Took my car out to Mid-Ohio for a DE this past weekend. First time on track this year, and with the new UMW turbos, clutch. motor mounts, 997 SSK, ... The car is just flat out fabulous! It is really fast, but the power comes on so smoothly it is really easy to drive. The chassis seems even more hooked-up now - maybe it's the new motor mounts, but I can't be sure. Bottom line is it is at least 4 seconds per lap faster than last year.

The car ran so well, and was so well prepped by Rick, that I never laid a wrench on it the entire weekend, except for torquing the wheels. The one thing that surprised me was how easy it was to get used to the power. The throttle response is so smooth, there is no problem at all modulating it exiting the turns. Had to adjust my brake points a bit. I backed out at about 150 on the back straight.

I got hooked up with a Z06 who followed me around for a few laps, and I decided to let him by and follow him. You can see in the video below that we are pretty even. My car is a bit faster than his in the straights (you can tell this because the distance between us stays the same as we accelerate). I didn't press him in the turns. I bailed out when it started raining before I was tempted to do something stupid. Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASkfCX8ZKLY

I've attached a couple of photos.

 

Video doesn't work for me...says something about being a Private Video.

 

Sorry, Steve. Should work now.

Jon

 

nice! would be fun to get on a track with some hills on it..

 

That looked like a LOT of fun. Nice driving too!

 

Jealous. I am really itching to get to the track. Last month I had PSS10's installed, new UWM clutch (that is finally broken in) and UWM flash that has yet to see the track. On the street, the car is just completly different. Planted. No squat. Feels 100x times better than stock. Like having a new car.

Out of curiousity, what do you set your PSS9's for street and track?

 

Thanks! It was really fun to hook up with someone about the same speed.

Glad you're happy with it. I really didn't expect the car to be so easy to drive with so much more hp.

I usually set them at 7 F/R for the street. I never drive the car hard there, and it's reasonably comfortable at that setting. Track settings depend a little on the track. For Mid-Ohio I set them at 2 rear and 3 front. There are both high speed corners and some tight ones, so it's a bit of a compromise. Front sway bar is full soft, and rear is 1 hole from full stiff. Car is pretty neutral, pushes a bit on exit because of the all wheel drive.

BTW - higher numbers are softer on PSS9's, but it's the opposite on PSS10's.

Jon

 

Thanks Jon -

 

Do you know if the Vette was running a stock engine?

 

Great video clip. Way too much fun.

 

Jon, smart move pulling off the track when it starts raining. I've seen too many guys wad up their cars in the wet.

Tell me more about the added power from the new setup. Can you feel the difference in acceleration? Would you say you can feel it's 20% more powerful? Do you like the heavier clutch feel?

Next upgrade, 6 piston GT3 front calipers and 350mm discs. Then you can go back to your old braking points.

I'm really glad you are happy with your latest mods. Pictures of the car look great.

 

Decent handling especially for pss9's. MO is so hit or miss w/ the rain this time of year but you got some nice laps in. Shoot, now I wanna go..

 

Nice, MOH is always fun....I noticed that you are staying tight on thr Carousel and the Keyhole? does the car tend to understeer?

 

That engine has had some oiling issues, and he told me that he had recently put in a new block with upgraded oiling system. Anything else, I don't know. He was on Hoosiers, and I was on Michelin PSC's. It seemed like whenever we got separated by traffic I was able to reel him back in.

Oh, yeah! The first time I hit the throttle hard I thought OMG! But it quickly became very easy to work with. The power curve is just so smooth. Hardly notice the clutch now. The other day I got in my old Passat and almost put the clutch through the firewall to start the car.

Already threshold braking, and already had that upgrade. I was hitting the braking zone at the end of the back straight at 150, where it was 135-140 before. Brake points move back. Only more down force could help that.

Some understeer. The real problem is how soon you can get back into the throttle. I experimented later with starting wider on entry in both turns and lift-rotating in the center. Definitely faster that way, especially in the carousel. Third to fourth shift moved back 1-2 carlengths on the front straight. And the brake point moved back another 50 feet.

 

Now thats what I am talking about.....