FR-S Test and Learn Day
Today is the first outing for the car since we picked it up in Arizona. I haven’t had time to deal with any major modifications or repairs, however the car is in solid condition and we are just running Thunderhill West. This track isn’t known for pushing cars to their limits, but will let me shake down the car and find any potential problems.
Goals for the day:
Have fun with a 250+ hp FR-S
Don’t crash or mow the greenery
Evaluate live timing and telemetry via Autosport Labs Racecapture Pro MK4
Test Bluetooth helmet to helmet communication
Identify setup adjustments
If you found our webpage via the QR code, then thanks for checking Detmers Design out!
There are lots of various automotive adventures documented here including this one. Feel free to look around!
I’ll be working on setting up streaming in car video. This was a fail as GoPro decided to be annoying. Next time this should work.
Progression Through The Day
Overall the car is solid, but as always the first time driven in anger will find new issues never observed on the street. In this case it was incredibly frustrating. Almost no braking after the first 3 corners….hmmm perhaps it was merely cold brakes or new pads?
I was mostly a moving chicane, many apologies to my fellow red/gold group drivers. I tried to stay off line while I diagnosed the strange issues. Essentially drove like manual brakes, no pulling left or right, nothing notable noise or handling. Just didn’t want to stop.
Returned to paddock early to inspect brakes and found rotors and calipers a mild 250 °F. Clearly no issue with overheating.
Decided to take Colleen out and just push harder on the pedal in hopes that maybe I learned something or it got better. Not really, but I did end up with a 1:36 lap using all my leg press strength.
The session was ended when the car ended up stuck in 2nd gear. Meaning again a moving chicane with my finger out the window. Sorry guys. I did have a bit of sliding fun before returning to the paddock this time.
Time for Deeper Investigation
Skipped a session to pull a wheel and inspect brakes. AP Racing calipers and it turns out Hawk HPS pads, neither of these are bad things leaving me again perplexed. Car idles great so no vacuum leaks that could cause low vacuum on the power brake reservoir. Time to check brake fluid even though pedal feels rock solid. Nope not the issue either, no bubbles.
New friend, Andrew, also has a boosted BRZ. Let’s look at his vacuum lines because perhaps someone plugged it into the wrong port. It wasn’t helpful because his is a centrifugal, while we have a roots. Completely different intake manifolds. Decided to trace my vacuum line and find it is crushed under the supercharger…. WTF?!?!
Pulled off the line and tried to blow through it, almost no air flow. Clearly blocked or heavily restricted. Glad I brought the borescope.
Trip into town for vacuum hose and a few hose clamps. Quick bypass to the hoses and we are back in business!
Random trivia… Sharpies serve as an excellent vacuum hose plug.
I’m still learning how best to merge data with video, so enjoy my first ever creation! Taking Colleen around for some fun laps after I sorted out the braking issues. Still much more to tune like spring rates might be a bit high and trying to dial out the mid corner understeer.
Various Shots from Weekend
Final Thoughts
Overall the car handles great and is very manageable even after loosing control. We had a moment through turn 3 with some mud on track, but no spin. It needs to have the throttle response reviewed for better mid corner feathering. Only other concern is the mid corner understeer which was prevalent in T2 and T6. Ended up finishing the day with a best of 1:32.1. Benchmark to beat.
Non-track related, the right headlight wiring needs to be reviewed as it kept going off while driving up to Willows. Along with a slight pull right only noticeable on the highway.
Great to meet Andrew with his BR-Z, will need to chat more about your setup since you’re a few seconds a lap faster.
Also will keep an eye out for Casey with his new BR-Z. Great to see new drivers having a good day and bringing back their car without mowing the fresh grass.
Thank you Speed SF for a fun day!
