Transitioning to new car

[wepsbee]

Have purchased a new car. Fully set up Integra. I am leaving a 95 escort.
I would guess the change in handling is dramatic. The new car is set up much stiffer
than what I have been driving. My question is should I regress on the stiffness of the car ie make the springs/suspension softer, and drive the car and relearn how to drive
or, to borrow a phrase, just shut up and drive!!!!

[Chip42]

how much stiffer is the suspension, really? keep in mind that you loose roughly a quarter of the spring rate on each corner of the honda due to the different motion ratios. the struts you are coming from are very close to 1:1. the car's also heavier.

If the car seemed well sorted before, I'd take it out as is and see what you think before spending any money to undo what's already more than likely right, or at least close to it.

[Greg Amy]

...you loose roughly a quarter of the spring rate on each corner of the honda due to the different motion ratios...

DING! Probably more.

You'll be shocked at how much easier the Integra is to drive than the Escort. Motion ratio and geometry is everything...

Shut up and drive. - GA

[JLawton]

Are the rear shocks adjustable? If so, the first time out out would soften them up 1/2 turn or move the rear sway bar link to the outer most position. That way it will understeer for you and be a little "safer" until you get used to it. As Greg said it will be sooooo much easier to drive....... where it will bite you is if you do something stupid mid corner. You'll need quick hands to catch a stiffer set up. Curbs will no longer be your friend.

Don't sweat it too much. Seriously, just get in it and drive. I have really found over the years that jumping from car to car isn't that big of a deal.

[924Guy]

I'm with Greg. Don't overthink it - just go out and learn what the car wants. Listen, and it'll tell you what it likes. Though it may take sleeping on it for a couple of nights to put it all together.

Last time I made that first transition from a soft to a stiff setup (this on the same car), I spent a whole weekend driving straight into curbs. Wasn't till I had time to sleep on it that I realized, after the race weekend, that I was turning in at the same point; I just didn't have to wait 2 seconds for the car to respond! LOL You may very well have a similar experience...

[dave parker]

Participate in some sort of test day, where you can go out and do lap after lap on a track you know to get used to the car. Do this before your first race event.

Enjoy.

cheers
dave parker

[wepsbee]

All great advice, Thanks
I will do as suggested, track day first, drive the car as is and expect sharper handling.
Thanks All

[lateapex911]

. Curbs will no longer be your friend.

Don't sweat it too much. Seriously, just get in it and drive. I have really found over the years that jumping from car to car isn't that big of a deal.

Bwahahaha!
Tell Richie Hunter curbs are to be avoided. I followed that guy, and I saw air under two wheels regularly. And both doors of the thing...in the same corner!
If I did that kind of driving in my car, I wouldn't have a car!

Dan, take it to an SCDA event, or a test day, dial the rear bar back a notch or two and just get up to speed in it one lap at a time. be methodical. You should adapt in a session or two max. Then dial the rear bar stiffer until you're uncomfortable, then back a notch from there.

[JLawton]

Maybe Greg should tell the story of what happened when he rented Richie's car!!

As Greg showed in that incident and what Vaughn said, your turn-in will be a "little" sharper!! LOL

[Greg Amy]

Maybe Greg should tell the story of what happened when he rented Richie's car!!

My subconsciousness has blocked out such horrifying incidences such as this, but I do remember turning into T10 at NHMS, first lap in the car, and being very surprised that the car actually turned in...but the rest is all blurry and stuff...

[Ed Funk]

I drove a Dick Shine Scirroco 15 years ago at LRP....spun that thing EVERYWHERE except B paddock!

[wepsbee]

Bwahahaha!
Tell Richie Hunter curbs are to be avoided. I followed that guy, and I saw air under two wheels regularly. And both doors of the thing...in the same corner!
If I did that kind of driving in my car, I wouldn't have a car!

Dan, take it to an SCDA event, or a test day, dial the rear bar back a notch or two and just get up to speed in it one lap at a time. be methodical. You should adapt in a session or two max. Then dial the rear bar stiffer until you're uncomfortable, then back a notch from there.

Jake,
Sounds like a plan. This seems like a great approach.
All,
Thanks all for the advice and slightly unnerving stories

[jimalley]

Dan

That is a well sorted car. I am going to speculate that one test date under your belt and you will be smiling from ear to ear

[gran racing]

I'll be moving to a different car this year and what Jake stated is basically what I'll be doing (at an SCDA event probably). First session nice and slow. No need to prove anything - i.e. put it in the wall the first time out. Do a lot of on line driving, but play around with some off line stuff too. Go into turn one braking early but getting a feel for where the limits are. On the cool down lap, mess around with the curbs at slow speed to see how the car reacts. Next session go a bit quicker, but still in conservative mode. Try a few different things with the car. While still at this speed, play around with curbs and gator strips a bit more. Following sessions build on all of that.

Don't change spring rates. Then you'll be tempted to change the set-up. You bought a good car because it's already a good car, right?

[Z3_GoCar]

Funny story: My friend bought the FC Van Diemon that holds the record at Willow Springs, set in 1995 by J.R. Parish. It's about a second slower than a CSR/GT-1 and a second faster than a Formula Mazda. The previous owner is a former Kart racer, Bobby Oergel, and it was set up stiff with full anti squat in the rear, just like a Kart. My friend has lots of hours in a FSV, so he thought he'd try it out just as it came. He couldn't keep it straight, it'd hit some bumps at bumpy willow and get unsettled and swap ends. So he softened it up, alot. Now over the past 3 years he's been progressively adding that spring back, and he's nearly back to what it was before springwise, but a little diferent on the anti-squat.

Dan, you're a racer, I know you'll be out there and on the third lap it'll feel good and you'll just go for it

[lateapex911]

Dan, my advice would be a little different if you had bought the Moser CRX. I'd be suggesting backing off a bit more on the settings. The Teg though, is a horse. You have to work a lot harder to swap ends in that thing than a CRX, from what I understand.

But whadda I know, I drive a silly RWD car, LOL

(But I've been inches away from Joey in the CRX in races, and he has some damn fast hands!)

[Jeremy Billiel]

Did you buy Geoff's Integra Dan?

[R2 Racing]

Funny reading this, as I think Integra's handle like limo's and can crash curbs. Go a notch or two down on the rear sway bar from where an experienced Integra driver might want it, maybe a click lower on rear rebound, and go. As you get more comfotable, bring those things back up.

[Andy Bettencourt]

Funny reading this, as I think Integra's handle like limo's and can crash curbs..

What Greg hit wasn't a curb...more like a 10" tall speed bump that isn't round. LOL

[JLawton]

What Greg hit wasn't a curb...more like a 10" tall speed bump that isn't round. LOL

They call it the turtle........ but it's more like a rhino.


Sorry Greg, I couldn't resist!