Just finished my second DE and am hooked. Have some questions regarding my set up and what I could do to make the next experience even better. I have an 02TT, X73 suspension, Upsolute, ssk- otherwise relatively stock.

I have the sport seats and regular belts and didn't feel like I was held in well. What's recommended? Can I do 5 point belts with my sport seats? If so, do I need the roll bar?

Tires- I have Michelin Pilot Sport 2s- they were just ok- what's a better choice?

Brakes- actually stock seemed fine (at least for my level).

Power is ample for me.

What a great time!

 

Hi Scott,
Track work is great fun.

I would say the smart move is to invest in saftey and seat time to build your skills in safety.

5 point Harnesses are a bad Idea with stock seats (our club does not allow it) because the harness can slip off your shoulders .

You need seats where the harnesses go through to hold them in place.
Any good race seats will work also GT3 euros.You willl be much more connected to the car and you will drive much better.

Don't forget the anti sub belt.

A roll bar ( not a full cage if you plan on also driving on street)also a good Idea. get the cross brace .it will also guide the shoulder Straps.

A fire control device

A full face helmet SA rated

A hans device ( it could save your neck and life)

Tires
Ps2 are ok but you will kill them on the track.

R compound tires are worth it MSPC's wear well and really grip when they get hot. you will definately want race seats now !

Get you car lowered a little, aligned,corner balanced if the X73 will allow it.
If not stay with what you have for now.

Welcome to the world where Porsches are driven as they were designed to!
The most fun you can have with your clothes on!

Elliot

 

PS2 are good for first times. Actually they're one of the grippiest normal street tires there is...on a dry track.

It's much easier to learn the car's handling in different situations first when you don't have Cup tires or similar. After some events I suggest a change to Cups. They will change the experience. Also always remember to check your pressures...lower the better...tires do get hot

Good luck, better not to start too aggresively. After couple times more you will definitely need and want better brake pads They bite and last so much better. Pagid Yellows for example.

About alignment...well after more experience I suggest adding more negative camber to the front, then you have less understeer.

With 5-point harness you should use proper seats. A thing to try with the current sport seats is CG-Lock: http://www.cg-lock.com/

 

Thanks guys. How many use the Hans device? Is this just a common sense thing to get?- guess it's my neck...

 

Ditto what Kaizu said.
And I'd add also that PS2s are a fun tire to learn on.......they 'talk' to you, teach you good leasons, and actually hold up O.K.

R compounds are a hoot but don't be in a hurry to move to that.
Eventually, Hans should be in your plans.
Enjoy.......take your time to gain skill & confidence.

 

Gregg, Talk as in squeel? Cause they sure did. I thought I was doing something wrong out there.

 

You know what they say ..."a squealing Tire is a happy Tire !"

 

since you have done only 2 DE's I think your car is set up just fine.
you have good power and torque, good street tires, and good suspension.
I would buy one of those metal clips for your seatbelt that stops the free movement of the belt and will hold you in place (performance parts catalog)
I would run the street tires until they wear out. I would specifically AVOID R compound tires for now. the street tires talk by squeal, then howl, then you are off the track. you will get grip and off the track with R compounds. they are for someone with way more experience. you need to learn on street tires first.
the hans device although great requires a racing seat and full harness that passes through the seats. $$$ which you may not want to do at first.
there are plenty of green drivers with WAY less going for them than you do right now.
you have way too much hp for a beginner and an electronically controlled AWD car is going to be hard to learn track basics but it is doable.
do a search and read some books like the Speed Secrets by Ross Bentley.
Good luck and welcome to the track junkie club.
ps tons more to learn and teach be patient. READ
tom

 

Thanks Tom!

 

Another question since Tom brings up the point that the TT is electronically controlled. Is there any rationale for turning off PSM while I'm learning?

 

Turn the PSM off only when you're comfortable doing so.

But learning to drive without electronic nannies is part of the learning experience of true sports car driving

 

+1

Brakes------- cooling them, new pads, new fluid, is a must. NOW!!!!!!!!!! I would even suggest a 6 pot kit as it lasts much longer on the track than the stock 4 piston.

If you are doing DE's, there is always a chance, but a hans device isnt a must at this point. But if you are hooked like you say then just go ahead and get a roll bar/race seats/harnesses as you will need them eventually.

But in the meantime (before performance mods) I would suggest like tom said to learn the car like it is. Do a couple more DE's and really learn how to push the car to its limits, then start modding. Starting with the suspension (coilovers, sway bars etc) Then push the car more until you find those limits.


Then remove weight and and power, as you feel comfortable.

 

ABSOLUETLY NOT!!! At first it will barely come on. As you get faster and faster (R compound tires upgraded suspension slicks) then it will become annoying.
dont turn it off for the first 20 track events or until it comes on so much it is slowing you down when you are trail braking in a four corner drift and you can do that and handle the consequences. Then my friend you can turn it off.
also I dont drive with others in the car or not fully belted in with PSM off
I will risk my life not others.

 

that is why I race a 944S2. no electronics and all car control and momentum driving. something I could never have learned in the TT no matter how hard I tried.

 

When you turn the PSM off it's like.....

FREE AT LAST
FREE AT LAST
GOODGAWTAMIGHTY
FREE AT LAST.


Seriously, though you should keep it on until you learn the cars limits. I've spun with it on and that's actually pretty tough to do. But I was in RWD at the time.