PC Valkyrie

I'm also intersted in your thoughts about the transmission of the the Black Series while lapping.

Did you run in "S" automatic mode, or did you shift yourself in "M" mode?

If you tried both modes, which mode do you think you're faster in?

I ask because I'm pretty sure I'm faster in "S" mode in my older 5 speed Speedshift unit in the C55, as there is a lag between pressing the shift button/paddle and the actual shift in my "M" mode, especially during upshifts. In automatic "S" mode, I just let the car shift for me and it seems to do a pretty decent job most of the time (active downshifting under braking, holding a gear without upshifting during a turn). Of course, this is after a few laps of driving aggressively so the transmission learns and realizes you want an aggressive shift pattern.

CynCarvin32

That track more closely replicates a canyon road. Also it is a slower track where you are less likely to have press drivers flying off the track at 140 mph. The big track can yield a serious crash if you let a under skilled driver lose in a car he does not own. At the big track, they normally have cones around the track that limit your line and speed, to slow people down and keep it "safe."

I have seen a press monkey stack up a New Viper on at a press event at th big track.

Jim Brady

I don't know if this question is directed to me, but I use S mode. Next event
I'll run some sessions in M. Luke ran in M mode as your only using 3,4th & 5th.
Jimmy

Jim Brady

Cyn
We already know it'll do 1:32's with a pro driver. The Evosport track day helped evaluate upgrades vs stock back to back. We are still in the learning curve as to what works with this car and being able to run them against one another and reporting will help others evaluate what mods are for them.

I can get the BS under 1:30's with me driving!.. but I'd ruin what I got the car for. I've got another car I can barely stand to drive 50 miles but it'll do sub 1:30's. My point is cars capable of sub 1:30's are not very good street cars in spite of what some think.

For most of us a track day is for fun and the limited passing zone doesn't equate to the same as a time trial run. For that reason I'm skeptical at many of the alleged times produced by unverified timing. I'm getting OT. Most os the faster cars than the BS are not very good street cars and thats where the BS shines.
Jimmy

CynCarvin32

All very accurate. I drive around in a BMW with 600 lb springs and its at the point where any stiffer and I wont want to get in the car on a weekend even for a quick drive.

What I was saying is a stock BS is a 1:32 or so second car. Saying it can do 1.xxx.xx modified is not what I was saying. Once you go away from stock its a different ball game.

At some point you realize a car made for the street is never that perfect for the track and a track car is a joke on the street. Ideally you have nice car for the street and then something dedicated for the track.

But it is fun driving a street car at the track that is bloody quick and scaring people who are in their full race machines and not that great at driving.

splinter

You’re getting ‘round in >1:35 piloting the EVO X? Pretty darn close to an OE W209 Black Series.

Difference between CynCarvin32 and some – like me – is that he knows how to get after it-

Jim Brady

L8Apex,
Thanks for posting the video, I watched it several times and I've been at track days with Craig. No Exige I've run ever sounded or accelerted like the one Craig was driving. I did a little investigating on the car he was driving, it was a Ronin special with 320 hp! So the 1:27 is actually a highly modified Lotus! Interesting on the same day he ran an Exige S on Yoko Advans and turned a
1:32. which is what you would expect of a pro driver.
I can sleep much better now.
Jimmy

L8Apex

Thats a little monster! For being a street/track car (Exige) I've seen more on a flatbed leaving the track than those driving home. AAA should be a option. It seems their gearbox gives them all kinds of grief. Rest easy.

nlpamg

great write-up!

man, that looks great.

not to stir the pot, but did Jangy show up for a race against JCart?

JamE55

Awsome pics Luke!

The red BS and Jcarts really stand out. For anyone who drove Jim's EVO BS, how did the suspension handle on the twisties? Did you feel any body roll at all?

LZH

No, Jangy was not at Willow.

LZH

Thanks man - Honestly, not much. From turns two through six the car was on rails with very, very little body roll. As I stated earlier, IMO, the most impressive aspect of Jrcarts car is the modified suspension (including the Dymags).

otoupalik

We are doing it again on the 19th of Feb!

MACHC5

Brad,

Please tell us about the pulley and belt thing with jrcart's car.
We know he has your EVO under drive pulley system.

Thanks,
MachC5

otoupalik

Are you referring to the belt shred on track? If so, what we found once we got into the car was a failed stock idler pulley, which we believe led to the belt moving as the idler wobbled.

It is impossible to know 100% as we are working on it after the failure. However, finding a broken part, it is reasoable to assume that caused the failure.

Remember, Willow Springs is unlike most any other track in the US. You have more consistent high RPM full throttle and high g-loading then anywhere I know of. This is very stressful on equipment if the car is being pushed. That is one reason that the track is a good test for our products!

As we did not do the install on the evosport pulley, we were concerned that might be an issue. However, it appears that it was installed correctly and was not the issue that led to the belt shredding.

We did show JRCart the destroyed stock idler pulley.

thanks
brad

Doctodd33

has anyone changed the hood to a carbon fiber version? I think i read JCart contemplated it. How much front end weight savings would be achieved?

LZH

Evosport is building one that should be ready pretty soon from what Brad told me at the track. No clue what the weight savings will be but I'm sure it will be significant.

Timeless

Not sure on the 63, but I remember someone saying you only saved about 20 lbs on the 55 series and thus not a big demand.

SMP

Since the hood on the BS is already made of aluminum, the weight savings will be not as dramatic. As far as I remember, Simon told me that Evosport's CF hood will feature ram air inlets and build in air box.

LZH

I thought the hood was sheet metal. Brad also told me they were working on two different hoods. A direct replacement and the ram air with NACA ducts. Should be pretty cool and allow more airflow.

jrcart

I'm back from my time out

The Willow event was a blast...up until the point my serpentine belt shredded. As Brad mentioned it was the factory idler pulley that failed, not the Evosport crank pulley. It put a quick end to my day, I think other people did more laps in my car than I did (honestly). I was slow as hell out there, only putting one lap into the 39's, granted I only put in about 10 laps, but I was still unhappy with my performance. I was happy to see Brad lay down a few low 33's with relative ease, he claims he could go 28's with it...I'm gonna hold him to it next time

Jim Brady, I really wanted to let you take my car for a few laps to get your opinions on my mods, I had intended on letting you drive it right after the guy that was driving it when the belt blew. I will be back out there for the Willow event on February 19th, maybe you can take it for a spin then.

See you all soon

Jim Brady

Jim
It was a pleasure meeting you and for those that haven't, Jim is a gentleman and a true enthusiast. I thought we'd have a go as I got a great run out of turn 9 and I saw your car pull in glad is was just an idler. I would like to drive your car to compare the mods. I plan on being there on the 19th.

The BS sound great but Jim's car is out of this world going down the front straight. I would say the only better sounding car I've ever heard is a Pagani Zonda and its close.

I know you didn't get much seat time but what did you think of Willow compared to say Road America?

LZH

Welcome back, Jim. Not to worry man...Willow, although not very technical, does take some time to learn. But it's just more about having the ***** to let it all hang out at some pretty high speeds. IMO you did the right thing not pushing it too much....it'd be a shame to wad such a nice car up. I'm sure you will be down in the low to mid 30's next time out. See you guys then !!

jrcart

Jim, Road America and Willow have nothing in common except for both being fast, but they are different types of fast if that makes sense. Willow only has 9 turns and the only fast section is 8,9 up to turn 1 where as Road America has 14 turns and has a super fast front straight (close to 170)14 to turn 1 followed by another superfast downhill turn 3-5 (really just another straight away turn 4 is not really a turn) turn 5 is the slowest turn on the track and you brake from 155 down to 35-40mph then in the back section gets super fast again from about half way around the carousel (turn 9) to Canada Corner (turn 12) is wide open. There are 3 sections on Road America which my car hits or exceeds 155 mph but not really hairy turns like 8-9 at Willow, the closest thing to 8-9 on Willow at RA I would have to say would be the second half of the carousel heading into the kink at turn 10 which if done properly is pretty much done wide open except for a split second lift before 10 to unload the chassis/suspension which then allows you to hit the apex at 10 and four wheel drift across the track straightening up just as your front left hits the apron/rumble strip and then it is wide open all the way to 12...lots of deers in this section which adds some excitment as well, I have actually seen deer crossing the track in this section on more than one occasion.

RA has many more technical sections than Willow and many of the corners at RA are blind turns due to some elevation changes, bridges and the area being heavily wooded, as where Willow is wide open and you can see ahead to most any corner or section you want.

DFW01E55

Blind turns, elevation, bridges, deer, RA sounds like a great track ... to drive a Miata. That way when disaster strikes, I'm not crying over a beautiful MB!