Track impressions: Techart springs & Gt3 alignment
I finally got to the track this morning to try out the following mods - Techart lowering springs on the stock dampeners, Gt3 street alignment. Tires used are 18" Hoosier R6 at 40/44 hot front/rear. Temps 75F, and car has stage II GIAC/AWE engine mods, running 100 octane fuel. I have run the same car with the same mods previously but without the springs and alignment, so I have a basis for comparison. Also, car was run in Sport mode with sport PASM on and also PSM left on.
Handling wise, car is tightened up considerably. There is no understeer/push whatsoever. The nose turns in quickly and sharply. The rear end also is much more planted without feeling loose in high speed turns. I have a bad habit of making mid-corner corrections instead of setting the turn and steering with the throttle. The suspension never feels unsettled no matter the surface imperfections. No more pogo over rough transitions. The progressive rate Techart springs also don't feel overly harsh and there is never any bottoming out. This is the most planted and secure feeling car I have ever been on track with, and that includes my dedicated race/track car. There is a tremendous amount of feedback in your butt that is available now that the car feels more settled. The only thing that I would try to improve is the body lean. There is still just a touch much of it, and stiffer sways may help. AWE sells adjustable H&R's for the car, and GMG has adjustable Eibach's coming.
Power wise, I have to say that the GIAC in Race mode with 100 octane is simply a very sick and surreal experience. In street mode sometimes I would get a slight boost tail-off or timing retardation near redline. There is none now. Oil temps never got over 210F, and water temps were dead center. Boost was constantly at 18#, and I am hitting an easy 165mph before the end of the front straight at TWS. Considering that my exit from turn 15 is less than perfect, that the car would be even faster in 50F weather, and that I am too chicken so I brake hard at the end of the straight, downshift to 4th prior to turning into turn #1, I think 170mph at the end is easily possible. As far as I know, even the Cup cars can only hit 160mph at the end of the straight.
Some laps from today:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5513466293331244060&hl=en
Handling wise, car is tightened up considerably. There is no understeer/push whatsoever. The nose turns in quickly and sharply. The rear end also is much more planted without feeling loose in high speed turns. I have a bad habit of making mid-corner corrections instead of setting the turn and steering with the throttle. The suspension never feels unsettled no matter the surface imperfections. No more pogo over rough transitions. The progressive rate Techart springs also don't feel overly harsh and there is never any bottoming out. This is the most planted and secure feeling car I have ever been on track with, and that includes my dedicated race/track car. There is a tremendous amount of feedback in your butt that is available now that the car feels more settled. The only thing that I would try to improve is the body lean. There is still just a touch much of it, and stiffer sways may help. AWE sells adjustable H&R's for the car, and GMG has adjustable Eibach's coming.
Power wise, I have to say that the GIAC in Race mode with 100 octane is simply a very sick and surreal experience. In street mode sometimes I would get a slight boost tail-off or timing retardation near redline. There is none now. Oil temps never got over 210F, and water temps were dead center. Boost was constantly at 18#, and I am hitting an easy 165mph before the end of the front straight at TWS. Considering that my exit from turn 15 is less than perfect, that the car would be even faster in 50F weather, and that I am too chicken so I brake hard at the end of the straight, downshift to 4th prior to turning into turn #1, I think 170mph at the end is easily possible. As far as I know, even the Cup cars can only hit 160mph at the end of the straight.
Some laps from today:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5513466293331244060&hl=en
