Streets of Willow (renovated) track day - night run . Cooling testing

[BuntaTypeR]

First time running at Streets of Willow since the renovation and the addition of the tire barriers and they’re pretty sketchy. I’ve already seen a few cars make contact with them. Back when there were no barriers, I went off track twice myself, but at least it was safer to go off into the dirt instead of into a wall. Because of that, I don’t feel comfortable pushing the car 100%.

This was during a Touge2Track night run, and driving this course in the dark is a completely different experience. There are only five light posts for 14 turns, and my headlights barely help since I’m going too fast to clearly see the apexes. Luckily, I know the layout well enough from past runs, but there’s always that thought in the back of my mind that one small mistake could end badly.

This was my first session running the WOT / pwr Performance triple pass radiator and oil cooler setup with my current mods, and the cooling seems dialed in. I ran 14 laps with no signs of overheating. The far-left gauge shows the true engine oil temp, and it stayed solid throughout the session. I haven’t tested it yet under extreme summer conditions (100°F+), but so far I’m really happy with the results.

Lots of lessons learned this time around that I’ll definitely apply at the next track day.

 

[iforgettopee]

The track is soo nice now... it's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do!!! lol

 

[BuntaTypeR]

The track is soo nice now... it's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do!!! lol

I’m really not a fan of those tire barriers. Having gone off this track twice before, I can say they’re extremely dangerous. There’s no room for mistakes, if my brakes give out, or if I understeer or oversteer, it could end badly. I already know of three crashes here because of those barriers. This also forces me to drive even slower since I have to wait for the car to fully settle before pushing past my comfort zone. I’m braking earlier and can’t really swing the car through corners or experiment with new lines like before.

 

[BuntaTypeR]

More better pics

 

[jdml3ia]

I hope they do another night event. Rumor has it that this was the last one. The rear right valve stem LED started melting during my last session

@iforgettopee @BuntaTypeR - SDC Button Dec 19th?!

 

[BuntaTypeR]

I hope they do another night event. Rumor has it that this was the last one. The rear right valve stem LED started melting during my last session

@iforgettopee @BuntaTypeR - SDC Button Dec 19th?!

I’d love to, but I already have other commitments on that date. I was hoping around January or February, if the weather allows. With Willow springs reportedly doubling their prices next year (rumor has it, over $500 per track day), Buttonwillow will probably be the best option.

 

[mattrose4]

Loving the build, if you dont mind be asking, what tire pressures do you typically run at? I do alot of auto cross and I know those pressures will probably be different than track days. I'm thinking 30 psi front and 33 rear once they get some heat in them on a 275 35 18.

 

[BuntaTypeR]

Loving the build, if you dont mind be asking, what tire pressures do you typically run at? I do alot of auto cross and I know those pressures will probably be different than track days. I'm thinking 30 psi front and 33 rear once they get some heat in them on a 275 35 18.

I’m currently running 25 psi cold and about 30 psi hot. I’ve also tested 30 psi cold and 35 psi hot, but I feel that setup didn’t give me enough grip. I can probably go lower than 30psi hot but it eats the inner tires more/faster.

 

[mattrose4]

I’m currently running 25 psi cold and about 30 psi hot. I’ve also tested 30 psi cold and 35 psi hot, but I feel that setup didn’t give me enough grip. I can probably go lower than 30psi hot but it eats the inner tires more/faster.

Do you stagger front and rear to help the car rotate at all? Ive seen people in autocross run mid 30s front and mid 40s rear which I thought was pretty wild. I know I'm going to have to play with them and get data as this platform is very new to me. I'm just trying to get a baseline where to start.

 

[BuntaTypeR]

Do you stagger front and rear to help the car rotate at all? Ive seen people in autocross run mid 30s front and mid 40s rear which I thought was pretty wild. I know I'm going to have to play with them and get data as this platform is very new to me. I'm just trying to get a baseline where to start.

I can’t really speak for autocross, but from my experience attending a few events, it definitely feels safer in the open lot and lower speeds. On my tracks, I’m seeing speeds anywhere from 110 mph up to 149 mph, with some corners taken at around 125 mph.

I’ve tried running higher psi, like 35 psi through a 95 mph turn, and my car felt like it was floating. Everyone has their own driving style, and I’m just an amateur, but I prefer lower tire pressures because they give me better feedback and let me actually feel what the car is doing.

I’ve also talked to drivers who are way faster than me and have podium finishes in their Hondas at these same tracks. They’re running similar PSI to what I use, which reinforces that this setup just works better
for me. Have you tested it in the track and not in autox?

 

[mattrose4]

I can’t really speak for autocross, but from my experience attending a few events, it definitely feels safer in the open lot and lower speeds. On my tracks, I’m seeing speeds anywhere from 110 mph up to 149 mph, with some corners taken at around 125 mph.

I’ve tried running higher psi, like 35 psi through a 95 mph turn, and my car felt like it was floating. Everyone has their own driving style, and I’m just an amateur, but I prefer lower tire pressures because they give me better feedback and let me actually feel what the car is doing.

I’ve also talked to drivers who are way faster than me and have podium finishes in their Hondas at these same tracks. They’re running similar PSI to what I use, which reinforces that this setup just works better
for me. Have you tested it in the track and not in autox?

Not yet, I just got mine back in August, but I have a track built sti that I compete in so Im kind of just mirroring that set up to the Honda. I can already tell im going to want a bigger rear sway to get the car to rotate better. I typically run lower psi on that on my RE71-rs tires. I plan to run my first track day with the fl5 next season at gingerman or autobahn in Joliet. Car so far feels very neutral so far and I like that. I just ordered a set of Apex vs-5rs 18x10.5 et 47 wheels so I'm really excited to try it out. Ill be running a 275 35 18 re71 rs tire. Any tips or advice for me on this FL5 I would greatly appreciate

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