Looking for any evo specific input re: Road America

I found a pretty nice video online by Patrick Long:


But looking for anything additional from people who are driving on it regularly. My initial impressions from the video are 1) i'm going to need better brakes & 2) how does any 8/9 make it through the carousel without oil starving??

 

They don't.

Good endurance pads will work fine. the straights are long and brakes have time to cool, but you will wear the pad a lot. so keep an eye on them. bring an extra set of pads.

RA is hard on cars, keep an eye on oil temps and be checking everything over often. Curbing will vibrate stuff loose so id recommend staying off them as much as possible (even though its faster to be on them).

 

yikes. better wait until upgraded pan before i try RA then. was going to go st43s, will those be good enough? also planning on an upgraded oil cooler. hm

 

so what is enough for an evo 8/9 to make it through road america?

i'll have:

kiggly hla
tomei crank scraper & windage tray
racefab modified wet sump
overfill half a quart

 

I haven't been there, but a fresh set of 43's or DTC60's along with fresh fluid and it'll be fine. How many days are you doing?

 

you can make it through RA with your oil'ing setup. But unless you have a drysump, its going to drop pressures on right handers. at your power level (and assuming engine is in good working order, it'll be fine, however its always just a matter of time. Everything will expire at some point, and RA is a track that will for sure accelerate the wear on your engine (and everything else really).

 

Do you have the gearing for RA? I've always been under the impression that evos are geared too short for tracks with long straights like RA. Hell I can get into 5th on the straight at BHF and the main straight is only 1/3 mile, I think RA's main straight is about twice as long as that.

 

i assume you were responding to my oil setup - i understand pressure will drop & wear accelerates, on any track really. all good there, low power & low grip should help

 

stock FD is definitely geared low. 4.11 paired with JDM 5th is perfect combo.

yes in terms of oil pressure.

 

My biggest suggestion is focus on brakes and brake pad wear.

I was running Carbotech XP12s ATE Type 200 and ran too hard and long in a session (20+ min) and set my dust boots on fire which ended my weekend w/ MVP Tracktime. I have since added brake cooling, TI shims, and a higher temp compound.

If you've got mild power, I wouldn't be overly concerned about oiling as the others have stated. No need to reiterate what the others stated, pretty good advice.

Overall it's not an overly technical track, just with a lot of LONG straights into heavy braking zones. Gorgeous track, very nice and professional facilities. If you're running late in the day, the sunset can really cause visibility issues, so unless you've really got the lines down be careful.

 

thanks for the input - what brake cooling are you using?

my setup is evo x calipers w/ dba 5000 rotors, st43 pads, castrol srf, titanium shims, and racing brake's high temp dust boot seals & stainless steel vented pistons. i have the oem brake duct air guides.

will i need full on brake ducting to do an hpde out here? again, at my (300whp) power levels?

 

I just had plain old stock IX boots, pistons, calipers, slotted DBAs at the time.

I don't think you'll need brake ducting, but it'll reduce the wear and you'll reduce risk of overheating your brakes. Depends too on how hard you push the car, weight, etc. Its a nice to have IMO.

My ducts now are binary caliper mounts, 2" hoses into NACA ducts in the undertray.

 

bumping this - i may try to make it out 9/29. anyone have any vids of their evo running at RA? as well as dets, oiling setup, etc.

 

One day.....

It's about on par with road atlanta from what I've been told G's wise so you'll be fine still. But as we all have said over and over drysump to wetsump is like full slick to all season. Should be cool enough by then to not make the pads evaporate but as always bring spares....of everything.

 

it's that carousel i'm worried about, though road atlanta has some tough right handers as well. low power, 200tw, and no aero for me will help at least, but still..