Grrrrr.... Paul: "I need more brakes" Ben: "Just get CT pads, that's all you'll need. I have better tires and am faster than old guys like you, and they're all I need" Paul: "OK, Whippersnapper" Paul: "I fried my OEM calipers and CT pads at VIR. On Neo Gens." Ben: "Unpossible! You just overdrove them, you outta control old fart." Paul: "I think I'll get a BDM when I have some cash" Ben: "OK" (thinking: "no way you need that kind of kit with street tires") Ben: "I fried my CT pads and OEM calipers at NHMS" Paul: "See? Told ya" Ben: "And I just bought a MDM kit" Paul (still broke and on OEM calipers): "DAMMIT!"
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... That's a consequence of the blind leading the blind. =) I really really liked CT pads... until I blew through a brand new set at a different track. VIR Full Course, no problem, I could have gotten 7 or 8 days from one set. NHMS? Much shorter and harsher. Then I figured, heck, I'm already broke from a full set of pads, how much worse can it get?
There is just no way to compromise with brakes; it ends up being much cheaper in the long run on pads and rotors getting the setup that'll work best for you at the get go, even if it means spending a bit extra up front. Learned that the hard way... Their are different driving styles/tracks, and some good drivers can get by with the OEM stuff just fine--I can't. I've seen some folks (and a couple of vendors) claim "nah, all you need are different pads, and maybe different rotors, (coincidentally, the pads they sell), the brakes are just fine". Maybe it's lack of skill, or the track, or a combination of both, but the OEM and even the JCW brakes didn't work out for me-- the BDM definitely has finally taken the brakes off the worry list... Fortunately their are good vendors out there that can set you straight on brakes (The TSW guys and Todd at TCE to name two)...
Yep - and Ben, you know, my VIR issues have been on the South course... while it's not as fast as the full course, and that means the brakes don't get as much of a workout at the three big brake points around the track, it's much shorter and tighter, so the brakes NEVER get to rest and cool down like they do on the three long sections of the full course. I think that's the difference. VIR South sounds a lot more like the NHMS course you drove...
Back to tire pressures, for my 215/45-17 RE01s my starting point is 34 front and 32 rear cold. Alignment specs, Front -2.0, smidge toe-in Rear -1.5, smidge toe-in Running TSW V3 springs as well. The 19mm rear bar on the middle setting firmed up the rear enough such that I need to go a little lower on tire pressure in the rear to soften enough to eliminate excessive oversteer. This weekend is my first 105+F track day, so we will see how close that starting point is in these extreme conditions. As for the brakes, the ducts are going on my JCW brakes with hawk pads today.
Yep, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and VIR South Course are similar. Similar elevation change, both have two big straightaways, both fry race pads on stock calipers... NHMS is 1.8 miles, but it's run counterclockwise, where VIR South Course is clockwise. The garages at NHMS are pretty sweet, though: air (~120psi), power, and work benches in each bay.
Hey Brian, actually I will be down at H2R so I will miss you this weekend, but I am really looking forward to that track as it will be my first time there.
Alan, I finally had a little luck and found some nice Piloti's at my local Ross. So, you can no longer make fun of my ginormous bulky cross training shoes that have almost no feel. I am looking forward to test driving them on Saturday. You guys have fun at ECR. Nathan, Very funny, and likely closer to reality than I would care to admit. It will be a scorcher.
:smile5: We are moving to New Braunfels next month. I'll PM you about groups to run with down there. Be safe, keep cool, and HAVE FUN! Alan
H2R today Ok, had a blast (furnace) at H2R today. What a nice track and definitely interesting with plenty of off-camber to get your attention. I was a loner out there with the only MINI, plenty of Porsche, Lotus, and a few BMWs out there with me. Back on tire pressure, I ended up running 42 in the front and 38 in the rear hot. This translates to 36 in the front and 33 in the rear cold. Oh and the brake ducts did not go in as planned, I did get the duct hose bracket installed in place of the rotor backing plates, but ran out of time and creativity in selecting a path for the 3" hose duct from the fog light opening to the bracket at the rear of the rotors. So, in the meantime I continue to toast the paint on the red JCW calipers, and by the end of the day my pedal was a little mushy, even though I flushed the system completely yesterday.
Did you find that combo of pressure to be pretty neutral? What brake fluid are you boiling on your track days. Must be getting real hot to boil after a day before change! Where would I find a track map for this track and it's length? It sounds like a cooker. Don