275 tires and 18x11 vs 18x10 wheel fitment on stock shocks

[Mad0zodi]

Don't blame you. Wheel fitment on the S2000 is a nightmare, especially if you're trying to fit big chungus 17x10s.

Out of the tracks I've been to, WWT's pits feel like the most user friendly...although, Putnam has come a looong way since I was there last.

I envision every turn at OIR to be some kinda variation of T1 at Heartland Park...just with more pucker factor.

As far as my wheel and tire setup goes, going 18x10 square or staggered with 11s feels like I'd be making some kind of commitment to chasing lap times instead of focusing on fun...but damn, it's tempting!

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[Shift9303]

Ozarks isn’t called the “Missouri-ring” for nothing. I’ve obviously never driven the Nurburgring in personbut it definitely feels like it from the simulator. You don’t really get the feeling of the elevation changes until you drive it in person as the road falls off from under you when you go down hill. If anything it’s more like HMP turn 11-15 but everything is off camber. Honestly it’s probably the off camber part that chafes me the most. I might actually enjoy the track more if it was on camber. I think every corner except turn 2 and 11 are off camber. Some turns like 17 and 18 don’t feel off camber in car because you’re going up hill slightly but are very obviously tilted if you walk it in person.

 

[Mad0zodi]

Ozarks isn’t called the “Missouri-ring” for nothing. I’ve obviously never driven the Nurburgring in personbut it definitely feels like it from the simulator. You don’t really get the feeling of the elevation changes until you drive it in person as the road falls off from under you when you go down hill. If anything it’s more like HMP turn 11-15 but everything is off camber. Honestly it’s probably the off camber part that chafes me the most. I might actually enjoy the track more if it was on camber. I think every corner except turn 2 and 11 are off camber. Some turns like 17 and 18 don’t feel off camber in car because you’re going up hill slightly but are very obviously tilted if you walk it in person.

Are we talking about the same HMP? I absolutely hated turns 11-15 (or whatever numbers you want to call them, with or without turn "Alpha") on the bike because I never felt like I had enough time to lean back to the other side between corners...so easy to ruin a handful of corners because of the tiniest of mistakes on first turn/lean-in.

Appreciate the feedback...I knew it was a good idea to run Novice with Instructor.

 

[Shift9303]

Are we talking about the same HMP? I absolutely hated turns 11-15 (or whatever numbers you want to call them, with or without turn "Alpha") on the bike because I never felt like I had enough time to lean back to the other side between corners...so easy to ruin a handful of corners because of the tiniest of mistakes on first turn/lean-in.

Appreciate the feedback...I knew it was a good idea to run Novice with Instructor.

I can see that. I believe OIR has a motorcycle lay out too, but it looks like they cut out a lot of the tight switch backs for that reason.

Maybe was hating on the track a little too much. I think it's fun enough if you take it at a weekend pace. But it's not a track I have the balls to try to max-perform for a PB like Autobahn or WWT (though WWT has a lot of concrete walls). When in doubt at OIR, late apex it. Like sometimes really late. IMO some of the laps you find on Youtube where they cut the apex much sooner are deceiving because the cars are aero.

 

[Shift9303]

Great news, got everything installed. Bad news, left one of the sensors loose when I first started the car so it threw a code and is in limp mode, lol.

At least I could finally confirm fitment. Clears by a decent bit, granted MPSS run super narrow.

 

[Mad0zodi]

I hijacked the thread with too much track babble. What all did you do again, coilovers?

PS Thx for the late apex advice.

 

[Shift9303]

I hijacked the thread with too much track babble. What all did you do again, coilovers?

PS Thx for the late apex advice.

HKS HAS kit and Verus camber plates. I plan on getting coilovers in the future however didn't feel like forking over the cash just yet since I recently purchased this car. This is a stop gap measure to get the car lowered and to get more in-board clearance to run 275+ width front tires. Also I wanted to learn the car on a stock ish setup first to get a better idea of what I wanted from coilovers. From experience with Ohlins DFV on the S2000 I knew that when it is time for coilovers I wanted to go straight to a higher end kit and didn't want to mess with a mid level coilover. The DFVs were decent for dual duty setup however didn't really have the performance range I wanted as I started getting faster. While this was a bit spendier than I would like it's still a decent bit cheaper than a FA510 or Ohlins DFV kit. I'm likely planning for something like Nitron or MCS on the Supra down the road when the OEM shocks finaly start leaking.

 

[Mad0zodi]

Nice, looking forward to your impressions of the stop gap solution. I know I want to eventually get camber plates but honestly, I've gotten too old and grumpy for the ride that typically comes with lowering a car. Been there, done that enough times with previous vehicles that I'd probably just skip straight to coilovers if I thought I was even remotely close to being fast enough to need them.

Time to get off my lazy butt and change the brake fluid ahead of this weekend. I bought titanium backing plates for the front in hopes they'd provide some benefit, but if I can't easily get the pads (stock) out, I'm just gonna skip it. I'm starting to really miss how much more affordable it was to track/race a motorcycle. LOL

 

[razorlab]

Time to get off my lazy butt and change the brake fluid ahead of this weekend. I bought titanium backing plates for the front in hopes they'd provide some benefit, but if I can't easily get the pads (stock) out, I'm just gonna skip it. I'm starting to really miss how much more affordable it was to track/race a motorcycle. LOL

Secret weapon is a putty knife. Stick it between the pad and pistons and go to town. I literally just did this again with my M240i.

 

[Mad0zodi]

Secret weapon is a putty knife. Stick it between the pad and pistons and go to town. I literally just did this again with my M240i.

Fugg...I should have checked this thread again after jacking up the car and getting all the wheels off. Oh well...it's a single novice HPDE day on a track that kinda scares me, but at least I have brand new brake fluid and what's gotta be 99% pad left. Man, I must've been slow AF at my last HPDE. No qualms about being Capt. Slow again. LOL

 

[Mad0zodi]

OIR was amazing...loved how much every damn corner and not-straight straight was a pain in the ass. Definitely want to go back.

 

[Shift9303]

OIR was amazing...loved how much every damn corner and not-straight straight was a pain in the ass. Definitely want to go back.

Glad you had fun and made it. Which "not-straight" are you talking about lol? The front "straight" at the pits or "roller-coaster?" Turn 1 always made me pucker up in the S2000 as it dives down from the off camber apex. Still unsure if I'm making it out to Ozarks this year. Work might be tight. Might just run Gateway monthly.

 

[Mad0zodi]

Glad you had fun and made it. Which "not-straight" are you talking about lol? The front "straight" at the pits or "roller-coaster?" Turn 1 always made me pucker up in the S2000 as it dives down from the off camber apex. Still unsure if I'm making it out to Ozarks this year. Work might be tight. Might just run Gateway monthly.

LOL, both "not-straights." I think it was only during the last two sessions where I managed the least amount of steering correction on the pit "straight" after initial turn-in and get a sense for modulating the throttle to keep it smooth through the apexes. Turn 1 will always be a pucker moment, I think. The rollercoaster's a trip...the first few times through I legit thought I was going to have to pit in and puke.

Highly doubt I'll make it back to OIR this year. Work's been such a drag lately, I was lucky to make it to OIR in the first place. I'd love to hit Hedge Hollow in June but that depends on whether or not my buddy can make it. He's got an STI and can actually fit trackday pit stuff in his car. Fun fact, HOD ran the HPDE and EverydayDriver guy Todd was my buddy's instructor...cool dude.

 

[Mad0zodi]

I was also quite sad to see Pitt Race go. One of my favorite tracks so far and easily worth the 9 hour tow for me were it still there.

I think I figured out part of the issue of why the car was more tail happy there. The rear toe had slipped some. When I reset it and then swapped to the 275/40/18 Yok for VIR it was much more stable in terms of laying on throttle. Still had to be somewhat prudent, but much much better.

I just mounted and balanced the 275/295 setup this past weekend. Next track day at VIR is the 14th so I'll compare the square 275 to staggered 275/295. Not a super fair comparison since the yoks are getting close to their prime and the new RZ's are full tread depth, but I did at least have the RZ's heat cycled to start.

The car is also tuned now which I imagine will add to some on throttle rotation in lower speed corners.

How did you like the staggered RZ setup?

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