changed up my drive style a little to compensate and it seems to have worked.
Messing up the front end of the car definitely fucked shit though. Not enough compression right now and even droop I’ve limited some how lol. It was definitely not happy to take curbs so I had to avoid them mostly.
Still a shit ton better than some of the cars I was chasing down who would hit a curb and either bounce off the track or continue bouncing for the rest of the lap lol. I can say I am definitely ahead of those guys.
I’ve got longer rear springs coming and a plan to bring the car back to how it was early this season when it felt best. It’ll have the high ride height again but that was definitely the answer(enter roll center conversations)
As for the golf R, a quick google confirms those shits make 320-340whp straight from factory and they are severely under rated. Add in the DSG transmission and yea. It’s a properly fast car.
Dude was stunned when he asked me what was done to my car and I told him lol
gotovato
Greenie Member
Well update time. Its been a little bit.
New eibach rear springs showed up. I got those installed and cranked the cars ride height all around. Back to how it was in april, not as high but much closer.
Final current ride height, 4.45" from and 4.9" rear. Just over a half in of rake and boy does it feel like it lol
Had the car aligned but NO corner balance yet as i wanted to test the setup first and make sure we are in the window.
Footage from testing which was last week wednesday. The car was INSANE. Im talking put a blind fold on and WTF car am i driving?
Completely different. Like not even a little bit the same.
I gained ALL of the corner entry rotation i wanted. like all of it. The car is manic on corner entry and i would never ever give anyone the car like this to drive, or tell anyone to set their car up like this but my fuck is it incredible. This was by design. I spent some time talking to chatgpt about this and because i have so much detail i can give it was actually extremely helpful. Car is LOOSE on entry but dead hooked up mid corner and corner exit. Its actually scary how good i got it.
This is the most fun ive had driving the car all season, like i just wanted to keep doing laps all night. I actually did TOO many laps and i was scared i melted the tires. It responds so well to trail brake now i can easily turn the car on the brakes. My tuner noticed significant reduction in steering angle, as well as some line changes.
New setup also seems to be gangster for tire wear. I did alot of laps wednesday and i am self admittedly terrible on my front end. I murder tires. i scrub and im aggressive. New setup? Tires look like they lost 0 tread or life. Didnt even roll them over like i always do. The car turns so much better now its hard to describe. the thing just works and it works damn well. i am happy as fuck with how it drives now.
We are on bridgestone RE71RZ tires btw as nankangs are currently unobtainium so nankangs in the back bridgestones in the front. They feel good!
Lap footage here. First half of the video is just me screwing around, last half is a single clean lap. Not my fastest lap at all but it shows how the car works.
With the new ride height, i now have shitloads of compression travel. like, we were rocking 1.6" before, we are 2.6"+ now on the front end which was also part of my design. The car EATS curbs and doesnt get sent to the moon anymore. fuck its really something the way it feels now.
Oh best part,
we found 4ths over my personal best which was set in 2024 with my built motor lmao. Corner speeds are fucking dumb everywhere, corner entry speed is fucking dumb, also spent 60% of the lap at WOT vs my previous best of just 49%. That indicates i got the car turned quicker, so WOT sooner. Its so basic but its also everything.
At one point in my new PB lap, i was up 1 full second over my previous PB which is fucking mental. I saw where i lost the time and it was me using 3rd gear when 2nd wouldve been the answer.
On another note, my engine has lost 12whp and 13ftlbs since may when i ran the beginning of the season virtual dyno. The car felt slow as fuck on wednesday and i lost a few kph in straight line speeds all over the track, yet....i still found 4 tenths over my PB. The entire night every session was within 5 tenths variance. Dead consistent.
We gained more stopping power, gForces show it aint even close. Also the ability to turn the car under braking...ooof. that is fucking magical.
Blue is new PB red was old PB
Virtual dyno run taken on sunday. First pull made 182/135. Its tired as fuck for sure. whatever.
All of this being said, the car just needs more driver mod. I am ALMOST tempted to loosen it up a bit more but that might make it too on edge when it is already sharp as fuck on turn in.
All the effort, bitching and moaning, sweating my ass off in the garage, it was all fucking worth it and i will never ever look at anyone the same way again when they say "i properly installed and tuned my suspension." most people aint got a clue. Its not hard, just hours and hours and hours of fucking around.
New eibach rear springs showed up. I got those installed and cranked the cars ride height all around. Back to how it was in april, not as high but much closer.
Final current ride height, 4.45" from and 4.9" rear. Just over a half in of rake and boy does it feel like it lol
Had the car aligned but NO corner balance yet as i wanted to test the setup first and make sure we are in the window.
Footage from testing which was last week wednesday. The car was INSANE. Im talking put a blind fold on and WTF car am i driving?
Completely different. Like not even a little bit the same.
I gained ALL of the corner entry rotation i wanted. like all of it. The car is manic on corner entry and i would never ever give anyone the car like this to drive, or tell anyone to set their car up like this but my fuck is it incredible. This was by design. I spent some time talking to chatgpt about this and because i have so much detail i can give it was actually extremely helpful. Car is LOOSE on entry but dead hooked up mid corner and corner exit. Its actually scary how good i got it.
This is the most fun ive had driving the car all season, like i just wanted to keep doing laps all night. I actually did TOO many laps and i was scared i melted the tires. It responds so well to trail brake now i can easily turn the car on the brakes. My tuner noticed significant reduction in steering angle, as well as some line changes.
New setup also seems to be gangster for tire wear. I did alot of laps wednesday and i am self admittedly terrible on my front end. I murder tires. i scrub and im aggressive. New setup? Tires look like they lost 0 tread or life. Didnt even roll them over like i always do. The car turns so much better now its hard to describe. the thing just works and it works damn well. i am happy as fuck with how it drives now.
We are on bridgestone RE71RZ tires btw as nankangs are currently unobtainium so nankangs in the back bridgestones in the front. They feel good!
Lap footage here. First half of the video is just me screwing around, last half is a single clean lap. Not my fastest lap at all but it shows how the car works.
With the new ride height, i now have shitloads of compression travel. like, we were rocking 1.6" before, we are 2.6"+ now on the front end which was also part of my design. The car EATS curbs and doesnt get sent to the moon anymore. fuck its really something the way it feels now.
Oh best part,
we found 4ths over my personal best which was set in 2024 with my built motor lmao. Corner speeds are fucking dumb everywhere, corner entry speed is fucking dumb, also spent 60% of the lap at WOT vs my previous best of just 49%. That indicates i got the car turned quicker, so WOT sooner. Its so basic but its also everything.
At one point in my new PB lap, i was up 1 full second over my previous PB which is fucking mental. I saw where i lost the time and it was me using 3rd gear when 2nd wouldve been the answer.
On another note, my engine has lost 12whp and 13ftlbs since may when i ran the beginning of the season virtual dyno. The car felt slow as fuck on wednesday and i lost a few kph in straight line speeds all over the track, yet....i still found 4 tenths over my PB. The entire night every session was within 5 tenths variance. Dead consistent.
We gained more stopping power, gForces show it aint even close. Also the ability to turn the car under braking...ooof. that is fucking magical.
Blue is new PB red was old PB
Virtual dyno run taken on sunday. First pull made 182/135. Its tired as fuck for sure. whatever.
All of this being said, the car just needs more driver mod. I am ALMOST tempted to loosen it up a bit more but that might make it too on edge when it is already sharp as fuck on turn in.
All the effort, bitching and moaning, sweating my ass off in the garage, it was all fucking worth it and i will never ever look at anyone the same way again when they say "i properly installed and tuned my suspension." most people aint got a clue. Its not hard, just hours and hours and hours of fucking around.
so you took the springs off the rear coil overs and put them back in the stock location? or is something else going on in that picture.
gotovato
Greenie Member
i took the short swift springs off and installed 1.5" longer Eibach springs. thats all. rear has always been a divorced setup. This was done to gain me back rear ride height as the adjustment was maxed out and i needed a good bit more to make my idea work
Then take that adjustment collar off the shock, that's just unnecessary unsprung weight!
gotovato
Greenie Member
lol I’ve got the perch which I need of course, the other black thingy is the coupler for the helper spring. The helper spring is almost doing nothing but it is still doing something so it’s gotta stay.
Considering adding in more rear droop so that helper spring will be doing more. We’ll see though
gotovato
Greenie Member
2 day competition weekend coming up quick. August 28-30. Itll be 2 days at one of the longet tracks around. 6 hours from home, 2m30s laptime, tenting it. Its going to be sickk
I just hoping my engine lasts these 2 days, followed by finals on september 20th. after that, engines getting swapped.
Not sure how well ill do being down on power and only ever having driven this track once back in 2021. Should be a good time either way.
As for more weight reduction, someone on the forums mentioned pulling 25lbs of sound deadener out of their RSX. Thats insane and easy weight savings that nobody would ever notice. I think that may be up next for me.
The car is currently lighter than we all thought so thats cool. Seems theres still a few more lbs that can be removed. With my power delete, this helps lol.
I also just bought another set of front wheels. Part of the race strategy. Run the morning sessions with one set of fronts, then swap on the stickers for the 3 laps of finals. Next year those wheels will get a pair of A052's. fastest 200 tire out there but also the most expensive. Should be good for a few tenths easy. Seeing as im fighting for tenths this could be a huge gain.
Lots of small stuff at this point. Hopefully the new engine finally makes some real power LOL i aint asking for much thats for sure
I just hoping my engine lasts these 2 days, followed by finals on september 20th. after that, engines getting swapped.
Not sure how well ill do being down on power and only ever having driven this track once back in 2021. Should be a good time either way.
As for more weight reduction, someone on the forums mentioned pulling 25lbs of sound deadener out of their RSX. Thats insane and easy weight savings that nobody would ever notice. I think that may be up next for me.
The car is currently lighter than we all thought so thats cool. Seems theres still a few more lbs that can be removed. With my power delete, this helps lol.
I also just bought another set of front wheels. Part of the race strategy. Run the morning sessions with one set of fronts, then swap on the stickers for the 3 laps of finals. Next year those wheels will get a pair of A052's. fastest 200 tire out there but also the most expensive. Should be good for a few tenths easy. Seeing as im fighting for tenths this could be a huge gain.
Lots of small stuff at this point. Hopefully the new engine finally makes some real power LOL i aint asking for much thats for sure
Crazycanadian
Greenie Member
Looking forward to seeing how you do.
It's interesting when you think about it. How much engineering went into roll centers and geometry from the factory. Also how quickly you can screw it up. I'd be interested to see how the car handles with sticker new tires on all 4 corners rather then mixing and matching. I remember it making a pretty big difference on my SMF car.
It's interesting when you think about it. How much engineering went into roll centers and geometry from the factory. Also how quickly you can screw it up. I'd be interested to see how the car handles with sticker new tires on all 4 corners rather then mixing and matching. I remember it making a pretty big difference on my SMF car.
gotovato
Greenie Member
Overall I haven’t noticed much with the mix and match. The rears just need to be there and not heat cycled out.
All of these “super 200’s” are all so similar in compound and pace I’m actually not sure it even matters?
Next season I’ll be back to a full matching set of tires.
I do have tire wear pictures for the front though. They went on as stickers and have done ~30 hot laps and maybe 20 just chill laps. Wear seems to be really nice.
The geometry change is massive. Having felt the effects, yea. I get it. Roll center height matters!
I don’t have many expectations for this coming weekend. Just enjoy and have fun. The car is down on power and I’ve only been to this track once back in 2021. The track locals will probably be the fastest and that’s ok
gotovato
Greenie Member
Solid weekend 6 hours - 310 miles from home.
Lapping on Saturday. Time attack on Sunday. New track to me. Had to learn it and 20 corners most of which are blind, it’s no joke. This track is an engine stresser too lol. That was fun
Lapping video from Saturday.
Sunday it pissed rain all day. Not a single dry session. I was up against some experienced dudes as always. Always guys with better tires and more money. Part of the fun I guess lol.
I ran Bridgestone re71rz up front and those were amazing in the rain. My nankang CRS in the rear though…1/10 in the rain. They are regarded as the worst wet tire in the 200tw category. I could see why. There was some strategy involved to get temp into those rear tires lol.
After 3 sessions totaling 15 laps and a good battle, I managed 3rd place. I definitely can’t complain. In raw lap time I went 1.6s faster than P2 guy but stupid pax shit. Whatever
Lapping on Saturday. Time attack on Sunday. New track to me. Had to learn it and 20 corners most of which are blind, it’s no joke. This track is an engine stresser too lol. That was fun
Lapping video from Saturday.
Sunday it pissed rain all day. Not a single dry session. I was up against some experienced dudes as always. Always guys with better tires and more money. Part of the fun I guess lol.
I ran Bridgestone re71rz up front and those were amazing in the rain. My nankang CRS in the rear though…1/10 in the rain. They are regarded as the worst wet tire in the 200tw category. I could see why. There was some strategy involved to get temp into those rear tires lol.
After 3 sessions totaling 15 laps and a good battle, I managed 3rd place. I definitely can’t complain. In raw lap time I went 1.6s faster than P2 guy but stupid pax shit. Whatever
What cars were 1st and 2nd driving
What the hell was the deal with that red BMW going so slow
Car looked planted for as wet as it is
What the hell was the deal with that red BMW going so slow
Car looked planted for as wet as it is
I can see you arent working the steering wheel as much as previous years vids. Hell it looks like a Sunday drive at triple digits, lol.
"Why does everyone over brake in that corner, its a high speed corner!"
"Why does everyone over brake in that corner, its a high speed corner!"
gotovato
Greenie Member
1st guy has been winning all season. Extremely well built brz, and like 30 years of seat time lol. He also plays the pax system well. Rumor has it the car is way more built then its pax points suggests.
2nd place guy…was renting first place guys brz. They both drove the car. Weird right.
Idk what the bmw was doing lol. That was a bummer. That was a fast lap until that point.
The video was on Saturday which was a dry day. Time attack was Sunday in the rain. No footage from that unfortunately. Interesting note, on Saturday my fastest lap had a peak held g force of 1.6. Turn 6 I believe. On Sunday in the wet it was 1.4g which is a lot for wet weather. The car was hooked up.
Yea the suspension changes helped a ton for turn in. The front end is strong. Less steering required. The car honestly feels the best it ever has.I can see you arent working the steering wheel as much as previous years vids. Hell it looks like a Sunday drive at triple digits, lol.
"Why does everyone over brake in that corner, its a high speed corner!"
Funny enough, my power steering was cutting out the entire day on Saturday, specially during the triple digit speed corners. That was not confidence inspiring and definitely cost me some time lol
Some k20 noise. I love it.
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