Well saturday I entered my first race. It was on a go kart track and was a good time. I am planning on doing some more races and need to change some things.
My setup for the suspension is just lowered on tanabe gf210 springs. Stop tech rotors and hawk race pads. I have nitto nt05s on the stock wheels 235/40/17s. I have a new set of enkei PF01s 17x8.5.
My first question is should I swap my current tires which are in good condition, or should I get a new set of 255/40s. Also the car was under steering so I was planning on getting robi sway bars. I am trying to get a feel for the car on the springs and maybe later on go to coil overs.
Can any of you auto x vets give me some advice.

 

Change your driver mods. I almost gaurantee the car is better than the driver right now (especially your first time out), so learn your sh*t and then finish the car.

 

Agreed. Don't be so quick to go mod happy. Keep your car the way it is, and drive with a instructor. Take as many classes as your region offers, and get seat time. Driver is the most important mod...

 

I learned this the hard way.

Blew a bunch of money on parts and then took the car out as it sits and realized that all of the parts I purchased were just going to make the car even further out of reach. Now those parts are collecting dust in the garage.

All of my modding money is now going towards braking components, seat time and tires.

 

Driver mod will play a huge role here. Id imagine you are going too hot into the corners thus causing your understeer. Try to remember to brake first and then steer.

On a different note it may not be a bad idea to swap out those tanabe springs for something different as I have head that the rates arent exactly ideal. You will probably have better luck with a set of GTworx or some Swifts.

 

On a different note it may not be a bad idea to swap out those tanabe springs for something different as I have head that the rates arent exactly ideal. You will probably have better luck with a set of GTworx or some Swifts.[/QUOTE]

Bingo!-- and what else has been said concerning drive time

 

Unless your tires are almost worn, there is no need to upgrade them. The nitto's are probably overkill already

 

I know I need more seat time. I am trying to hit up as many races as possible. So I shouldn't even look into a front sway bar.
What do you most of you guys run for tire pressure. I was told to chalk the sidewalls and go off that for tire pressure.
The car did well and I am sure there is more left in it. I was 3rd overall out of 20 cars for my first time out.
Springs >FSB?
thanks

 

More seat time

I start off with 34 front and 35-36 rear for pressures then adjust from there on how the car feels.

 

Seat time is by far the best thing you can do especially when starting.

As far as fsb, I think the order is get an upgrade rsb first, then maaaybe a fsb later. fsb is a total pain to install from what I understand.

 

What everyone else said about seat time. And a good alignment if you don't have one already.

- Andrew

 

I ran Buttonwillow last weekend with BMW CCA and had my tires set to 32 front / 36 rear cold. These were set for track sessions of 15-20 minutes each.

After each session I checked my pressures and both tires were hovering around 40 flat, which was perfect for the Direzza Star Specs. (It was 90 degrees out too) I would only use chalk to see of you're rolling your tires over, but maybe you have another method that works for you.

 

well ill get more seat time and lean to handle the car better. May look into springs.
any driving tips besides brake early to prevent under steer.
Thanks for the advice.

 

Look up, and far ahead!

 

Front Sway bar will tighten the front end and make it understeer more. If you were to mod to make the car oversteer you would want a Rear Sway bar.

As said above, seat time will absolutely modify that. From the sound of you saying the car is oversteering My question is where is it oversteering.... before the apex of the turn or after the apex when you are on the gas?