first HPDE (long)
first HPDE (long)
So I had my first HPDE last weekend, and I have to say it was tremendously fun. Scary on Saturday morning, slightly less so Saturday afternoon, and then on Sunday I had settled down and started really enjoying it.
My experience differs a little in the sense that I wasn’t floored by the stock car’s performance. Some people just gush on and on about how shockingly unbelievable the stock Evo is on the track, but I was sort of underwhelmed by some of the handling characteristics: the body roll made it take longer than I’d have preferred to make transitions from left to right turns (or the other way). Under hard, straight-line braking the rear end would get squirrelly and wiggle back and forth. When turning after the long straightaway (this involved some 130mph 4 wheel sliding and a sudden transition from banking to flat “infield” paving), the ABS would go nuts and start tugging the steering wheel all over the place, even before the brakes were applied. It would also take longer than expected to settle down after the transition from banking to flat before I could get on the brake heavy. The brakes, which Mitsu goes on and on about in their marketing brochures, suck. I should be fair and say that it is probably just the stock pads that suck, but still: towards the end of my sessions they would fade, eventough there were really only 2 – 3 spots on the whole track with real heavy braking. The whole rest of the track was either full throttle, or just maintenance gas. I could also just feel the lines ballooning under my feet.
I don’t want to say that I didn’t have fun, or that the car was worse than other street cars, but it is really just that: a street car. It is bone stock except for Motul brake fluid and lots of negative camber. (-2/-1.8), and a hair of toe in the back (none in the front).
I did like how the Advan tires performed. They were better than I expected, and actually wore pretty well. They would get greasy the last few laps (especially on Sunday, when I was put in a faster run group and many people had left), but the first 5-6 laps they were nice. They never rolled over either, even though I only had about 38 psi in them.
The fast ratio steering was probably the funnest thing about the whole car. It let me drive the whole track without “hand over handing” anywhere.
I was surprised at how nerve racking and exhausting the whole thing was. I was terrified at first, and once I got settled down and going fast it was really a lot of sensory input to process at one time. Too much for me, so thank gosh for the instructor in the car.
I will likely want to do more DE events, but the car needs a little attention first. I’ve already ordered some HP plus pads. I need to order some brake lines, and poly bushings for the rear trailing arms. I think I will also get that rear bumpsteer kit to help reduce the push in a slow decreasing radius turn. I don’t think I’ll mess with the swaybars, but I need to decide between some cheap(er) coilovers or just the Espelir GT springs. I’m not going to touch the motor, since I plan on keeping my warranty. Plus, I’m realizing that power really doesn’t make much difference at my neophyte level of driving. I was lapping 500hp cars, and then getting passed by miatas and audi TT’s. I’m convinced it’s all about driving the proper line and good handling.
Anyway sorry about the long ramble, but I wanted to share about my first HPDE. I really believe it is a MUST-DO in anyone’s lifetime.
The Drivers Edge here in TX puts on a great event, and I plan on attending some more in the future.
My experience differs a little in the sense that I wasn’t floored by the stock car’s performance. Some people just gush on and on about how shockingly unbelievable the stock Evo is on the track, but I was sort of underwhelmed by some of the handling characteristics: the body roll made it take longer than I’d have preferred to make transitions from left to right turns (or the other way). Under hard, straight-line braking the rear end would get squirrelly and wiggle back and forth. When turning after the long straightaway (this involved some 130mph 4 wheel sliding and a sudden transition from banking to flat “infield” paving), the ABS would go nuts and start tugging the steering wheel all over the place, even before the brakes were applied. It would also take longer than expected to settle down after the transition from banking to flat before I could get on the brake heavy. The brakes, which Mitsu goes on and on about in their marketing brochures, suck. I should be fair and say that it is probably just the stock pads that suck, but still: towards the end of my sessions they would fade, eventough there were really only 2 – 3 spots on the whole track with real heavy braking. The whole rest of the track was either full throttle, or just maintenance gas. I could also just feel the lines ballooning under my feet.
I don’t want to say that I didn’t have fun, or that the car was worse than other street cars, but it is really just that: a street car. It is bone stock except for Motul brake fluid and lots of negative camber. (-2/-1.8), and a hair of toe in the back (none in the front).
I did like how the Advan tires performed. They were better than I expected, and actually wore pretty well. They would get greasy the last few laps (especially on Sunday, when I was put in a faster run group and many people had left), but the first 5-6 laps they were nice. They never rolled over either, even though I only had about 38 psi in them.
The fast ratio steering was probably the funnest thing about the whole car. It let me drive the whole track without “hand over handing” anywhere.
I was surprised at how nerve racking and exhausting the whole thing was. I was terrified at first, and once I got settled down and going fast it was really a lot of sensory input to process at one time. Too much for me, so thank gosh for the instructor in the car.
I will likely want to do more DE events, but the car needs a little attention first. I’ve already ordered some HP plus pads. I need to order some brake lines, and poly bushings for the rear trailing arms. I think I will also get that rear bumpsteer kit to help reduce the push in a slow decreasing radius turn. I don’t think I’ll mess with the swaybars, but I need to decide between some cheap(er) coilovers or just the Espelir GT springs. I’m not going to touch the motor, since I plan on keeping my warranty. Plus, I’m realizing that power really doesn’t make much difference at my neophyte level of driving. I was lapping 500hp cars, and then getting passed by miatas and audi TT’s. I’m convinced it’s all about driving the proper line and good handling.
Anyway sorry about the long ramble, but I wanted to share about my first HPDE. I really believe it is a MUST-DO in anyone’s lifetime.
The Drivers Edge here in TX puts on a great event, and I plan on attending some more in the future.
Last edited by texrex2002; Mar 6, 2007 at 07:04 PM.
cheers!
sounds a little weird about the brake's abs going on before braking but I am sure there is an explanation somewhere.
enjoy the car! it is pretty good, before you do anything though get an alignment and pads. period, then think again about what you need.
sounds a little weird about the brake's abs going on before braking but I am sure there is an explanation somewhere.
enjoy the car! it is pretty good, before you do anything though get an alignment and pads. period, then think again about what you need.
cant wait for the pads to get here. the stock ones are pretty thin now (good riddance).
the front limited slip diff also allowed the car to handle better than my Subaru did.
I should re-iterate that I didnt think the car is bad, or worse than a lot of other street cars, I just didn't fall on the floor with amazement.
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I guess I dont understand what you were expecting.
Your tail wagging under braking sounds like either improper rear pressures, not braking in a straight line, or a bit of both. Not accusing, but I found during my first track event the only time the Evo would become tail happy under braking would be when i was trying to turn while braking, and even then it was a quick poke of the accelerator away from being straightened out.
Your tail wagging under braking sounds like either improper rear pressures, not braking in a straight line, or a bit of both. Not accusing, but I found during my first track event the only time the Evo would become tail happy under braking would be when i was trying to turn while braking, and even then it was a quick poke of the accelerator away from being straightened out.
I guess I dont understand what you were expecting.
Your tail wagging under braking sounds like either improper rear pressures, not braking in a straight line, or a bit of both. Not accusing, but I found during my first track event the only time the Evo would become tail happy under braking would be when i was trying to turn while braking, and even then it was a quick poke of the accelerator away from being straightened out.
Your tail wagging under braking sounds like either improper rear pressures, not braking in a straight line, or a bit of both. Not accusing, but I found during my first track event the only time the Evo would become tail happy under braking would be when i was trying to turn while braking, and even then it was a quick poke of the accelerator away from being straightened out.
it wasnt' terrible, nor was the car any more or less out of control than at any other point in time; it just surprised me a little.
FWIW, I get tailwag at the end of really long straights, or at least I did on the stock suspension with r-comps. My rear had so little contact that it seemed to float around.
Yep. Lots of notice drivers will lift when the tail is light in these cars. You can imagine the rest.