Its a really simple setup actually. He's got an Evo IX RS thats is caged and stripped of back seat and carpeting. Perrin intake and turboback, PeteyTurbo tuned at 22psi is all it has for power. Still has stock i/c, turbo, everything else stock. I believe the trans has Evo 8 3/4, and he has a TRE built rear diff. Its quite a simple setup. No aero mods except the APR rear spoiler. Suspension is the same setup of beat Ohlins as mine...old Paul Gerrald Ohlins that need to be rebuilt. Forgot the rates, but nothing super stiff. He was running 1.17 in his stock S2K at Lightning, with NTO1s.

 

Thats a poor showing for the Tech Chief..

What tires is he on?

Marc, I bet if you had a nice set of R6's (and the seat time to get used to them) you could drop your time by a few seconds..

 

that is a simple setup. Just goes to show you that you don't need much to go fast.

Pete I think he's on hoosiers, atleast thats what it says on the NASA NE site.

 

Yeah, he's on R6s. This is his first time running Hoosier R6, as Hoosier has the same contingency they do for the ProSolo. 1st place gets 2 tires, and second gets 1. Furthermore, that event was his first event running on them, and his first event driving the Evo competitively. He drove the Evo only twice before that, and they were shakedowns to make sure the car was running well, which it didn't. He also came from driving an S2K, so he's still learning and gettign used to the car. For references, he ran 1.17s in a stock S2K on Nitto NT01s. The Evo is fully capable, and has twice the power of his S2K, so time will tell how fast he will get it to run.

 

Yeah buddy, you could do that number.. You were running 1:17's(?) on street tires..

 

driving a low hp/low grip car like an s2k is a big advantage when you step into an EVO. My buddy Dan drove the wheels off his s2k on street tires and he will beat me 9 outta 10 times in my own car when we autox. That car (s2k) does not hide any driver errors like the EVO does and if you can get them around the track fast you'll be fast in pretty much anything, especially a car like an EVO.

with that said I have serious doubts I'd be even close to that number on hoosiers. I'm scared of those tires, lol. Last time I ran the R6's (at Monticello) I spun twice with no warning what so ever. one minute I was in the middle of the turn and the next I was in the grass facing traffic. At least with the Z1's they will start to scream when they're about to let go.

edit: being his first time out I'm curious to see how he progresses as the season moves on and he gets more comfortable in the car.

 

Why do you think I've been telling him to quit f'ing around in HPDE and start competing in something.

Marc, thats what people tell me about running those tires. When you lose it, there's no warnign. But I think moving up to an NT01 or R888 will be to your advantage.

 

there is plenty of competition in HPDE's. I enjoy that along with the camaraderie you get within the run groups. I think if it was a competition setting that aspect would be gone since its an every man for himself type of attitude. I did one TT a couple years back when I was first starting out and did not like how everyone was all serious didn't want to talk to you. I'm there to have fun and learn to be a better driver, i don't care about being the fastest car out there cause I know the driver still needs a lot of work, but I want to atleast learn something new each time I go. to do that you need to talk to other drivers, take rides in other peoples cars to see their lines and have instructors sit in the car with you. I don't think you can do all those things at a TT.

The only think holding me back from switching to a tire like the NT01 or R888's is the fact that I still drive on teh street and I don't want to swap tires for a track day. I love to 'arrive and drive' so to speak. with that said it seems like the toyo R888 is the 'spec' tire for the PCA, EVERY car was on either those or Hoosiers.

 

Although I'm not competing, I talk to those guys, and I don't notice the seriousness aspect of it that you speak of. I guess that's because the guys in this region all know each other.

 

^ could be. LIke I said it was a couple years ago and I didn't really know anyone. the other issue I don't like about TT's is the seat time. for less than $200/day you can get 2.5hrs of track time with PCA, or 4 hrs per day if you do one of their advanced days. Thats hard to beat in terms of a $/seat time ratio. From what I recalled there were only a couple 15 min sessions at the TT event I did not including your timed runs.

I don't want to come off like I'm bashing TT's, because I'm not. I wish I had the mindset and competative nature to do them, but I don't right now. Learning and seat time are more my goals ATM. Thats not to say 5-10 years from now I will be bored of HPDE's and want more of a challange, but right now its not the case.

 

I know you're not bashing. Its good technical debate. LOL.

 

Why did I think at Monti you were on BFG R1's?

Also, the R888 does seem to be the tire of choice for the PCA guys, probably because those sport cups are twice as much money and only last half as long. Ron was claiming 8 track days out of a set, and the rear were something insane like $500ea.. edit, just checked $588 ea for the rears from tire rack.

 

yeah, those porsches run some W I D E *** rear tires. One guy who I think you met, Tom with the red 993 with bright yellow wheels, was running thru a set of the sport cups a weekend! thats $1,200.00 worth of tires in two days, madness! I've got almost 6 days on my Z1's and they're still @ more than half life left, lol.

 

My driverside front took a pounding those 2 days.. I want to get all 4 flipped.

 

yeah I should probably do the same... might get some 17x9.5's while the tires are off