Coming back to comscc after a difficult 2011

[Neptune441]

I try to make at least one event a year ever since Chaos4 became a mentor to me since 2008, and really got me hooked on Time trial competition however, Death struck twice this year as my grandfather passed in May due to a massive MI, Being laid off from work in August due to schedule falling apart in Franklin MA( Thanks Gordon for the wheels) and then my Grandmother passed in Sept due to Alzheimer's. Then October 14th having a Tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy and had to go under the knife twice due to the surgeon not being able to cauterize a bleeder that wasn't seen under one of the scabs. Just wanted to say I've missed being out on the track it's actually something I look forward to every year and chatting with fellow comscc drivers/instructors, but life happens.
I now own a 2008 STI with some modifications done, and look to come back strong next year. I'm also looking for suggestions regarding Engine build as my goal is somewhere around 500-600whp. Have a great Winter everyone ( PS did not appreciate the EARLY snow

[breakaway500]

600whp.. That's gonna eat up stuff.. If you're on a budget,I'd say stay close to stockish hp and work on suspension,brakes..safety equipment..tires..better tires..and more tires...and as much seat time as possible.. That early snow.. one more straw to break the back..

[Neptune441]

I plan for around that I'm not saying 600 all day as you're absolutely right it would eat up stuff. I have Brakes, tires, Looking at Nitto NT01's( Not sure on size yet but i believe If a stock 245 series tire would fit I wouldn't see why a 17inch 245 wouldn't fit on Gordon's Black Enkei RPF01's That I bought from him. Seat time is crucial as I agree as well. Yeah the Early snow boy when you have a snowblower that isn't throwing snow and your wrestling with it just to clear everything was frustrating, although I can't squeak too much as I did have power all week while most were kept in the dark.

[Chrispy]

I agree with Mark, I would run a stock engine for reliability purposes. Too much potential for things to go wrong once you start pulling apart the internals. At least until your going as fast as you can possibly go, then you can start looking for power. It is much easier to learn how to drive hard when you don't have the HP crutch. I saw far too many people sit out half the season or wrenching in the garage due to "engine issues".

[Neptune441]

I agree with Mark, I would run a stock engine for reliability purposes. Too much potential for things to go wrong once you start pulling apart the internals. At least until your going as fast as you can possibly go, then you can start looking for power. It is much easier to learn how to drive hard when you don't have the HP crutch. I saw far too many people sit out half the season or wrenching in the garage due to "engine issues".

I do not disagree with you Chris or Mark, I've taken a ST2( My own Speed3) and placed second( AS A STUDENT) and that was after my second track day. I had a very good instructor Lou M. who worked with myself quite a bit and then again once I switched clutches when I went from ST2 to SPB ( Only lost 2nd place by .09 seconds ( Mis shift out of the bowl at NHMS) AS A STUDENT , It's not that i'm using HP as a crutch I'm using this because once I build the engine I will have piece of mind that once I need to get on the gas I can do so without having valve damage or anything of the sort , call it ( Preventive Maintenance ). I know my thinking is a bit backwards then most but I want to have a solid car from front to back, Most importantly work with a new car and learn more about it.

This new car is a whole new learning curve and i'm looking to gather as much information as possible.

[cuda6666]

You don't need or want 600 WHP, although that's certainly attainable with a Subaru 2.5 turbo. If you want to build a more reasonable 400 -450 WHP motor, you have two choices. Either drop the car off with someone like Dentsport along with a large chunk of money and let them make the modification decisions for you, or, do lots of research starting with NASIOC.com, make your own modification decisions, and then drop the car off with someone like Dentsport along with a large chunk of money.

[WillM]

Sounds good Adrian, a few of us have wondered where you and your MazdaSpeed3 have been. Sorry to hear about your tough year, here's hoping for a great 2012 and beyond!

Please, please, please keep the car stock-ish and reliable! A stock STi is already a track weapon, and already tough on the equipment. Doubling the power will likely triple or quadruple the cost of consumables (brakes, tires, etc), and cause a lot more wear to the chassis in general.

Enjoy the new car and keep it stock or stock-ish in the off-season. Top upgrades would be for safety items then suspension items. Save as much as you can for seat-time, maintenance, and repair costs.

Look into the NAAC Audi club. They host a couple of 2-day Winter Driving programs at the Tim O'Neil Rally School in NH. Sounds like just the thing for a track-loving STi owne!

Cheers,

Will

[dradernh]

Look into the NAAC Audi club. They host a couple of 2-day Winter Driving programs at the Tim O'Neil Rally School in NH. Sounds like just the thing for a track-loving STi owne!

Cheers,

Will

I can attest to the fun & value of the NAA Club schools; link here: http://www.naaclub.org/. Great for car control work & there's a competition at the end of the second day that WILL test your mettle.

If you decide to go with NT01 in 245-17, I've got six new ones in 245/45-17 at $95 a pop. (Don't know if 45 aspect ratio is right for that car or not.)

- Doug

[Neptune441]

Sounds good Adrian, a few of us have wondered where you and your MazdaSpeed3 have been. Sorry to hear about your tough year, here's hoping for a great 2012 and beyond!

Please, please, please keep the car stock-ish and reliable! A stock STi is already a track weapon, and already tough on the equipment. Doubling the power will likely triple or quadruple the cost of consumables (brakes, tires, etc), and cause a lot more wear to the chassis in general.

Enjoy the new car and keep it stock or stock-ish in the off-season. Top upgrades would be for safety items then suspension items. Save as much as you can for seat-time, maintenance, and repair costs.

Look into the NAAC Audi club. They host a couple of 2-day Winter Driving programs at the Tim O'Neil Rally School in NH. Sounds like just the thing for a track-loving STi owne!

Cheers,

Will

Thanks Will , Yeah if you spoke with Sam He could've told ya where I was, I basically got to the point where I looked at my car of 65kmiles and then looked at the trouble I was having with it which was my rear motor mount whose bolt due to the amount of vibration caused the threads to be destroyed inside the block ( the amount of trouble Sam was having with his with the passenger side motor mount which is pitched at a 2 degree angle into an aluminum block that IMO is weak... the front Lower control Arms( Factory rubber boot and plastic inner bushing crap) It just wasn't worth it. If Mazda had taken the 3 platform and made it beefier I still believe I would still be driving that same car today. Now the Newer to me (2008 STI) that I have now If I go with a two piece rotor set up and some good carbotech XP12 or 10's and coils and sways, I should be good( Now with tires I still haven't found a great tire, although the V710's have held up but not in HOT HOT weather like we had in July 2010. What would the winter driving program help me with? What will that prove? and Tim O'Neil rally is cool, but don't feel like getting a ton of Dirt, Rocks, and other things on my car . Will you already know my comment with seat time, and Still hold you to your word of getting my license( And If I have another NON COMSCC Instructor in my car, I WONT be coming back to COM) I came to COM because It is a club of race what you brought with you and I daily drive my car I don't trailer it anywhere( Nor Do I have a trailer, I put my tires in the back of my car and go, my point is why can't I drive what I want to drive instead of having to keep it "Stockish" I'm confused by that comment. If anything it creates competition, which IMO is Healthy. When you pay close to 500.00 per weekend and you applaud those who daily drive their cars, GREAT, I value that as a member however, people whom have only been to 2 events not even Time trials get their license, Come on...

You don't need or want 600 WHP, although that's certainly attainable with a Subaru 2.5 turbo. If you want to build a more reasonable 400 -450 WHP motor, you have two choices. Either drop the car off with someone like Dentsport along with a large chunk of money and let them make the modification decisions for you, or, do lots of research starting with NASIOC.com, make your own modification decisions, and then drop the car off with someone like Dentsport along with a large chunk of money.

I agree Frank, I've been doing my research on my end from Nasioc and found a local engine builder who is working with me and has significant experience with higher horsepower vehicles and turbo's alike. Again the whole point of this build is to make the motor strong and be able to do track days without a problem as I drive my car to and from the track I don't trailer it. Once you drive a turbo'd car anyone can vouch for me who has driven a turbo car , it's very hard to keep the car in stock form, there's always this little voice in the back of your head going, more BOOST please( within correct AFR limits of course )

Look into the NAAC Audi club. They host a couple of 2-day Winter Driving programs at the Tim O'Neil Rally School in NH. Sounds like just the thing for a track-loving STi owne!

Cheers,

Will

I can attest to the fun & value of the NAA Club schools; link here: http://www.naaclub.org/. Great for car control work & there's a competition at the end of the second day that WILL test your mettle.

If you decide to go with NT01 in 245-17, I've got six new ones in 245/45-17 at $95 a pop. (Don't know if 45 aspect ratio is right for that car or not.)


Thanks Doug for the opportunity. I was eyeing that thread I figure if Joe Lu was able to run 245's then there should be no reason why I can't. Starting in 2008 Subaru made the fenders wells wider to allow for a wider wheel(18x8.5) and the 17's are 17x8 off from Gordon's Miata.

- Doug

[Neptune441]

Here's an update for everyone 1/07/12 Thank you to Frank for the sale of the Autopower race roll bar, that is getting powder coated by http://www.srpowdercoating.com/ the mounting plates will be wrinkle black to hold up to the elements and bar white, GSC cams ordered along with these bad boys . Darton sleeves and machine work to slowly follow. Stay tuned ..........

[breakaway500]

I see you've been listening to the voices.. .....

[Neptune441]

I see you've been listening to the voices.. .....

I will provide everyone with my details in my build i'm not afraid to show what goes in my car, and as far as the voice goes Mark I always listen if I didn't I wouldn't have placed twice as a student.

[Neptune441]

GSC CAMS S1 , Now the only thing holding me back is the machine shop to Sleeve engine.
- Plates from the AutoPower Roll Bar/bolts the plates were done in wrinkle black to hold up to salt and other road hazards. the actual Roll bar itself is going to be powder coated Gloss white, more pictures to follow with that as well.

[breakaway500]

Wow..the lobes on those cams look huge!

[Neptune441]

Thanks Mark These Cams will have buckets and shims and will be adjusted by feeler gauges.