4KtQ at the track (PCA at Mt. Tremblant)

[LawtonMK@aol.com]

So, the regular track vehicle was broken, and the 4000 looked like the next 
most likely suspect. And I was registered for the event, and hotel, 
and.....So I decided to address some issues, and give it a try in the 4000. I 
had been to Mt. Tremblant before, and I like the track, so I couldn't miss 
it, could I?

So first the changes: 
	Ground Control Coil Over Kit with Bilsteins and 200/250 (I think) 
spring rates
	ATE blue fluid
	Hawk Pads in the front, and Mintex Blue in the rear
	New set of Kumhos
	new tie rods/ends all around (3 out of 4 going away)
	corner balanced

Now the lessons Learned:

	The Coil Over Kit was great. The ride is not too harsh, but the 
horrible body roll from the stock springs and Boges is gone. It corners much 
more predictably, and MUCH flatter. It still has a MAJOR push (understeer) 
problem - I think I'll be looking into a rear sway bar.  The top spring 
perches that came from Ground Control didn't fit so well, and the guy 
installing the kit (Shine Racing in Walpole, MA) has some fabricated for him, 
and they fit much better. I was very pleased with the installation and work 
done by Shine (He is an SCCA race shop specializing in VWs and Audis), and he 
has all the parts for the Coil-overs on his shelves. Had I known then what I 
do now, I would have bought the whole thing from him, rather than Ground 
Control - not that the Ground Control stuff was bad, just his was better, and 
I liked his work. (I have no relationship, just a happy customer)

I smoked another front wheel bearing. I seem to need to change them more 
often than my underwear! 

The brakes were great. No fade whatsoever. This car needs no brake upgrade 
for any reason, short of rallying and endurance racing. I can't say enough 
about the braking - simply with the race pads and the higher temp fluid - no 
issues at all. And I drove the car REAL hard, and for 30-40 minutes at a 
time. 

The Kumho tires stuck real well, they are a great substitute for R1s. I think 
I will need to swap back for front, though. The ones that were on the front 
are very worn, and the rears are not worn at all. 

The difference in handling between my normal track car (911) and the 4000 
took some getting used to....If the rear of the 911 ever got as light and 
skittish as the 4000 did, I think you'd end up miles off the track. But once 
I realized that if the front is still planted, the rear will follow, things 
got much better. It was a predictable slide, just not one I'm used to. Turn 
in early, plant your foot, and push across the track. I guess that's what 
it's like to race a front-driver. Weird feeling!!

All the prepared 911s and 944 turbos in my run group just walked away from me 
on the straights (mildly frustrating), but in the corners, I caught back up 
to most of them. I don't think many of them cornered with their right foot 
planted on the floor! 

You do see some ego starting to show when a guy in a "stock-looking" beat up 
4000 (180k miles) with a wrinkled rear quarter (damn old lady - the car was 
even parked) is looking to pass a prepared RS America. But all-in-all, people 
seemed more surprised than anything. 

Now, If I could just get figure out how to get the turbo up over 11 pounds of 
boost, then I'd have something. 

As you might be able to tell, I had a great time. Highly recommended!!!

Mike Lawton