Still Getting Adjusted to FWD | Homestead Miami Speedway Open Track Day

[Club Version]

Hi all,

I have been a track enthusiast since my late teens and for the past 15+ years I have adjusted my driving style to primarily RWD cars with the exception of owning an EVO X for a brief time. My previous cars are as follows: S14 (SR20 + welded diff), EVO X, BRZ (1st gen), S2000 (AP1 & AP2), GR86, and a 718 Boxster. My only hesitation before jumping into a FWD platform was not being able to have some oversteer fun at the limit, but to my surprise the FL5 is a rotation monster as long as you turn of VSA with the pedal dance and trail brake the car all the way into the apex.

After two track days with the FL5 under my belt I can confidently say that I'm extremely satisfied with the car and I'm not looking back. Sure, the S2000 is still a car I want to own again but given I need a daily that can do everything I can't complain.

On that note, I would also like to say during my two track events I did not experience any overheating issues even with ambient temps around the mid to upper 90's, granted I did do some heat management modifications around the turbo housing as shown below in the following photos. In addition to the heat insulation materiel, I removed the rain gutter under the hood vent. If anyone else is tracking the car this makes a huge difference and it's super easy to reinstall before going back home.

Please enjoy the following track day photos and the YouTube video from my channel.

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[Icehawk]

Awesome, I'm planning on hitting Homestead later in the year - mainly because of the heat! Probably look to do something in November.

 

[TW00Si]

Awesome to hear. Thanks for sharing.

So turning off VSA via the button under the dash is just half off? Is the pedal dance hard to perform and how do you undo it?

Should also tell your friend Danny not to call you when you’re on the track.

 

[Club Version]

Awesome to hear. Thanks for sharing.

So turning off VSA via the button under the dash is just half off? Is the pedal dance hard to perform and how do you undo it?

Should also tell your friend Danny not to call you when you’re on the track.

LMAO the missed call is my favorite bit of the video!

In terms of the VSA off procedure it is pretty simple. Once you turn off the car and turn it back it on the car will go back to default. @TheTopher has a good video on how to disable it, but here is the screen grab from his video. Once done, the rear brakes stopped dragging and the car felt more natural.

 

[Icehawk]

In R mode you can long press and fully defeat the system, pedal dance is only needed for other modes.

 

[Club Version]

In R mode you can long press and fully defeat the system, pedal dance is only needed for other modes.

I was in R Mode and I still did the pedal dance before going out on track. For me the long press still felt as if the rear brakes were dragging. Could just be in my head. Lol

 

[TW00Si]

Interesting. Will have to try it next year when I track the CTR. Thanks.

 

[Club Version]

Interesting. Will have to try it next year when I track the CTR. Thanks.

No problem.
I will be out again in a couple of weeks but I’m going to add some front camber. The car definitely needs it.

 

[Samurai1225]

Another member mentioned heat soak after his track day @ MId-Ohio. Did you experience the same and what are your thoughts on upgrading the intercooler?

 

[Club Version]

Another member mentioned heat soak after his track day @ MId-Ohio. Did you experience the same and what are your thoughts on upgrading the intercooler?

No heat soak issues for me. As I mentioned I removed the rain gutter under the hood vent.
In addition I added some heat insulation materials below and above the intake arm around the hot side of the turbo and wrapped the oil lines too.
At the moment, I’m not going to upgrade the Intercooler. Power wise the car felt great out on track.

 

[TheCanadian]

Do you guys get track day insurance or just yolo it?

 

[Club Version]

Do you guys get track day insurance or just yolo it?

Track insurance is a must for me!!

 

[TW00Si]

Do you guys get track day insurance or just yolo it?

Leaving VSA on my S2000 is my insurance. I did turn off VSA on my FK8 but not completely off. Feel like it’s really hard to screw up in a FWD car. But I guess I should think differently next year with the FL5.

 

[Clark_Kent]

Do you guys get track day insurance or just yolo it?

I find it to be a mixed bag, some do, some don't. There's no chance I take my car on track without insurance.

 

[TheCanadian]

There is no track day insurance in Canada unfortunately. That's why my FK8 stays on the street.

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