Westory Progress.

[Grant Monkhouse]

Do feel an extra surge of power around 6500 rpm when the tertiary and the bridge open up?

Clive described that driving one of carl bridges is like having a turbo kick in sound 6500 rpm, only a small kick though. Which makes them much faster than a standard 8. And also quicker on the straights than a standard 8.

Need to have a look at tyre choice for the road, won't be doing thousand of miles in the car but don't want them stupidly expensive

[boosted]

Theres a small kick bit like coming on cam but in the westy it just pulls all the way to redline.  I notice a distinct exhaust note change as well.  Think the Casey and the rest of the trackers are set on federal 595s..having tried the rest.

[Grant Monkhouse]

Are they are an round tyre then?? As living in Yorkshire in Huddersfield it tends to rain

[Casey]

I'm listening 

Tyres - I've used three sets of the Federal 595RS-R, which are a road legal semi-slick and AWESOME on track in the dry cf the best road tyre (and in the wet, when new-ish). I get about 6 full-on trackdays, including around 3k miles of driving too/from the tracks and general mileage. At ~£85 a tyre in 235/40 R18 (rolling radius is 1% off OEM size, speedo overreads slightly), there isn't anything else in a road/track tyre to compete anywhere near the price. The Feds come with 6.5mm tread but are awful in the wet when down to 3-4mm, so need to be careful on the road with these. I do have a set of spare rims and have some road Falkens on those for really wet/winter use.

I've just (yesterday) put on a set of Nankang NS-2R tyres which are also semi-slick, and come in a soft (120 wear rating) and medium (180). I've gone for the medium, as I'm told the soft is really better suited to short "sprints". Price is more, at £115 a tyre, but still not too bad. They come with 7mm of tread and reviews suggest they are just as good in the dry, but better in the wet. The first chance I'll have to try them will be at Croft on May 5th.

If you want some road tyres that are good on track (but won't be as good as semi-slicks) then I would recommend the Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas. I've had two sets of these and at around £100 a tyre, they are best I've driven on the road. They were great in the wet on track too.

Some reviews;

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Federal/595RSR.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Nankang/NS2R.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Vredestein/Ultrac-Sessanta.htm

[re japi]

When we visited Carls shop, we saw they start Miata 4port renesis with carbs. I didnt believe how quiet it was. It was running just basic exhaust and big rx8 muffler. That was awesome, quiet little brap...

Carl said that because good 6port renesis, old 13b PP are becoming basically obsolete. MSP engine can almost do same power that 13b PP can. But because of PP noise, you have to build big exhaust and muffler system, which is heavy. And offcourse, good MSP has better powerband and drivebility that PP has...

But then again, in trackracing,rally and rallycross you might need that extra 20 horses

However, if 4port MSP engine has semi pp inlets, just to support that mid and high rev range, where 6port usually stalls and kicks. That would be very compatible against full PP engines, because you can put every size pp sleeve that you want and different angle, depending how you want it  to support stock ports...

AND THATS WHY I WANT TO RESEARCH MSP ENGINES!!! 

[Grant Monkhouse]

I'm listening 

Tyres - I've used three sets of the Federal 595RS-R, which are a road legal semi-slick and AWESOME on track in the dry cf the best road tyre (and in the wet, when new-ish). I get about 6 full-on trackdays, including around 3k miles of driving too/from the tracks and general mileage. At ~£85 a tyre in 235/40 R18 (rolling radius is 1% off OEM size, speedo overreads slightly), there isn't anything else in a road/track tyre to compete anywhere near the price. The Feds come with 6.5mm tread but are awful in the wet when down to 3-4mm, so need to be careful on the road with these. I do have a set of spare rims and have some road Falkens on those for really wet/winter use.

I've just (yesterday) put on a set of Nankang NS-2R tyres which are also semi-slick, and come in a soft (120 wear rating) and medium (180). I've gone for the medium, as I'm told the soft is really better suited to short "sprints". Price is more, at £115 a tyre, but still not too bad. They come with 7mm of tread and reviews suggest they are just as good in the dry, but better in the wet. The first chance I'll have to try them will be at Croft on May 5th.

If you want some road tyres that are good on track (but won't be as good as semi-slicks) then I would recommend the Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas. I've had two sets of these and at around £100 a tyre, they are best I've driven on the road. They were great in the wet on track too.

Some reviews;

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Federal/595RSR.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Nankang/NS2R.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Vredestein/Ultrac-Sessanta.htm

£85 a tyre is right bargain. I am thinking of having a spare set of wheels and tyre that I can swap into the car when the summer is over and it's wetter.

[Casey]

  You won't be disappointed with the Federals, especially at that price!

[Grant Monkhouse]

You won't be disappointed with the Federals, especially at that price!

Did you buy yours online and get them fitted yourself?

My car isn't ready to pick up friday unhappy to say the least

[Casey]

Did you buy yours online and get them fitted yourself?

Exactly Grant, I got them all fitted by local, family-run, firm for £40 (£10 a corner) - and they took good care of my powder-coated alloys 

So, full set of Feds, delivered and fitted for under £100 a corner, well pleased with that 

The Nankangs are £125 a corner on the same basis, but I've got to try them to see how they compare.

[boosted]

Casey....do you run on track with traction on or off?

[Casey]

Mostly "on". I find the system pretty good and allows a degree of "freedom" to find the limits of traction. It's very easy to demonstrate that on long, sweeping corners (like Coram at Snetterton), where you can keep a constant steering input and just accelerate to feel the traction start to break, yet the DSC won't interfere unless you push harder. If it interferes, sometimes on approach to an apex, it's usually a sign to adjust my line/speed slightly. TBH, I ought to try it on/off on the same day/track to evaluate the difference BUT, because I don't find it a problem, I usually leave it on as a safety net.

Having done several outings to skid pans and driven with it on and off, I can vouch for how clever the system is! It's uncanny, with it on, to get out of shape, then floor the accelerator deliberately - nothing happens as the system has already spotted the condition and has totally cut power and is also selectively braking individual wheels to correct the slide. It's not infallible, but incredibly good!

However, IF your driving style is more "edgy" and you prefer to power your way out of a rear end slide, then you may find the system "gets in the way"! The system certainly encourages/rewards a smooth style of driving.

[Grant Monkhouse]

What's this traction control you speak of?? Never had it before. Lol

[boosted]

Thanks Casey....think im more edgy than smooth.....For Japfest TT ill leave on and drive 8/10 anyway its my daily and just let her stretch her legs and give her a nice clear out.....im limited to 115mph being JDM anyway. Gonna do the brakes as certain will fade out in 2 laps easy but otherwise leave as is and have fun.

[re japi]

Is that TCS stock or optional feature is rx-8´s?

I bet its quite smart system. Afterall, if manufacturer puts very smart ecu on car, why would they put stupid TCS with it then...

[Casey]

Is that TCS stock or optional feature is rx-8´s?

I bet its quite smart system.

It's a standard feature, and seems very smart to me