[docjay]

My 05 Elise is getting a factory supercharger by SportDurst here in NC as we speak.

I am going to take it to VIR for the BMW club tracking weekend in mid Sept.

I now have stock (nonLSS) wheels with nearly new 07s.

As a track newbie, should I go ahead and buy new wheels with "track" tires (say R888s)? I know not to go with slicks right off.

Or should I get used driving first and then work up?

What do you guys think?

Cheers--Jay

 

[marcinr]

Drive first. Good tires make the limit higher, but it's more important to learn the line and the feel of your car at the limit than it is to get every last bit of speed through a turn. You probably wouldn't even be pushing the car hard enough the first few track days to actually get better times from competition tires.

Make sure to try out the engine/supercharger combo at full power a few times to make sure everything is ok with it. I had a bad part in my supercharger which led to the supercharger blowing chunks into the engine. I'm glad I did it near home and not 200mi away at the track.

 

[ewalberg]

... one argument for going with stickier rubber right away is that you'll have more power than a regular elise... which means you'll be able to have more speed heading into a turn (which makes it easier to spin, and it'll be a little easier for you to break the rear loose in a turn. Having the extra rubber might actually be a bit safer in that regard.

 

[docjay]

Track

Thanks--That was my gut feeling as well. Plus saves some cash for now.

Drive first. Good tires make the limit higher, but it's more important to learn the line and the feel of your car at the limit than it is to get every last bit of speed through a turn. You probably wouldn't even be pushing the car hard enough the first few track days to actually get better times from competition tires.

Make sure to try out the engine/supercharger combo at full power a few times to make sure everything is ok with it. I had a bad part in my supercharger which led to the supercharger blowing chunks into the engine. I'm glad I did it near home and not 200mi away at the track.

 

[docjay]

Track

So you think getting used to the track on stickier tires could be safer?
I assume the weight difference in lighter wheels would not be noticed by me as it's my first time on the track. Agree?

... one argument for going with stickier rubber right away is that you'll have more power than a regular elise... which means you'll be able to have more speed heading into a turn (which makes it easier to spin, and it'll be a little easier for you to break the rear loose in a turn. Having the extra rubber might actually be a bit safer in that regard.

 

[fitfan]

you will LOVE vir - what configuration are they running? the grand and full course can be a little intimidating to learn... south is excellent to start out on. on the longer configs, try to learn 1/3 of it each time out...

i would stick with the ad07... i like them on the track personally, the limits may not be exptionaly high (they ARE high however) but they are way more progressive... so you have moretime to sense the tire...

its a track day... hpde, going fast is irrelevant. go smooth and learn the line and track manners - the most important thing is to be comforatable and with in yourself so you can learn the driveing techniques. the lower the limits and slower you are going the better in that regard. the ad07 are excellent tires. really... it takes a lot of talent to out drive them. plus the ad07 will give you a better gap between over and understeer - so you can learn that better too.

my 2 cents...

don't worry about going fast, worrry about being smooth, consistant line and zones, and learning the inputs and control and feedback.

going faster may not be the best way to learn the above.... and as was mentioned above, you when you go off track, you will be doing it slower on the ado7....

 

[docjay]

Track

Fantastic advice---Thanks a million--We will be on Full course
Let you know how it goes
Thanks Jay

you will LOVE vir - what configuration are they running? the grand and full course can be a little intimidating to learn... south is excellent to start out on. on the longer configs, try to learn 1/3 of it each time out...

i would stick with the ad07... i like them on the track personally, the limits may not be exptionaly high (they ARE high however) but they are way more progressive... so you have moretime to sense the tire...

its a track day... hpde, going fast is irrelevant. go smooth and learn the line and track manners - the most important thing is to be comforatable and with in yourself so you can learn the driveing techniques. the lower the limits and slower you are going the better in that regard. the ad07 are excellent tires. really... it takes a lot of talent to out drive them. plus the ad07 will give you a better gap between over and understeer - so you can learn that better too.

my 2 cents...

don't worry about going fast, worrry about being smooth, consistant line and zones, and learning the inputs and control and feedback.

going faster may not be the best way to learn the above.... and as was mentioned above, you when you go off track, you will be doing it slower on the ado7....

 

[ewalberg]

i would take the advice of others before mine given the variety of experience they have with the tires in question. My statement is based on that the street tires i have on my can now are definitely not as sticky as the ad-07's and i find they can both push more if i'm off the throttle and over steer more by overpowering them and breaking the rear loose, so while i think they're still predicatable, i don't think they're as usuer friendly/forgiving as the Toyo RA-1's i have on the car which push less and are harder to overpower.... and i think the problem would be worse with a supercharged motor.

but then the toyo RA-1's have been described as being some of the most forgiving of really sticky tires on the market...

Regadless of tires, are there any blind turns at VIR? If so I would strongly recommend seeing if you can sit in with someone before you even go out the first time in your car. Having an idea of the lines you should be taking (not from a piece of paper you read, but from inside the car so you have better memory of it) i think makes the first run MUCH less stressful and MUCH less dangerous because you're less likely to get caught off guard. Or if you at least have a buddy who you can follow for one session?

Thunderhill had 3 blind turns which i found very unnerving coming up on when you don't have any idea where the line is, and when you've got cars around you... where crawling up to the crest of the hill would have it's own safety issues because other cars who do know the route could come blindly barreling up on you from behind just after you crest and before you've had a chance to make up any speed.

 

[Viggen]

the problem with starting out on track tires is they are not nearly as forgiving at & past the limit compared to street tires. Street tires will also give you more audible warnings as you are approaching the limit.......

I would definantly stick with stock tread.... do several schools & when the instructor states it's time for some better tires then do it. Untill then learn the car on street tires at lower speeds

 

[lotusport]

the problem with starting out on track tires is they are not nearly as forgiving at & past the limit compared to street tires. Street tires will also give you more audible warnings as you are approaching the limit.......

I would definantly stick with stock tread.... do several schools & when the instructor states it's time for some better tires then do it. Untill then learn the car on street tires at lower speeds

+1!

Learn to drive, then look for improvements. The AD07s are better than 95% of all tires that you can get for the car, and are very likely more tire than you are a driver...yet. It's entirely possible that you'll never want anything more until you're nearly race-ready (if you go that far).

I've run every track I've ever been on with the car except Barber with AD07s and they are forgiving, predictable, and pretty easy to drive at their limit. With the Katana and AD07s, my car is well-balanced and suffers no hint of a mean streak.
Go for it! :shift:

 

[fitfan]

yes, a few blind and pucker moment corners on the full course...

get on youtube and search out some full course videos, and print out the vir map.

even have the instructor run the first few laps, pit and swap drivers...

 

['Nova]

My 05 Elise is getting a factory supercharger by SportDurst here in NC as we speak.

I am going to take it to VIR for the BMW club tracking weekend in mid Sept.

I now have stock (nonLSS) wheels with nearly new 07s.

As a track newbie, should I go ahead and buy new wheels with "track" tires (say R888s)? I know not to go with slicks right off.

Or should I get used driving first and then work up?

What do you guys think?

Cheers--Jay

If you've never driven with the club before, they may not even let you onto the track with R-compound tires as a 1st timer.

No offense, but you really should have gotten some track time in before you put a SC on the car. It's plenty fast stock plus the lower power makes you focus on your own driving and keeping momentum. Drivers with fast cars typically have that problem where they think they are "fast" but really they're gaining all their time in the straights.

So since you're already committed to the SC, I'd stick with your stock tires and wear them out. You can always go with the 888s after you get some more time in the car. Ultimately you'll be a better driver if you maximize what you have before improving the car further.

Good luck and above all, have fun!

 

[lotusport]

No offense, but you really should have gotten some track time in before you put a SC on the car.

Ordinarily I'd agree, but with the stock car the cam switch in the middle of a 9/10 turn can be unsettling, to say the least. The SC kits (including the factory kit) make the cam changeover so transparent and the power and torque delivery so linear that I believe the SC is actually a better choice, even for a novice on the track.

So since you're already committed to the SC, I'd stick with your stock tires and wear them out. You can always go with the 888s after you get some more time in the car. Ultimately you'll be a better driver if you maximize what you have before improving the car further.

I'll definitely second that. Maybe even stick with AD07s if you find you like their handling characteristics, especially since they're so forgiving at the limit.

Good luck and above all, have fun!

Amen! :up: