First off, the spyder is an awesome looking car:




Caliphotography took some of the best pics yet of the car.

After having a shaky day in the BRZ the prior day, it was nice to get back into the spyder and get back some confidence. It was my first time at Sonoma with the BRZ and the spyder, but my fourth time at Sonoma Raceway. I was very happy with my 1:55 lap time. Of course, Ben put everyone to shame with his lap time, but I'll let him report back on his own.

I was able to log individual wheel speeds this time. Here is a close up of the data with the corners for Sonoma raceway marked above:


This is the same, but with brake and throttle position displayed below and steering angle superimposed over speed.:


The difference is most obvious going through the esses at turn 8. Based on this data, it seems like the LSD isn't working so well. I would love to see what the pros think of these graphs.

In regards to the rear wiggle under hard braking, I didn't have much of an issue with that this time. It could be that the wheels were re-balanced. It could be that braking speeds aren't quite as high at Sonoma vs. Thunderhill. My damn wheel weights fell off AGAIN despite gaffers tape and cleaning the wheel surface. Something about volks won't hold onto wheel weights. Very annoying.

Here another video I made. Of course, there is video of another individual that was having a hard time pointing people by....


Bonus video if you want to see me spin out in the BRZ:

 

Looks like a great day. At least the second day.

The Caddy probably overheated. Around here they last 10 laps or so and then need to cool off. Either that or it had the special GT3 mirrors.

And please, roll up and zip tie that harness! That would drive me crazy!

 

Orthojoe,
What is your wheel, tire and suspension setup?

 

Haha. Thanks. That harness strap got loose and I didn't notice until it was too late. They usually stay tucked under the decklid. I wouldnt be surprised at all if the caddy was overheating. They were making oodles of power. There was a group of caddy drivers there that day that were driving aggressively with big heads to boot. One of them balled up their car while their buddy drives by without even lifting. Classy. You have to watch full screen to see the car and the parts littered on the track:


18" Volk TE37s
Nitto NT01s
RSS front control arms running -2.0 camber in front and -1.8 in the rear

 

Your Boxster LSD is the same as the Cayman:
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/b...dissected.html
They are as bad if not worse than the GT3 LSDs. And just to be clear, we never followed through with a service pack for them. It wasn't cost effective. Given the ramp angles and the fact that it would require a clutch kit and ramps, we were already 70% of the way to the cost of an all new LSD. It just wasn't marketable, so we scrapped the idea.

BTW, your BRZ would get a lot faster with an LSD as well. The stock TBD they put in that car leaves a lot to be desired.

 

What do you think of the data graphs? Do you think the LSD is broken or just a poor OEM LSD functioning poorly as it normally does?

 

Car wants a LSD and a 3.8L

 

^ I agree. Do it Joe!

 

It would be the only possible way I could keep you in my sights. I'm actually seriously considering the LSD upgrade for the fall. I believe my wheel speed logs show that I would benefit from one.

 

So........no 3.8?

 

Such a beautiful and fun car. Love seeing them at the track.
I have one on my wish list with a 3.8L to shake up the GT3 crowd

 

Not true, get cheater tires . You have become seriously fast. I only hold an advantage due to tires and transmission.

 

Nice Joe, thank you for posting.

Nice save in the BRZ too.

 

LOL. You first!

Thanks, but you don't need a 3.8L to shake up the GT3 crowd.... right, Ben?

.... and driver skill.

As far as PDK advantage goes, I went back and look a look at my logs vs. yours down the straights. Yes, there is a very subtle dip in acceleration as I shift, but it doesn't register as any noticeable drop in time difference between you and I. I don't think there's enough shifting going on at the tracks we frequent for PDK to make an enormous difference. Maybe a few tenths. Not a full second, IMO. It would be nice to not have to short shift to avoid mid-corner shifting though....

 

Thanks Afshin. I wish I could take the credit, but after my counter steer failed miserably, I just held on and prayed I wouldn't ball up the car.