I attended an SCCA PDX (Performance Driving Experience) at the Lightning Course at NJ Motorsports Park yesterday. This was one eye-opening event! While I was sorta familiar with pushing the car on the street, it's absolutely NOTHING compared to what can be done on a track. Riding with my 2 instructors, one driving an Evo IX MR and the other a X totally humbled me and gave me newfound respect. The only other track experience I have, other than being a crew member for a friend during many SCCA club racing weekends, is participating in a "parade-like" lapping session at the Englishtown Raceway Park Roadcourse.

Tech line


Power-wise, both of the cars were set up like mine, basic exhaust, intake, boost control mods, and a tune. They were both on brand new Stance coilovers, the IX had 2-piece Racing Brake rotors and RB's et850 trackday pads, while the X had blanks with EBC Yellows. The IX was running on stock BBS w/ street Toyos , and the X on a full slick installed on Kosei's.

Pete's IX MR

Tim's X


I arrived early in the morning and immediately spotted the 2 Evo's setting up in the paddock, drove over and decided to say hi. They welcomed me and loved the car, asked me about my experience, etc etc. I was thrilled when I found out from the head Steward that the IX MR driver was going to be my instructor. Since the X driver really didn't have an "official" student, I went back and forth between them to get different feedback. I didn't really take many pics all day, if I wasn't out on the track driving, I was in one of their cars as a passenger, but in a higher level group. If was wasn't on the track at all I was sitting in the classroom getting some more instruction.

classroom


Rocking the awesome hats, Tim (l) Pete (r, yeah he knows he's not the "typical" Evo enthusiast!)


They had two different driving and teaching styles. The IX MR driver gave me pointers here and there when needed, was mostly quiet and enjoying the drive. He was impressed how I picked up and drove the line on certain sections, thank you Gran Turismo. He also like how I delivered the power and applied the brakes, and said everything was generally smooth, his driving style was just like his teaching. He was actually ready to sign me off to drive solo, but for some reason I felt a little more comfortable with him there as I wasn't used to all the flag stations yet. I didn't want to zone out and not be aware that I was coming up on an incident.

The X driver gave me feedback when needed, was a little more vocal throughout the sessions, which I welcomed. I liked the fact that he talked me through mostly every turn during the first 2 laps, then just added things as needed.

Now for my car. I'm currently running PSS9's, a Robispec rear swaybar, stock front strut bar, ebay rear, Work Emo 18x9.5 with Nitto Invo at 255/35, Rotor Pros blanks with Racing Brake et700's. Power wise I'm at conservative tune, putting out 295whp on 22 lbs. I look at the Invo's as a 3-season performance tire. They do exactly what they are supposed to, are quiet, comfortable, yet still responsive and have great turn in qualities. I've driven on them down to 20 degrees, dry. They handle great in the rain, and are a great "commuter" tire for me (daily 40 mile commute into Manhattan). During my last session out, I was getting a lot more comfortable, and they were starting to sing and wander a little bit. The et700's also got a little soft as I started pushing more in the later sessions, the IX MR driver ever said he actually had a set on fire once!

I was really surprised to hear my instructor tell me that my car felt really similar to a White VIII RS on Ohlins that he took a ride in. I had the PSS9's set at level 2 (1-9, 9 being softest) and the Robi bar set at max stiffness in the back. (when i do a clutch, I'll do a front bar as well)My tires were about 33psi cold.


As for the driving, I can honestly say that I've been thinking about it since I left. Being a passenger in an experienced driver's Evo was almost as much fun as driving. I was absolutely in awe of how strong the two instructor's brakes felt. Honestly, I was almost loving the feel of braking hard from about 125 on the front straight into turn one, as much as feeling the boost come on.

My brake and tire game have to step it up next time. I have a set of IX Enkies with snow tires, and a set of VIII Enkies with some Sumitomo junk that came on the car when I bought it. (used with 16k). Purchasing a set of dedicated track tires and installing them is a definite option, as I am happy with the Invo's as a daily driver tire. Brake wise, I am happy with Racing Brake as a company, as they gave me some excellent service and are pretty local to me. I'm going to look into 2-piece fronts and maybe swap in a higher level pad when I get to the track.



If Pete and Tim do read this, I just want to say thanks again for the great experience. You're both real good guys and I hope to see you soon. Next time I am definitely going to have some sort of video setup and try to get more on track pics. I'm HOOKED!

 

Sounds like you had an awesome time. I've met both Tim and Pete and they are really nice guys (I met them at Track Daze last October at Shenendoah) and they both post here too.

I hope I'll see you at a local event some time.

Check the brake pad thread above by Smike for input on pads. I ran the OEMs to the bone last season and definitely started getting fade 15-20 minutes into sessions. This season I'll be running PFC01s in the front, 97s in the rear.

 

Sounds great! Very similar to what I felt when I went to the track first time.
I agree with not going solo for the first time. I was not comfortable even when my instructer told me I would be ok because I was still not satisfied with my driving lines.
You didn't mention the brake fluid, did you upgrade them? You would see drastic differences with them in a heavy duty use.

Now you got me all excited! Can't wait til my season starts!

 

Yeah, while I didn't have time to upgrade to a real track-use fluid, I changed the stock fluid for Castrol LMA fluid on Friday. It was a last minute thing and that was all that was available to me.

 

Thanks for posting your experience RichC. It actually inspired me to REALLY get my evo on the track to experience it. I've been planning to attend HPDEs ever since I bought it, but never came to fruition. I think this is the year! Thanks.

 

The one thing common with novices that I've instructed is that they do not use the brakes hard enough.

I take them for a ride, get on the brakes HARD, and then they get the idea If you want to go fast, you need to learn to brake hard; lots of time can be made up in the braking zones. And since our cars have ABS, you don't even have to worry about locking them up!

In short, don't be scared of the stop pedal

 

saturday was a good time, probably the best on track experience I've had to date. the lightning course is setup very well. I can't wait to go back there.

 

It was really great we had more Evo's show up for the event! Having several different setups on very similar cars was a real education !! As a "passenger" it gave me a real chance to just feel how the car was working without having to pay attention to driving it. Tim and I both had a great time with all our students and all of them just went faster and faster thru the day with alot less "stress" and the bigger smiles after each session showed we were doing our "jobs". You ALL should have stayed for the Time Trials on Sun..Tim set FTD at a 1:14.9 on his trashed 3 yr. old Hankook c50 and I managed a 1:17.6 on my full tread Toyo R1R. It was just Stupid Fun...But the best part of the weekend was all of you showing up for the event!!! the turnout in general was super..that means the SCCA will be able to host more events !! And I have a idea that we will be seeing you all again real soon ! Pete

 

Next time I will definitely be staying for the TT. I've been looking at the EMRA website a lot since I came home.


Congrats to both of you on those times!

 

Great stuff. It was a good season opener with the weather cooperating nicely.

Pete & Tim were a great resource for tips and advice.



- Char

 

How much deference in lap time the R-comps make on this track vs. the stock tires?

 

You have ABS, but others don't......

I'm looking forward to the Lightening course this summer with NASA. Was hoping to get on the Thunderbolt course this year, but it doesn't look like NASA has anything???

 

Well, I learned on my Nissan which did not have ABS Better for learning some threshold braking! No ABS on the motorcycle either.

 

Yeah - I don't miss it.

 

Track Daze has an event there in June.