Did some set up work on the new suspension this weekend and while data logging noticed that I'm consistently pulling about 1G under braking and 1.2-1.3Gs in the turns. This is on street Nitto NT01s. For being 12 years old, these cars still amaze me. I don't think you can get a better bargain out there for a great starting platform. Suspension feels really great after getting some help from a friend (local race guru) who helped me with the car set up. He took a session in the car and tweaked the compression and rebound settings on the shocks which really nailed it down. Car feels very calm and predictable at the limit, almost docile. The whole GT2 widow maker is a fallacy if you set the car up properly. We're gonna bump up the spring rates about 300lb per corner but other than that it's pretty much dialed. I also feel a little guilty as I got a friend of mine to come out with his 997TT and I think I have him hooked on this track crack... Here are a couple of quick pics and a video. Select 720P resolution in the bottom right of the screen otherwise the quality is lousy.

 

nice write-up and great vid! suspension/track is where the real Porsche fun is!
Cheers,
Rob

 

That's a pretty cool track. Thanks for posting that video.

 

Thx, I am a youtube subscriber to your vids, actually comes up 1080p on my tv

 

Beast!!

 

It's a fun car and a great track, not very high speed but very technical. My goal for this year is to crack a 1:55 which should be doable on some sticky tires. Car feels so much calmer than last year that it makes it much easier to push the limit with it. I just ordered a couple of sets of Kumho V710s to try in a 245/40/18 and a 315/35/18. Got a friend who runs these of a highly prepped 6GT3 and loves them.

 

Looks like a fun track! I have yet to run this year and can't believe it. Porsche still doesn't have a gearbox in it and the race car was finally done but unable to get it back to the track for NASA races this weekend. Hopefully make the May event. What does a 997cup run there?

 

I ran V710's on a previous/different car, great tire!

 

997 Cups on fresh slicks run 1:51-1:55s for the most part. Well driven 7GT3 sneak in under 2 minutes. Most 6Gt3s run in the 2:02-2:05 range and stock 996/7TTs in the 2:10-2:14 range. Modded TTs are getting in the low 2 minute range driver dependent. It's a pretty turn intensive track without much straightaway room for the turbos to stretch their legs. My best has been 1:57.06 on NT01s. Mostly I turn 58s and 59s with a few 57s when the temps are cool and the stars are all aligned. A good friend of mine that is a retired pro driver has turned a low 1:56 in his pretty much stock 997.1GT3 on the same NT01s I run. That's smoking fast but he's a freak behind the wheel....

 

Awesome video!

 

Sweet

 

Cool then hitting your 1:55.xx would be a great time! I always look to IMSA GT3 cup times as kind of a standard constant to Judge a lap time s by.

 

I think it's very doable especially on better tires. Hoosiers are good for 2 seconds at this track over NT01 and true slicks a little more than that. Just ordered another set of springs to swap out but the car is very close to spot on. Up to the driver now.

 

Whats's your alignment #'s, ride height and spring rates? Mine's due to alignment next week's Friday...

 

These are my numbers Pete:

Front camber: -3.25deg
Front toe: +0.02' (+0.04' total)
Rear camber: -2.42deg
Rear toe: +0.15' (+0.30' total)
Weight: 3259lb with 3/4 fuel minus driver

Springs rates: Currently 1100lb/1200lb mains with 150lb/250lb tenders. I will be increasing the mains to 1400/1500.

Ride height is 96mm/124mm as measured per the Porsche manual. When translated to TT numbers, the rear would be 119mm since the TT rear subframe is lower than the GT2 due to the thicker rubber subframe bushings on the TT versus the solid steel bushings on the GT2/3 cars.