[s-cars] Track time update + FBR (long)

[Frank Amoroso]

I'm ruined.

Here is my story...

A little background for you first. As previously mentioned, I had
brought the ol' boat UrS4 to the track a few weeks back. The dog was
running in street / summer mode, with Bira 6x brakes (stock Porsche
996tt pads), 18x8 wheels with 245/35-18 Toyo T1-S, and Bilstein Sport /
Eibach Pro-Kit suspension. The car did well, and things were good.

I was slated to be at the track with Fletcher Brown racing
(www.fbr-inc.com) Friday 5/3, and I was going to be getting the S out
again fopart of the day. This time, I decided that I didn't want to run
my expensive summer rubber and that a moderately priced set of R spec
tires would serve me nicely. I wanted a set of Yoko Advans as they
seemed like the best value going. Couldn't find these in 225/45-17 ( to
run on my 17x7.5 "snow" wheels), so I ended up with some Kumho V700s
(similar R tire to the Advans w/ 6/32s of tread depth molded in). I also
figured that since I'd be runnin' the sticky rubber, that I would take
advantage and install a set of Pagid orange pads in the front (I run
Pagid Sport Blue in the rear on the street & track).

Things were better.

Well let me tell you, unless you feel like getting hooked, DON"T BUY
TRACK TIRES! Once you try 'em, you'll never go back!! While bedding in
the oranges, w/ the R tires on, I was totally dumbfounded at the
available grip and the braking power. THe G forces generated w/ the Bira
6Xs + Pagid Oranges + R tires, was nothing short of phenomenal. Eyes
pulling out of their sokets quickly made me start thinking about getting
some 8.5"s on w/ the stickiest 255s for street driving. Even then, I
won't be using all of the available braking power.

Anyway, this is the setup that I drove 50 miles to Second Creek Raceway
with, and I thought I was hooked. If only I could afford to run R spec
tires everyday, I'd be in heaven. Or so I thought...

Things start to get worse.

Enter the FBR experience. A group of ten of us spent the day learning &
driving in 3 Formula Fords and 2 SCCA Spec Racers. Purpose built race
cars, that were low, light, responsive, and handled so well, it really
must be experienced to be understood. The Formula Fords (open wheeled,
tube framed, 900 pound, mid-engined, carburated 4 cylinder, 4 speed
non-syncromesh purpose built race-cars) were simply amazing. You become
one with the car and are able to set up a groove on the track that is
mesmerizing. The formula fords are anything but overpowered (hell, I
wouldn't even call them powered), however, it made no difference, the
handling and braking more than made up for the lackluster engine
performance (these particular uits were slightly detuned for longevity,
etc). Besides it forced us to be better drivers and carry maximum speed
through the track's 10 corners.

As an aside, I was not as fond of the SCCA Spec Racers (1,200 pound,
tube framed, 5 speed syncromesh trannies, closed bodywork, motors placed
directly over the rear transaxle). After the formula cars these seemed
large and cumbersome, braked poorly, and transitory handling balance
seemed weak). This being said, there was a privately owned Spec Racer
out on the track at the same time as we were, and the driver was damn
good (laped our entire group on many occasions). He showed us what one
of these can do in the right hands.