Future Open Track Racer with Some Qs
Hello Gentlemen,
I moved to the Houston area (west side) about a year ago, and purchased my 2004 Cobra at the beginning of this year. I was planning on doing several upgrades to the car before really hitting the track, but I figured, what the heck. I have very little seat time at the limit in this vehicle. However, I'm never going to learn how to drive this car by just throwing more parts at it.
Current Mods and Parts
-Nitto NT555 ZRs on stock chromies (275/285) - I wish I had gotten the NT05s
-NAPA Safety Stop Ceramics on the front and O-Reilly Brake Best on the rear. They are quiet, and I plan to get a dedicated set or track pads.
-Billetflow IRS Brace and MM Poly Diff Bushings...I know, I know, poly sucks, but I was uninformed and anxious.
-Maximum Motorsports Full Length Subframe Connectors
-MGW Orange Shifter
-K&N FIPK, MRT Catted H, Flowmaster cat-back
-I have an SCT X3 with a Street and Track Tune...the Track Tune has stock timing and conservative amounts of fuel (11.5-11.7) netting 421whp/385lb-ft.
-Aeroforce Dual Interceptor Scan Gauges with W/B for the vitals.
Anticipated Mods
-Reische Performance Thermostat
-Bruce's Bushings
I plan on going much more aggressive with the mods once I have learned the dynamics of the car, e.g. front and rear STB, coil-overs, etc, etc. but I don't want to get carried away with just modding it for the track, especially while it's still my DD on terrible Houston roads. I'm also very curious to see how it performs in stock trim, and to feel the improvements after the upgrades.
Here are my questions, and I appreciate the input on them all. I'll just list them, so feel free to answer any, all, or none. :beer:
1) What is the best way to get into open tracking? Are there days for free runs, practice session, etc., or is traveling to designated track race days with a particular group the only way?
2) Where in the Houston area are tracks for such events? My girlfriend's dad has raced his CBR600RR at the Mercedes-Benz of Sugarland track and at Texas World in College Station (we're Aggies, WHOOP!). I am pretty excited to race both of these, but once again I'm unsure how to get my foot in the door.
3) Is diving into this during a Texas summer a bad thing, especially with the 04?
4) Is there a good shop that deals with suspension upgrades in this area? Most of my mods were put on by Houston Performance, but I'm not completely sold on them yet. I believe their main field of competance is in the engine performance/straight-line performance business.
5) What's a good set of dedicated track pads? I've heard a variety of inputs, and a slew of things to stay away from...basically enough to make me dangerous, which is why I ask.
6) I know poly in the IRS is crap, but what about a poly kit for the front bushings or the sway bars, say from MM? If it's still no good there, what's a good option?
7) What's the advantage over stock to get a tubular K-member and tubular front A-arms with this car specifically?
Thank you again for taking the time to read this long-winded :cryying: for help. :rockon:
-Trent
Hello Gentlemen,
I moved to the Houston area (west side) about a year ago, and purchased my 2004 Cobra at the beginning of this year. I was planning on doing several upgrades to the car before really hitting the track, but I figured, what the heck. I have very little seat time at the limit in this vehicle. However, I'm never going to learn how to drive this car by just throwing more parts at it.
Current Mods and Parts
-Nitto NT555 ZRs on stock chromies (275/285) - I wish I had gotten the NT05s
-NAPA Safety Stop Ceramics on the front and O-Reilly Brake Best on the rear. They are quiet, and I plan to get a dedicated set or track pads.
-Billetflow IRS Brace and MM Poly Diff Bushings...I know, I know, poly sucks, but I was uninformed and anxious.
-Maximum Motorsports Full Length Subframe Connectors
-MGW Orange Shifter
-K&N FIPK, MRT Catted H, Flowmaster cat-back
-I have an SCT X3 with a Street and Track Tune...the Track Tune has stock timing and conservative amounts of fuel (11.5-11.7) netting 421whp/385lb-ft.
-Aeroforce Dual Interceptor Scan Gauges with W/B for the vitals.
Anticipated Mods
-Reische Performance Thermostat
-Bruce's Bushings
I plan on going much more aggressive with the mods once I have learned the dynamics of the car, e.g. front and rear STB, coil-overs, etc, etc. but I don't want to get carried away with just modding it for the track, especially while it's still my DD on terrible Houston roads. I'm also very curious to see how it performs in stock trim, and to feel the improvements after the upgrades.
Here are my questions, and I appreciate the input on them all. I'll just list them, so feel free to answer any, all, or none. :beer:
1) What is the best way to get into open tracking? Are there days for free runs, practice session, etc., or is traveling to designated track race days with a particular group the only way?
2) Where in the Houston area are tracks for such events? My girlfriend's dad has raced his CBR600RR at the Mercedes-Benz of Sugarland track and at Texas World in College Station (we're Aggies, WHOOP!). I am pretty excited to race both of these, but once again I'm unsure how to get my foot in the door.
3) Is diving into this during a Texas summer a bad thing, especially with the 04?
4) Is there a good shop that deals with suspension upgrades in this area? Most of my mods were put on by Houston Performance, but I'm not completely sold on them yet. I believe their main field of competance is in the engine performance/straight-line performance business.
5) What's a good set of dedicated track pads? I've heard a variety of inputs, and a slew of things to stay away from...basically enough to make me dangerous, which is why I ask.
6) I know poly in the IRS is crap, but what about a poly kit for the front bushings or the sway bars, say from MM? If it's still no good there, what's a good option?
7) What's the advantage over stock to get a tubular K-member and tubular front A-arms with this car specifically?
Thank you again for taking the time to read this long-winded :cryying: for help. :rockon:
-Trent
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