grimmspeed Archives - Club4AG

Club4AG FR-S parts list for track day outing, guideline to fun.

Motohide Miwa — Sun, 03 May 2015 03:45:21 +0000

Club4AG FR-S parts list for track day outing, guideline to fun.

At Club4AG, I normally won't list parts for my FR-S if it's just for the sake of showing you a list of modifications.
I'll do it here for the following parts for the sake of showing you something I have used over the last 2 days at two different raceways running the FR-S hard on the racetrack.RT615K 225/40-18 on all four, while not the most aggressive size choice and may not have the top time rating for track-spec radials with sub 200’s DOT tire wear rating, I have found them to be very fun and capable for Sunday racers who want to learn to drive in a arena like open track days and lessons, as well as take part in time attack to compare your skills. The choice of a few sizes and selections offered, can make your FR-S faster, or more docile, simply by being judicious on which size and profile you choose for the FR-S.The tire is very communicative in terms of giving feedback through the steering wheel and chassis. At the same time, it does communicate clearly for heat and tire pressure differences so that you can compensate via driving style or for pit stop menu of changes to be made.Even with a modest tire size on our FR-S, it is capable of sub-1:30 laptime at Streets of Willow, at 1:28 posted by me, and potentially faster for users willing to take a more aggressive run, despite the modest 225/40-18 size I choose for the sake of retaining the FR-S/BRZ's dynamic character of fun.It’s a very durable and even wearing tire from the standpoint of abuse. The tread surface and construction is also really durable and that's a plus for novices that tend to lock up the brakes, plow on the front tires, and see occasional mishaps and off-pavement excursions in the process of learning to become an ace. The RT615K withstands such situations, and after a quick brush-off of accumulated dirt in the wheels, it's ready for another fun lap session.

The FR-S we have is tuned for street with RS-R Sports-I, with mild ride qualities and capabilities with the expensive mono-tube damper design, and took to the RT615K well in terms of being able to use the tires from home, to the track quite comfortably, and back after the event. So in a nutshell, if your car isn’t a dedicated race only car, and do use it every day, the RT615K is a perfect companion tire for those occasional Sunday races, to keep on hand as an alternative to your normal street radials, to be used on the same suspension setup of mild street sports focus like the RSR Sports-i.

Winmax W2, the highest rated sport pad that is still non-metallic, have proven to be very good as normal operation city traffic brakes with low dust, no-noise pads, that work from first crank of the morning commute. The W2 has an extended performance range for the track, and while I ran consistent 1:30 lap times all day long at Streets of Willow, and at Configuration 13 at Buttonwillow, both being very demanding with RT615K mounted and hard braking on each straight ends, the W2 was surprisingly capable for the duration of two days. No fade anywhere inside of the 20 minutes per stint run groups, and very consistent and positive braking feel over the course of the runs and day lapping. I would say these are also a very nice choice for non-dedicated race cars where dust and noise can be a problem for other track-specific brake pad selection, the W2 on the FRS simply gets the job done really well.

As a side note and optional things that can be considered:

We also have Bride Seats in the car, and it does wonders for not only the safety element, but to properly fit and hold you with the right hardness of padding in a close form fitted shape so that you can feel every bit of the car's motions, keep tabs on the tire contact patch, and giving you much more information about the road and the car. A driver harness in the form of 4 point buckled, like Takata harness belt can also add to the holding of the driver so less driver fatigue is generated over a fun filled day at the track.
A home-brew oil cooler kit using Mocal oil plate and advanced carbon wrapped hoses and cooler core from Setrab keeps the oil temperature in check for the demands of Southern California's warmer months.
There are a few Cusco braces in strategic locations keep the frame from stressing loose over the years of track day enjoyment. An accurate oil temperature gauge added can also help you determine if you are running the car too hard and should maybe come back and cool it down. Engine oil temp is a nice guideline to use for monitoring the rest of the car's state of abuse, as oil temps generally indicate similar abuse and high temps at the gears, differentials, and brakes too for that matter on the FR-S, as things tend to just stay balanced over the course of the duration you are out on the track.
While many of these braces won't make drastic changes in the car's character, it does do its part in keeping the frame nice and straight after years of abusive driving. namely however you may want to install the Power Brace - Rear Member Part Number 692 492 RM that goes across the rear cross-member bushing mounts. It can stabilize the sub-frame motions against the uni-body, under large loads created by such tires as the RT615K used today.

I almost see that the combination of Winmax W2 and RSR Sports-i as well as choice of Falken FK453 for the street and RT615K for the track, as a really well matched set of pieces for upgrading the FR-S and BRZ to something like an extension of what the designers would have included in the car, if the price constraints of the vehicles were not at the mere $25,000. As these parts only increase the joys, comfort, and capability of the FRS platform beyond that of the showroom stock, and without tainting any of the great attributes of the car, to a more capable refined state to achieve traits of the car that cost twice or more as much.

That’s the design goal I have had since day 1, of my initial delivery of the car 18 months ago, and it’s coming closer to this through each step of the testing and trial phase using parts I select within reach, and also reach of the common users who adhere to driving pleasures in a mature form. Without the extremes, without the sacrifices, and without making the specific role into a race car, but an enjoyable sports car that you can own for a long, long time. And that is what we at Club4AG do, is not to get on the trend of buying and replacing our cars with the newest all the time, but to take a few select cars and enjoy driving, tweaking, and sharing over the course of our lives.

The post Club4AG FR-S parts list for track day outing, guideline to fun. appeared first on Club4AG.

Robert Strangarone's RS-R Scion FR-S takes to the autocross for the third season.

MotoP — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 10:05:44 +0000

Bob Strangarone's RS-R Scion FR-S

Bob Strangarone, who stated autocross shortly after he got his Scion FR-S in 2012, has been consistently building his car and participating in grassroots events.
This year for 2015, the third season, he is lifted into high spirits, lowered on RS-R's custom tuned Sports-i Club Racer.
Winning already two of the three autocross already, we are off to a great start of the season.
Like last year, due to the Supercharger by Innovate/Sprintex, he is now classed in Street Modified and suspension has been re-calibrated accordingly with Club4AG and RS-R Staff to meet Bob's unique driving preference.
Equipped also with Cusco Limited Slip Type RS at 55/20 ramp and 100% clutch pack setup at full initial torque spring setting for immediate low speed action to negotiate small corners quickly and immediately.
Select Cusco braces are used but not all according to legality in Solo2 rules.
Suspension linkages consist of parts from Whiteline, RS-R, Raceseng, and SP, and we're still tweaking it for more competitive setup.
Winmax W3 brake pads on stock calipers comprise enough stopping control and efficacy with Hoosier A7 tires and Enkei RPF1.
Since supercharger mapping was originally street tune, the car was re-tuned by Delicous Tuning, where it was characterized to fit Bob's driving and autocross better.

Of course all these parts added simply doesn't make a race car fast. And to complete the fine calibrations are some of us at Club4AG, everyone at RS-R, and always in conjunction with Counterspace Garage who's quickly becoming a grassroots racing central for FRS users and complete and superb maintenance by Infinite Motion, and fabrication work by the renowned Bluemoon Performance.

Still, there are awesome challenges ahead, as the FRS platform is new to Street Modified class where there are formidable custom rigs from all walks of automotive racing.
We hope to get Robert to more podium and trophy positions this year!

Watch his activities at his facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1033443447&fref=ts

The post Robert Strangarone's RS-R Scion FR-S takes to the autocross for the third season. appeared first on Club4AG.

Scion FR-S, Tour of Southwest, an 1177 mile Journey through Western USA's nicest roads!

MotoP — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 05:41:50 +0000

Scion FR-S, Tour of Southwest

November 15th~ 17th, 2014

1177 miles, from Los Angeles, to Phoenix, Sedona, to Flagstaff, a round trip tour of Scion FR-S through the Southwest's most scenic routes. The sky, the horizon and all the events and things in between. Our stops included Joshua Tree National Park, a day at the Earnhardt Toyota of Mesa, AZ for a wonderful welcome with 100 other cars in the AZ86Bash2 Celebration, a day in Sedona’s valley of monumental natural spectacles, and some of the best roads that California and Arizona had to offer.

We were all reminded that cars like these were are all about taking it for a spin, preferably a very, very long drive. Friends gathered with other friends of friends, making new ones along the way.

The Scion FR-S. It really is a neat car, in many more ways than just the surface, specs, and character, but for the world it brings to the owners in the form of friends all over the world.

The post Scion FR-S, Tour of Southwest, an 1177 mile Journey through Western USA's nicest roads! appeared first on Club4AG.

Willow Springs Raceway with Scion FR-S, this time, testing more new prototype items

Motohide Miwa — Mon, 12 May 2014 09:49:36 +0000

Willow Springs Raceway with Scion FR-S

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203183698449584&set=a.1069376330925.12140.1121600419&type=1

The post Willow Springs Raceway with Scion FR-S, this time, testing more new prototype items appeared first on Club4AG.

SNAP ON TOOLS - MASTERS of METAL TOUR, come win some Snap On Tools and Gear!

Motohide Miwa — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 04:30:39 +0000

SNAP ON TOOLS - MASTERS OF METAL TOUR
October 29th, Tuesday, 2013. 6PM~10PM
Del Amo Fashion Center Mall, Parking Lot in Torrance California.

Snap On Tools will bring a party to South Bay car fanatics!
At the end of this month, on a weeknight of Tuesday, October 29th, we can gather our cars, any car, and not only show and tell, but win a bunch of Snap On Tools!

It will be held in a parking lot of Del Amo Fashion Center.

Multiple Display booths, trucks, tools, and much more! Just come out and have some serious fun. Admission is FREE with food catered to folks arriving early!

See you there folks!!

The post SNAP ON TOOLS - MASTERS of METAL TOUR, come win some Snap On Tools and Gear! appeared first on Club4AG.

Scion Racing Testing/Media Preview Session

MotoP — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 01:15:31 +0000

Scion Racing Testing/Media Preview Session
Toyota Speedway of Irwindale.

Ken Gushi and Fredrick Aasbo gets to shakedown thier cars for the first time in public with media present to shoot photos.
We were lucky enough to be on the roster for this preview and will share the photos from this day.

Preparing for the 2013 Formula D Season, Scion Racing goes out to Toyota Speedway of Irwindale...

With several dozen horsepower more on the FRS, and with magic re-tune of KW suspension and arm configurations, Ken seems to be in much better control of the FRS, and gained forward traction in mid-throttle dart from apex to apex. I immediately saw that from corner to corner, mid-course transitions, the car will grasp the road with the rear wheels much more tenaciously than I remember from last season, and simply put down more of the available power from point to point.

Fredrick seems to be extremely happy with the all-new engine and added power for the tried and true tC, now even more tailored to Fredrick's style of smoother throttle application and less sharp inputs than 2012's Tony Angelo.
It really seems to be a big improvement in driver's connection to the car for both teams, and this means the action will be sharper, closer, and faster than last year.

Together, they are looking already to be in top contention, even on the first day of testing today~!
Here comes Long Beach, just 2 weeks away!
Get ready to be rocked by Team Scion Racing!

The post Scion Racing Testing/Media Preview Session appeared first on Club4AG.

More Parts for the Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ, Scion FRS

MotoP — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:01:53 +0000

More Parts for the Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ, Scion FRS

Grimmspeed Hood Struts, so there isn't a need for prop rods, and lifts the hood a bit higher for easier maintenance for taller guys too.

Catz OEM option bezel LED fog lamps, used with BRZ Limited turn signal stalk so the switching is on a factory location.

Winmax AP2 Street/Track 0~700C compatible performance brake pads.

Grimmspeed Brake Master Cylinder brace to keep the vaccuum pot from expanding and to keep braking pedal feel consistent.

The post More Parts for the Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ, Scion FRS appeared first on Club4AG.