Barber Motorsports for the first time, AMAZING TRACK!!

[DDozier]

My first time at Barber and all I can say is it is in the top three of all the track I have run. This is the video of my second session on track and while I was still learning my way around the place it was a quick track to learn. I know I left a lot of time out there but for my first time I was having a blast. With a little more time to get a comfort level with the track I think I got a 1:41 in me. Weather was perfect, track was perfect, I loved it. If you get a chance to go Barber GO, needs to be on your bucket list.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IYRJ50kpU34" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Dave

 

[Coz]

That track does look like fun Dave.
Some nice driving too !

 

[TURBO2GO]

I didn't watch the whole 30 minutes but I'm really surprised at how smooth your power delivery is. What were you running for boost here? Even on the video I can see you have a lot of torque. Some of the uphills... My car would not be accelerating like that. Track looks awesome.

 

[DDozier]

I didn't watch the whole 30 minutes but I'm really surprised at how smooth your power delivery is. What were you running for boost here? Even on the video I can see you have a lot of torque. Some of the uphills... My car would not be accelerating like that. Track looks awesome.

I always run with my 6lb settings on track with a mix of 93 octane and 104 octane Sunoco 260GT+. I mix to a 96 Octane as a safety margin but the car is tuned for 93 octane. These were really long sessions with 30 min runs and I still had IAT's of 114-116* in 85* ambient. The suspension is Bilsteins with Tanabe springs and 1" Dali bar front and street bar rear. I run 235/275 NT-01s.

The car still has a huge amount of body roll but I am not willing to make the move to coil overs and huge spring rates to get the roll under control. It is still a street car and I will have to drive within those limitations. One good thing about the soft setup is the car really puts the power down coming off the corners.

The video gives you a since of the overall elevation but when you drive it a lot of the hills are blind crests with major elevation change. There were several guys that this was their first time there and were having issues with nausea by the end of their sessions. So much fun. Not the safest place to run but man was it a good time.

Dave

 

[stuntman]

Good time! Body roll does not seem bad...

 

[DDozier]

Good time! Body roll does not seem bad...

The video does not give the feels for the amount of roll, here is a picture from a video capture so the quality sucks, but you can see the rear of the car has a lot of roll in it. The 1" bar up front helps to take the roll out of the front but I have paid the price with a rather numb turn in and if I am not carefull Power ON understeer is now a possibility were as before the car was always loose mid corner and exit. I use to run the '04 OEM rear bar but this weekend I decided to run the Dali Street/track bar in the rear on full soft to maybe ballance the front stiffer bar. Since it was a new track and I did not want to take the time to swap bars mid day I really am not sure what to think of the bar combo that is on the car. I can make the car oversteer or understeer depending on my inputs so I guess given what I have to work with I am fairly ballanced. I do need to get some more front camber in as the NT-01s are rolling over and wearing the outside edges. So, with the addition of the offset camber bushings and 2.2-2.5* of camber the front bite at turn in may get better.

The picture is from turn two, after the car takes a set on a decreasing radius turn and during mid corner prior to the apex.

Dave

 

[stuntman]

Does not seem like too much roll. Power on understeer is a good thing. You could always try a hole stiffer on the rear bar to reduce roll a bit more.

 

[TURBO2GO]

So Dave how is the progress on tuning with the infinity system? Do you have extra parts to help me do the same setup? What refinements are you working on now? I wish you could ride my car with the JRZ Race on 800/550. It's unbelievably compliant. More so than midnight ravens car on KW V3 with 347/347.

 

[DDozier]

So Dave how is the progress on tuning with the infinity system? Do you have extra parts to help me do the same setup? What refinements are you working on now? I wish you could r

Infinity - One hoop after another and I finally have a plan but no working unit yet, need to get the hardware sorted then the software. I hope to have the car running on the Infinity then work on the Vane control Issues, right now AEM is not much help on these kinds of things, it really is up to you to figure it all out. They are working on a plug-n-play setup for the Porsche 911 turbo and they will have to figure out the Porsche's vane controller so I am hoping to piggy back off of that, we will see.

Extra Parts, Ha! You are on your own buddy.

Right now and for the last two years I have made almost no changes to the system as I am in durability testing mode. Since nothing has broke I can not make any changes. Other than playing with sway bars and trying to make the most of the Bilsteins I have not changed anything, not even the tune. The car is running on the rich side of the safety margin and if peak power was the primary concern I could lean it out a bit, but I think it best to error on the side of caution with the F/IC.

I have learned that the OEM DBW and the AEM F/IC do not really like each other that much, very fast throttle transitions make the F/IC freak out a bit. As a result I have learned to have some very smooth throttle imputs, not a bad thing with 400whp under foot, but with my old N/A coupe I got into the habbit of treating my throttle like an on/off switch because the power was not enough to upset the car. With the little turbos spinning away I can get myself into trouble with that sort of approach to throttle control.

I do have some upgrades planned for the intercooler plumbing but I will wait till later this summer to put those on and see if I can drop the IAT's even more in case I decide to track with my 8lb tune and 450whp. I would like to roll out my oil cooler setup as well but that needs to be built and tested, but on paper it is awsome.

Dave

 

[TURBO2GO]

You're killing me Dave. Have you not put together a single system other than your car? Most of my local tuners just don't like piggybacks. I'm ready to go to that next step and either I have to bug you for help or stay with the CTSC and start bugging Ryu and go the HKS route.

 

[DDozier]

I have several kits being built, but I have no desire to be the next BBSC. The kits I am building are going on local cars that I can tune, monitor, and service. Sorry but I have to much respect for the car to do this any other way.

I can offer intercoolers as a cash and carry part but the turbo will be installed at my shop in St. Louis or not at all. Sorry. After a few more cars a running and tested I will reconsider this plan.

Dave

 

[TURBO2GO]

I understand. Are you running them with FIC's? Why not the HKS where you have more control over timing?

 

[stuntman]

I have an FCON VPro for sale...

 

[TURBO2GO]

Unfortunately I can't pass inspection with a full EMS. Need the Fcon IS.

- - - Updated - - -

So what are you going to run now Billy?

 

[DDozier]

I understand. Are you running them with FIC's? Why not the HKS where you have more control over timing?

The HKS support in the states is non-existant, the F/IC is a known quantity. So far the F/IC is proven to meet my needs on the street and is able to handle track duties. I have done a lot of track days on the F/IC at 6lbs, not sure if I would push it much more than that. If you need to pass a plug-n-test then it seems to be the best option for now. If that is not a concern the Infinity has a lot of promiss, and if the vane control works out as I hope it would be the ultimate track setup.

If you keep the IAT's in check there is little need to add more timing than the OEM ECU provides, most of the time you will be pulling timing to deal with the added boost, I am not saying the HKS piece is bad and of course I would love to have the option of adding timing I just do not think there are many places were a quick spooling turbo would need more timing than the OEM ECU provides.

Dave

 

[stuntman]

Unfortunately I can't pass inspection with a full EMS. Need the Fcon IS.

So what are you going to run now Billy?

Motec

 

[DDozier]

I added the video over lay to one lap at Barber

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9BjguLyvMvI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Dave