Nothing spectacular, but not a bad time. I am being overly cautious at certain points, so I lose alot of time in braking. The fact is with all the rear wheel hop I get at certain points...you can hear in the video...I just don't trust standing on the brakes at the last minute. I was chasing a 911 Carrera S convertible for most of the lap, started pushing it a little bit harder near the end to try to catch him, but he let me have it on the last sweeper and straightaway before the finish. Enjoy!
I have learned a little more about the car, and as I drive it faster I see more of its weaknesses. The back end is easily upset during trail braking, most likely due to weight transfer, and possibly too much rear brake bias or issues with rear wheel hop, and the less than ideal track surface at certain places. I have had a few close calls with snap oversteer while late braking into corners or mid-corner throttle adjustments...so I try to hold myself to a pace that's more in my comfort level, as well as the cars.
The car also suffers from a bit of understeer due to lift at speeds above 80mph...this can be fixed with a quick squeeze of the brakes, but it's still never a good feeling entering a corner at 90+ mph and not getting much response from the front at initial turn-in.
I am still impressed by the grip of the stock tires, and their durability, 12,000 miles of hard use and they still have some life left in them.
I stand by my prediction that this car is capable of a mid/high 8 minute lap, I just don't know if I'm willing to drive it fast enough to find out, becasue I can almost guarantee failing to do so successfully will result in a fight with the guard rail, which I will lose...and to me it's just not worth it. I am having fun as it is, I have already turned low 9 minute laps within my "comfort" level, and to me that's good enough for a completely stock $20k car.
Now please get your Mopar Rear Tension Strut Kit and some Hotchkis Sway Bars on that car for next spring. Those two very small and easy mods will make you feel 100% safer on the track. If you do not want to think of them as a performance mod, please think of them as a safety and peace of mind mod.
I agree. I have had the same issues (snap oversteer and bad understeer at low speed) with mine on the local tracks. The Mopar sway bar kit is pricey, but it's a day and night difference. I like that the rear is 3-way adjustable so you can find the "comfort" level for the track you're running.
Get the rear Tension Strut kit and the sway bar kit, you won't regret it.
Cool vid!
Andy
Quote: Originally Posted by dcsax
Cool.
Now please get your Mopar Rear Tension Strut Kit and some Hotchkis Sway Bars on that car for next spring. Those two very small and easy mods will make you feel 100% safer on the track. If you do not want to think of them as a performance mod, please think of them as a safety and peace of mind mod.
__________________
Andy
'87 CSX #174
'89 Sundance RS (2.5 T2)
'90 Shadow ES-VNT (1 of 1 red 4dr)
'05 SRT-4 (4SFED4)
Okay, I'll have to mount my digi camera to my seat like you did next time I go there... You were definately not afraid to get upto high speeds on the straight even due to the dramatic grade changes which scare the hell outta me. But I definately take a cleaner line than you do and clear corners using the car's lsd. I could tell, not saying that you are slow, its just interesting to compare our driving styles. I think that our lap times might even out with these differences. I don't care asmuch for speed, cornering is ovbiously more important for several reasons on the Nurburgring (mainly staying alive, and thats where you get the best time). We should go out together sometime!! I would love to follow you on the track! When are you going next???
__________________
FYC = Frog Your Car
"If you can't find the right tool in this garage, you don't belong around cars"
heres some things to try.
try not to turn into the corners so early. this will help you slow in fast out.
let the front wheel drive pull you thru the corners.
dont cost thru any corners, at least give the car steady power thru the turns. this will help with the cars uneasy feeling.
heres some things to try.
try not to turn into the corners so early. this will help you slow in fast out.
let the front wheel drive pull you thru the corners.
dont cost thru any corners, at least give the car steady power thru the turns. this will help with the cars uneasy feeling.
Nice tips, I have personally found these to work for me on the Ring as well. I have never timed myself, but believe it or not, chasing a slightly suspension modified EF (89) Civic, which is my friends car, is not an easy task with basically stock suspension on this track either.
And as far as the front pulling the car, this works best when you ease on the gas rather than punching it, feel where the front tires are just barely giving, due to the slight overpower, and leave it there throughout the last 2/3 of any corner; this gives the time for the LSD to react and gives you the pulling effect. I also think that hvacmike should keep the revs high (above 4000, this is what I do) at all times especially when entering and negotiating a corner, this helps you through the turns and gives you alot of control aswell. Just remember a general rule that SHOULD always work... enter the corner at a safe comfortable speed with minimal tire skidding/squealing, and then when you know that you're prettymuch in line for exiting the turn around the apex (inner-center of the turn, very close to the rumble-strips), ease on the gas and turn a bit sharper than you think you would have to. This should help you and get your LSD to react and you should be quite pleased with how the front of the car pulls into and around the turn quickly!
Atleast its something like this, its harder to explain in writing but if you try this you'll get the gist of what I'm talking about. Give it a try!
Last edited by silfortytypex : 09-17-2006 at 04:22 AM.
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SRT-4 on Nurburgring Video
"straight clownin" 
This is not Photoshop
A helpful tip!
enter the corner at a safe comfortable speed with minimal tire skidding/squealing, and then when you know that you're prettymuch in line for exiting the turn around the apex (inner-center of the turn, very close to the rumble-strips), ease on the gas and turn a bit sharper than you think you would have to. This should help you and get your LSD to react and you should be quite pleased with how the front of the car pulls into and around the turn quickly! 
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