Now that the entertaining part of this thread seems to be over it may be time for some serious thoughts (excuse this unusual long post):
Assuming that stiffness of the chassis and the suspension are just two sides of the same medal I would think that too much stiffness isn't okay for track newbies (and we speak only of track use here and not of public roads). Even a bit more experienced racers may have problems feeling the limits of the car.
Just read a story in a german magazine where one of the journalist made the last test drive of the 24-hours-special NSX (for the 2004 Nuerburgring event; imported from JGTC and slightly modified) at Hockenheim before that car went back to Japan. He stated that because of the stiffness of chassis and suspension it was hard to tell when the car would come loose.
A flexing chassis and some flexing links may warn you long before the car really gets to its limits. That is IMO an advantage for a newbie. On the other side - if you think: Oh - this car bevahes like I have gone too far - you may never dare to go to the real limits of your car/tire combination.
That's somehow comparable with the different behaviour of the car with street tires and race slicks. I find it "easier" with street tires (as long as they are not too hot or worn) because the tolerance band is wider than with slicks.
So we may come to a consensus with the answer to this question: Should a track newbie upgrade his NSX with non compliant links, full rollcage (adding stiffness to the chassis), stiff suspension and race slicks? Of course not - I would even estimate that he would lap faster with a stock NSX.
When you change to race compound tires (after about one year with as lot of track events and the best instructors you can get) you may need a stiffer suspension (anti sway bars, shocks, springs) because the body sway gets much too big otherwise IMO. Still no need for non compliant links. Now you may learn to work with the tires so they operate in their best grip window (I read somewhere that it's up to about 10% slippage) which requires a lot of experience and braveness.
If you then come to the point where you can feel things like: Oh - my left front tire has a tenth of a bar too much air pressure! and you are able to drive consistent lap times (for more info you may read this thread ) you will get some profit (and lower lap times) by a stiffer chassis, non compliant links etc.
Of course I would suggest one other "stiffness" modification first: A race seat and racing harness that makes you a real part of the car without moving in your seat. That is absolutely necessary if you really want to "feel" the car.
I hope my limited english was good enough to transport my point...
Just a little illustration for what I mean with too much sway - this was my nearly stock car (with Dali street sway bars and Yoko slicks) in the Hockenheim Sachs corner some years ago:
Assuming that stiffness of the chassis and the suspension are just two sides of the same medal I would think that too much stiffness isn't okay for track newbies (and we speak only of track use here and not of public roads). Even a bit more experienced racers may have problems feeling the limits of the car.
Just read a story in a german magazine where one of the journalist made the last test drive of the 24-hours-special NSX (for the 2004 Nuerburgring event; imported from JGTC and slightly modified) at Hockenheim before that car went back to Japan. He stated that because of the stiffness of chassis and suspension it was hard to tell when the car would come loose.
A flexing chassis and some flexing links may warn you long before the car really gets to its limits. That is IMO an advantage for a newbie. On the other side - if you think: Oh - this car bevahes like I have gone too far - you may never dare to go to the real limits of your car/tire combination.
That's somehow comparable with the different behaviour of the car with street tires and race slicks. I find it "easier" with street tires (as long as they are not too hot or worn) because the tolerance band is wider than with slicks.
So we may come to a consensus with the answer to this question: Should a track newbie upgrade his NSX with non compliant links, full rollcage (adding stiffness to the chassis), stiff suspension and race slicks? Of course not - I would even estimate that he would lap faster with a stock NSX.
When you change to race compound tires (after about one year with as lot of track events and the best instructors you can get) you may need a stiffer suspension (anti sway bars, shocks, springs) because the body sway gets much too big otherwise IMO. Still no need for non compliant links. Now you may learn to work with the tires so they operate in their best grip window (I read somewhere that it's up to about 10% slippage) which requires a lot of experience and braveness.
If you then come to the point where you can feel things like: Oh - my left front tire has a tenth of a bar too much air pressure! and you are able to drive consistent lap times (for more info you may read this thread ) you will get some profit (and lower lap times) by a stiffer chassis, non compliant links etc.
Of course I would suggest one other "stiffness" modification first: A race seat and racing harness that makes you a real part of the car without moving in your seat. That is absolutely necessary if you really want to "feel" the car.
I hope my limited english was good enough to transport my point...
Just a little illustration for what I mean with too much sway - this was my nearly stock car (with Dali street sway bars and Yoko slicks) in the Hockenheim Sachs corner some years ago:
